Slow Cooker Beef Enchilada Casserole
49 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.
This was soooo good! My husband liked it, my four kids liked it, I liked it! We put shredded lettuce, halved cherry tomatoes and sour cream on the side for those who wanted them! Will absolutely make this again!
Can I use tortilla chips instead?
I have heard of others doing this with no problems.
This is perfect for my family–we absolutely loved it. My home smelled like a Mexican restaurant. Thanks so much. I’ve just found you on Pinterest!
Could you cook it on high for less time?
Yes! It will do fine.
How ling on high?
4-5 hours should work great.
Thank you!
Could you use flour tortillas if you don’t care for soft corn tortillas ?
They may get very soggy. I have not tried.
Can you sub tortilla chips for the soft corn tortillas
Did anyone use chicken instead of beef ? I have it in the crock pot st this time … we don’t eat much beef but after buying the beef , I thought this would be good with chicken your thoughts and I think I would still cook 8 hours too ?
Thanks and can’t wait to taste it ? It smells amazing
Hi Eddie, I have a similar recipe with chicken. Here it is, and yes 8 hours works fine. https://www.themagicalslowcooker.com/chicken-enchilada-casserole/
I think i would like it with a large can of enchilada sauce and no salsa. It came out sort of sweet
Any idea how well this would freeze for future meal?
Oops, also if you need to double this, what would be your recommendations (4 growing teenage boys!)?
Hi Rebekah I think ground beef would work fine. I would cook for 6 hours on low. I don’t know how it would work being doubled or if it would fit. I do suggest maybe serving with Mexican rice and refried beans, then there will be plenty!
Would i cook the ground beef before i put in slow cooker?
I would, and drain the fat.