Slow Cooker Beef Enchilada Casserole
48 Comments Jan 15, 2018
Updated Jul 01, 2025
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This beef enchilada casserole comes together perfectly in the slow cooker. Loaded with layered goodness that is a family pleaser.
Recipe Highlights
- This Slow Cooker Beef Enchilada Casserole is very similar to my chicken enchilada casserole.
- It’s a comforting, all-in-one meal loaded with tender beef, melted cheese, and zesty enchilada flavor
- The leftovers taste just as amazing, making it great for meal prep.
Recipe Ingredients
Here’s what you’ll need to make this cheesy, flavor-packed Beef Enchilada Casserole:
- Beef stew meat: Tender and hearty
- Salsa + enchilada sauce: For bold enchilada flavor
- Tortillas: Essential for the layered casserole feel
- Colby jack cheese: Melty and mild
- Green onions + tomatoes: Fresh toppings to finish
How to Make Beef Enchilada Casserole
- Toss the beef, sauce, salsa, and all those spices into the crockpot and give it a good stir.
- Let it do its thing all day until the beef is nice and tender.
- Add in tortilla strips, melty cheese, and green onions—then stir and smooth it all out.
- Sprinkle on more cheese and let it get bubbly, then top with fresh goodies and dig in!
Serving Ideas
We often eat this with no sides – just top with a dollop of sour cream and add tomatoes and green onions if desired.
If you want to serve more people, you can add sides such as crockpot refried beans or spanish rice.
Featured Comment
“This fed me and my husband 3 meals and was soooo goood… and we are from TEXAS!”
– Cynthia
Beef Enchilada Casserole Recipe
How to Video
Ingredients
- 2 lbs beef stew meat cubes
- 10 oz can red enchilada sauce
- 16 oz jar Pace Picante salsa, (I use medium)
- 4 oz can fire roasted green chiles
- 1 garlic clove,, minced
- 1 white onion,, diced
- 1 tsp. chili powder
- 1/2 tsp cumin
- 1/4 tsp. pepper
Items needed to assemble casserole after above items have cooked:
- 12 soft corn tortillas, (I use about 12 ounces)
- 3 cups colby jack cheese,, divided
- 1 bunch green onion,, divided
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes,, cut in half
Instructions
- Add the beef to the slow cooker. Add the enchilada sauce, salsa, green chiles, garlic, onion, chili powder, cumin and pepper. Stir.
- Cover and cook on low for 8 hours.
- When the cooking time is done. Cut the corn tortillas into strips, add to the slow cooker along with 1 cup of the cheese and half of the green onions. Stir and flatten out with a spatula. Sprinkle over remaining cheese.
- Add the lid back on the slow cooker and continue cooking for 30 more minutes on high. Sprinkle with remaining green onion and tomatoes.
- Serve and enjoy!
Nutrition
Nutrition info is auto-generated. This information is an estimate; if you are on a special diet, please use your own calculations.
Additional Enchilada Style Recipes
Beef Enchilada Chili and Slow Cooker Chicken Enchilada Soup both bring bold, comforting flavors to the table in totally different ways.
Pork Verde Enchiladas are packed with tangy green chile flavor and melty cheese.
For something baked and satisfying, try a Green Chicken Enchilada Casserole layered with tortillas and sauce.
I have the same question as a few above… could you use ground beef instead? And if so, would that call for any modifications?
You have the name I nutritional acts attached but it doesn’t say what a serving size is. What is a serving size?
On the top of the recipe card it says how many servings. For this recipe the serving size is 1/8 of the recipe.
THIS SOUNDS DELICIOUS, OUR FAMILY EATS GROUND TURKEY INSTEAD OF BEEF, HOW LONG WOULD I COOK IT FOR GROUND TURKEY?
could you use ground beef instead of stew meat?
I find chillies too hot ,,,,what can I substitute it with ,,,not to strong on hot spices,,,and do not mind medium salsa or mild is that ok to use thank you ,
This is embarrassing to ask but what would “beef stew meat” be at Tom Thumb? A particular cut I am guessing but not sure what I would look for over in the meat section. Thanks!
You should see it straight away. It’s cubes of beef. If you can’t find it, you can cut up any roast into cubes and use in this recipe.
Hi – can I use jalapeños instead of green chilis – which are hard to come about ind Denmark?
Yes! That will work fine.
Are your recipes keto or paleo by chance?
No they are not! I apologize!
Hi. Could I use ground beef?
Hi! How would I alter the timing to work with an Instant Pot? Thanks!!
Maybe a reader will be able to help! I only use slow cookers.
Kim – The Instant Pot has a slow cooker. You may need to cook this on a day off. You also may need to look at your recipe book. I’m sorry that I’m not more of a help! Good luck. Would you let me know how it comes out? Thank you! I’ve been wanting the Instant Pot for a while now.
There was such liquid already in this that I did it in the instant pot without changing anything other than times, if worried add 1/2 c water. I used frozen beef so first ingrediants on pressure cook for 45 min with natural release. Then mixed in cheese, tortillas etc and pressure cooked for 0 min with 10min quick release. Turned out fantastic!
Thank you! Will you clarify how long you cook it once you add the cheese, tortillas, et al? I assume you didn’t actually mean “0 minutes”.
It says 30 minutes on my end.
I believe she meant 0 minutes in the instant pot under pressure which is a setting.