Cheesy Beef and Bean Tortilla Casserole

Jump to Recipe

Do you love the taste of cheesy beef and bean burritos or enchiladas, but hate all the work that goes into making them? Well, we've got the perfect solution for you! Our super cheesy beef and bean tortilla casserole is the easiest way to get all the flavors of your favorite Mexican dish, without any of the hassles. Simply layer some tortillas with beef and beans, cover in cheese and sauce, and bake! In no time at all, you'll have a hot and hearty casserole that the whole family will love.

spatula holding square of bean tortilla casserole above edge of white casserole dish

Jump to:

Cheesy Beef and Bean Tortilla Casserole
Ingredients
Kitchen Tools You May Need
How to Make Bean Tortilla Casserole
Frequently Asked Questions
More Mexican-Inspired Casseroles
Cheesy Beef and Bean Tortilla Casserole

Cheesy Beef and Bean Tortilla Casserole

This bean tortilla casserole is perfect for any night of the week. It’s simple to make, hearty, and most importantly – delicious! Serve this casserole with sour cream or guacamole on the side for a complete meal that everyone will love.

Another favorite spin on a classic Mexican dish is this chile relleno casserole. It's so loaded with flavor and all the things you love, and super easy to prepare on a busy weeknight.

rectangular white casserole dish filled and topped with cheese laying by wooden spoon

Ingredients

3 tablespoons olive oil
1 medium red onion
1 red bell pepper
1 (12 oz) can tomato sauce (400 ml)
1 pound ground beef (500 g)
1 teaspoon chili paste
1 (12 oz) can of kidney beans (or black beans)
2 garlic cloves
2 cups shredded Mexican blend cheese
4 (10") flour tortillas

white bowls of meat beans sauce and cheese on white table

Kitchen Tools You May Need

baked casserole in white dish on round wood cutting board

How to Make Bean Tortilla Casserole

Prep the baking dish (I used a 10" rectangular dish), with non-stick spray on the bottom and sides. Then, preheat the oven to 350°F/180°C.

Set this aside and begin preparing your filling. In a large skillet, you will heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add in the onions and bell peppers, then cook them, stirring regularly for around 5 minutes or until they are softened and translucent.

red bell pepper and red onion in black skillet

Once the vegetables are tender, add in the ground beef. Cook it, breaking it up as it cooks, for about 8 to 10 minutes or until it is no longer pink. Then, drain off any excess grease or liquid.

Now, add in the chili paste and garlic. Salt and pepper or taco seasoning can also be added if desired for additional flavor. Cook this for 1 additional minute.

cooked ground beef in skillet on hot plate

Then, stir in the rinsed and drained beans. You can use kidney beans, black beans, or even pinto beans. Refried beans are delicious but add less texture to each serving.

Now, add the tomato sauce and reduce the heat to low. Simmer this for another 10-minutes. If desired, you can substitute the tomato sauce with diced tomatoes or even salsa.

tomato sauce on top of ground meat in skillet

Now, it is time to layer the casserole. It should make 4 to 5 layers. Start by adding a tortilla to the bottom of the baking dish.

Then top it with ¼ of the ground meat mixture and spread that evenly.

Top this with ¼ of the cheese sprinkling it evenly across the top of the meat.

shredded cheese on top of casserole dish

Continue this process of layering the casserole with a tortilla, then meat, then cheese, until all has been used. End with cheese, adding extra if desired on top.

Bake for 30 minutes until the cheese is melted and bubbling.

Top with your favorite taco or burrito toppings such as salsa, sour cream, lettuce, tomato, avocado, or green onions.

spatula holding bean tortilla casserole above casserole dish

Frequently Asked Questions

What Other Meats Can Go In Burrito Casserole?

This recipe is written using ground beef and kidney beans, but you can easily swap in different proteins if you prefer. Ground chicken or turkey would work well, as would black beans or pinto beans.

If you want to make this casserole vegetarian, you could omit the meat entirely and just add extra beans. Tofu can be a different protein to add to keep this vegetarian, or the popular frozen TVP "meat" crumbles" can be a super easy substitute. Just remember if you are needing this to be vegan instead of vegetarian, you'll need to swap out the cheeses for vegan alternatives.

Can Tortilla Casserole Be Made Ahead of Time?

This casserole can easily be made ahead of time and reheated when you’re ready to eat. Simply assemble the casserole as directed, but do not bake it. Cover and store in the fridge for up to 24 hours.

When you’re ready to eat, preheat the oven and bake the casserole as directed. You may need to add a few minutes to the bake time if the casserole is coming straight from the fridge.

Can I Freeze This Burrito Tortilla Casserole?

Absolutely! It is a perfect make-ahead freezer meal. Since the baking process is mostly to heat through and melt the cheese, you can prepare this up to the point of baking, and then wrap it well to freeze.

I recommend assembling in a disposable aluminum pan, then wrapping the entire thing in plastic wrap. Then you can slide it inside a freezer storage bag (1 or 2 gallons Ziploc), or simply wrap it in a layer of aluminum foil. Add the recipe name, date prepared, and directions for cooking on top then freeze for up to 3 months.

What Tortilla is Best For a Casserole?

You can really use any type of tortilla you like in this recipe. We usually use flour tortillas, but that is generally a personal choice in our house. You could also use corn tortillas or even gluten-free tortillas if that’s what you have on hand.

If using corn tortillas, you will need more since they are significantly smaller and you would need 2 to 3 per layer instead of just 1 of the larger flour tortillas.

How Can I Make This More Flavorful?

As with any recipe, you can always add more seasoning to taste. This recipe is fairly simple with just the chili sauce added to the tomato sauce bringing in that extra flavor.

You can also substitute salsa in place of the tomato sauce for additional flavor. Of course, a bit of cumin, chili powder, or 2 tablespoons of taco seasoning blend mixed into the meat can really amp up the flavor.

You can never go wrong with adding more cheese. If you’re a fan of spice, you could also add some chopped jalapeños or other peppers to the casserole. You can also add something hot sauce or buffalo sauce to the casserole. The options are endless.

bean casserole on white plate next to casserole dish

More Mexican-Inspired Casseroles

If you are like our family and love the flavors of Mexican food, then you are sure to love some more of our favorite casseroles below. Inspired by popular and common meals you can find throughout Mexico and/or Mexican restaurants, these are a tasty way to add flavor to your meal plan. Make sure that you bookmark these recipes, pin them to Pinterest, or just print out the recipe to save for later.

Yield: 6

Cheesy Beef and Bean Tortilla Casserole

Delicious cheesy beef and bean tortilla casserole is everything you love about burritos only easier to make and serve! A delicious Mexican meal!

Prep Time 25 minutes

Cook Time 30 minutes

Total Time 55 minutes

Ingredients

3 tablespoons olive oil
1 medium red onion, chopped
1 red bell pepper, chopped
1 (12 oz) can tomato sauce (400 ml)
1 pound ground beef (500 g)
1 teaspoon chili paste
1 (12 oz) can of kidney beans (or black beans), rinsed and drained
2 garlic cloves, minced
2 cups shredded Mexican blend cheese
4 (10") flour tortillas

Instructions

Start by spraying the bottom of your 10" baking dish with non-stick spray. Then, preheat the oven to 350°F/180°C.
In a large skillet, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Then add in the onions and bell peppers. Cook, stirring regularly for 5-minutes.
Then add in the ground beef, and cook this for 8 to 10 minutes or until no longer pink. Use a fork or spatula to break up the meat as it cooks. Once done cooking, drain off any excess grease if needed.
Then, add in the salt, chili paste, and garlic. Cook for an additional 1 minute.
Stir in the rinsed and drained beans.
Then pour the tomato sauce into the skillet and reduce the heat to low. Cook this, simmering, for another 10-minutes.
Now, you will layer the casserole. I like to divide the meat and cheese ahead of time into 4 equal portions to make layering a bit easier.
Now, place a tortilla on the bottom of the baking dish, and then top with ¼ of the cooked meat and sauce mixture.
Top this with ¼ of the cheese.
Continue this process with tortilla, meat, then cheese, until all has been used and you have ended with cheese on top. add ¼th of the cheese.
Add additional cheese on top if you desire, then bake for 30-minutes until heated through, bubbling, and the cheese is golden brown and melted.