Enchilada Casserole is such a classic. I’ve seen a million different interpretations of this dish over the years. Why? Because it’s easy and it’s satisfying. So I figured I’d make a vegetarian version, full of colorful vegetables, but still every bit as warm and comforting. This Vegetable Enchilada Casserole hits two birds with one stone.
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What’s In Vegetable Enchilada Casserole?
For this version of enchilada casserole, I began with a simple mix of black beans, corn, green chiles, green onion, and cilantro. To up the vegetable content, I also added a diced zucchini. I layered the vegetable mix between corn tortillas, cheese, and my Easy Red Enchilada Sauce.
After a little time in the oven to make sure the vegetables are nice and tender and everything gets infused with the flavorful sauce, you’ve got a warm, filling, and insanely delicious casserole. And that’s something that everyone deserves at the end of the day.
What Other Vegetables Can I Use?
Don’t like zucchini? Other vegetables that would be quite good in this include: red bell pepper, poblano peppers, or avocado. Mix it up and make it your own! :D
Take Your Enchilada Casserole to the Next Level
If you want to go the extra mile and really take this vegetable enchilada casserole to the next level, there are a few more steps you can take:
- Stir 1/2 cup of sour cream into the enchilada sauce to make it extra creamy.
- Toast the corn tortillas in a dry skillet until golden brown before layering them into the casserole. This will heighten the toasty corn flavor of the tortillas.
- Add ground beef or diced chicken to the layers.
Vegetable Enchilada Casserole
Servings 6Ingredients
- 12 small corn tortillas ($0.64)
- 1.5 cups shredded “taco blend” cheese ($0.94)
- 1 zucchini (about 3/4 lb.) ($0.95)
- 1 15oz. can black beans, drained* ($0.55)
- 1 cup frozen corn kernels ($0.63)
- 1 4oz. can diced green chiles ($0.87)
- 1/2 bunch (3-4 each) green onions ($0.38)
- 1/4 bunch fresh cilantro (optional) ($0.22)
- 1/4 tsp salt ($0.02)
Enchilada Sauce
- 2 Tbsp cooking oil ($0.08)
- 2 Tbsp chili powder ($0.30)
- 2 Tbsp all-purpose flour ($0.02)
- 2 cups water ($0.00)
- 3 oz. tomato paste ($0.33)
- 1/2 tsp ground cumin ($0.05)
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder ($0.05)
- 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper ($0.02)
- 3/4 tsp salt ($0.03)
Instructions
- Cut the zucchini into small cubes. Rinse and drain the black beans. Slice the green onions (both green and white portions). Pull the cilantro leaves from the stems and give them a rough chop. Combine the zucchini, black beans, frozen corn kernels, green onions, cilantro, and diced green chiles in a bowl. Add 1/4 tsp salt and stir until evenly combined.
- To make the enchilada sauce, combine the oil, chili powder, and flour in a small sauce pot. Whisk them together over medium heat and allow it to begin to bubble. Let the mixture bubble while whisking for about one minute. Add the water, tomato paste, cumin, garlic, cayenne, and salt. Whisk until smooth. Heat the sauce until thick and bubbly (about 3-5 minutes).
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Prepare a 9×9 casserole dish by coating lightly with non-stick spray. Spread a 1/2 cup of the sauce in the bottom of the dish. Arrange 1/3 of the tortillas over the sauce, followed by 1/3 of the vegetable mixture. Drizzle 1/2 cup of the sauce over the vegetables, then top with 1/2 cup cheese. Repeat these layers two more times, or until the vegetable mix, sauce, and cheese are gone.
- Bake the casserole for 40-45 minutes, or until the edges are bubbly and the cheese just begins to brown on top. Slice into six portions and top with extra green onions and cilantro, if desired.
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Notes
Nutrition
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How to Make Vegetable Enchilada Casserole – Step by Step Photos
Cut a 3/4 lb. zucchini into a small dice. The small size of the cubes is important so that they cook through and don’t create huge lumps in the casserole.
Combine the diced zucchini (they’re on the bottom) with a 15oz. can of black beans (rinsed and drained), 1 cup frozen corn, 4oz. can diced green chiles, 3-4 sliced green onions, and about 1/4 bunch chopped fresh cilantro in a large bowl.
Add 1/4 tsp salt and stir the vegetables until they’re well mixed.
Next make the enchilada sauce. In a small sauce pot combine 2 Tbsp vegetable or canola oil, 2 Tbsp chili powder, and 2 Tbsp flour.
Whisk the oil, flour, and chili powder together over medium heat until it begins to bubble. Let it bubble, while whisking, for about one minute.
Next add 2 cups water, 3oz. tomato paste (half of a 6oz. can), 1/2 tsp cumin, 1/2 tsp garlic powder, 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper, and 3/4 tsp salt. Whisk until smooth and heat over medium flame until it thickens. It will begin to thicken as it approaches a simmer (thanks to the flour-chili powder roux created in the first step).
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and begin to layer the casserole. Start by coating the inside of a 9×9 casserole dish with non-stick spray. Spread 1/2 cup of the enchilada sauce over the bottom.
Next, add a layer of corn tortillas. I like to cut some in half so that I have a straight edge to line the dish. I used four tortillas per layer.
Add 1/3 of the vegetable mixture on top of the tortillas, then drizzle 1/2 cup of the sauce over top.
Finally, add 1/2 cup of shredded cheese on top of the vegetables and sauce. Repeat these layers two more times (tortillas-vegetables-sauce-cheese).
Until all the vegetables are used up and the casserole dish is full.
Bake the casserole in the preheated 350 degree oven for 40-45 minutes, or until the edges are really bubbly and the cheese just begins to brown on top. Warning: it smells AH-MAZ-ING. Top with extra cilantro and green onion if desired.
Holy yum.
Would it work to freeze this casserole?
It should freeze well!
I made this for my meat eating family. It was easy and delicious. Everyone enjoyed it, and even better the second time!
Very good! I increased recipe to make it in a 9×13 (don’t own a 9×9 and I wanted leftovers haha). Used about 6 corn tortillas per layer and doubled sauce. I added ground turkey (if you do same make sure to increase volume of sauce). I think next time I’ll add a layer of refried beans to see how that turns out. Very happy with this recipe, it’s a keeper :). Might add that elote seasoning blend from Trader Joe’s next time. Served with plain yogurt.
My family really enjoyed this. I accidentally used five tortillas per layer {two halves per side and one in the middle}. Love the homemade enchilada sauce. I never knew it was so easy to make, and tastes wA y better than store-bought. I did add a little chili lime seasoning to the vegetable mixture, just because. I think this would be great with other veggies added to it, like red onion, tomatoes, and even sweet potatoes! Next time, I’ll double it and use a 9×13 dish.
So I ran across this recipe on a Buzzfeed article and I’m wondering if it’s possible to make without the tortillas. Would you still bake it for the same amount of time? I would also omit the cheese because we don’t eat a lot of dairy. Does everything else stay the same?
Well tortillas and cheese are what make it an enchilada. So while you can make it without those ingredients, it would no longer be an enchilada casserole, and honestly wouldn’t need to be baked. The cook time will change, and as we have not tested it without the two most important ingredients, I couldn’t give you more than a guess. I would sauté the veg until tender and then mix in the sauce. If you want to bake it, understand it will not hold together, as that’s what the tortillas and cheese are for. I wouldn’t bake for longer than 30 minutes. XOXO -Monti
I made this recipe exactly as written except for adding a diced jalapeño to the vegetable mixture for more heat. This recipe is phenomenal. So flavorful and delicious.
This was so good! I made it in a 9×13 pan with more ingredients. I probably used an unreasonable amount of cheese. Delicious.
I’ve made this twice now– once without sour cream in the sauce, and one with. We definitely loved it more with sour cream, but it was great either way! A great way to get some veggies in your dinner, and reheats well.
I made this because I had leftover zucchini and corn tortillas. I wasn’t expecting much, but was pleasantly surprised. This is one of my favorite budget bytes recipes so far. Bonus is that it tastes even better heated up the next day.
This was so good! I substituted flour tortillas for corn tortillas and put less salt, but otherwise followed the recipe. Thank you for this amazing recipe!
This is one of those meals that you eat on for several days and still feel heartbroken when you eat the last serving. I just made it the Monday before Christmas, and I already want to make it again!
Can you freeze this before you bake it? If so, how would you reheat it? Or is it best to freeze right after making it? (I’ve made this several times but always eaten immediately! Love it.)
Unfortunately, I’ve never tried freezing this before, so I’m not sure how it would turn out and I can’t offer any specific instructions.
I’ve frozen it a couple of times and it works okay, not great. The tortillas absorb too much moisture. Freezing individual portions worked better for me rather than freezing half a batch. I also tried freezing the sauce but it completely separated!
YUM! The enchilada sauce is amazing – never buying it from the store again! Yet another Budget Bytes recipe that is going into my rotation.
I make this recipe all the time. It is is so good! I recommend letting it set for 15-20 minutes before eating. It’s best that way!
This was pretty easy and tasty. I’d never made my own enchilada sauce before so was surprised how well it turned out. (Reduced the cayenne just a tad.) My family, who says they’d like me to make it again, would prefer it with shredded chicken added, but I was perfectly happy with it as-is.