Beef enchilada casserole

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This is the most ridiculously easy dinner. We are having this and a garden salad with ranch for dinner. Traditionally enchiladas have fried tortillas. Yes, this probably lacks some flavor because I skip that step. It also will be less calories my way…. which is never a bad thing.

1 pound 80% ground beef

1 7 ounce can diced green chili undrained

1/2 cup diced yellow onion

11-13 corn tortillas (white or yellow)

1 10 ounce can red enchilada sauce

1 cup sharp cheddar cheese shredded

Combine the beef, onion, and green chilis in a skillet. Cook over medium low heat for about 20-30 minutes. After this step, I place the beef in a strainer and allow it to drip to remove additional fat.

In a 6×8 or 8×8 prepard pan, layer the following 1. 3 Tortillas 2. 1/2 beef mixture 3. 3 tortillas 4. 1/2 beef mixture 5. 3-4 tortillas.

Pour the enchilada sauce over the casserole. Top with cheese. Bake at 350 degrees uncovered for 30-40 minutes.

 

Top with black olives, green onion, sour cream, and fresh cilantro.

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Poblano chicken casserole

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Okay. My chicken from last night… Here is how I meal plan.  Tonight it is a casserole and tomorrow chicken paninis. Each very different and not tasting like leftovers. I basically cook 2 big meat dishes per week then fill in the gaps. Sometimes we have cold leftover chicken on giant cobb type salads with fresh warm rosemary bread.

This is also another great garden dish because we grow onion, garlic, poblanos, and tomatoes. I have even grown tomatillos and made my own salsa verde. That is a whole other story.

The casserole….. I dont use “cream of xxxxx” soup if possible. I think the only fattening thing in this whole casserole is 2 tablespoons of butter and a cup of cheese. I would consider this lower fat. I am not a fan of loading up every dish with cream and cheese and butter.

Roast 2 poblanos in the oven at 400 for 10-15 minutes. Cool fully. Peel and remove seeds. Then rough chop.

My sauce….

Saute 2 tablespoons of butter with 1/2 onion and a clove of minced garlic for 2-3 minutes. Add all poblanos. Add 2 tablespoons of flour. Stir. Gradually add in 2 cups of chicken broth. Add 1 tablespoon cumen, 1 teaspoon mexican oregano, and a handful of fresh cilantro. Cook 5-10 minutes stirring often. Remove from heat and add 1 cup of salsa verde…. any brand.

Now the layers in the cassrole pan.

1: one cup of sauce

2: corn tortillas – about 4 – just break them up and cover it in one layer

3: chopped cooked chicken – 1 cup

4: 1/2 can of rinsed and drained black beans

5: half of remaing sauce

6: 4-5 corn tortillas

7: 1 cup chicken

8: rest of black beans

9: more tortillas

10: dump rest of sauce over

Cover with aluminum foil and bake at 400 for 30-40 minutes. Remove foil. Sprinkle 1/2 cup of cheddar cheese. Turn oven off. Remove when ready to eat.

Ha! I forgot to buy chips so I baked leftover flour tortillas for 10 minutes. I was going to break them up as chips. They puffed up. Still tasted great!