Turkey Enchilada Casserole

Don't make the mistake of thinking this cheesy enchilada casserole is only for after Thanksgiving. You can substitute rotisserie chicken, ground turkey, or chicken for the cooked turkey and have it any time of year. Why limit the deliciousness?!

Why You'll Love This Turkey Enchilada Casserole Recipe

You'll love this recipe because it's surprisingly quick and easy to throw together. There is no filling and rolling the tortillas. Just simply layering ingredients in a big casserole, kind of like fixing a lasagna, that goes together quickly and has little clean-up.

The only hard part is waiting for it to finish cooking when you smell all those warm and inviting aromas emanating out of your kitchen.

Ingredients for Enchilada Casserole

• Turkey - leftover holiday turkey, rotisserie chicken, ground turkey or chicken can be used
• Onion
• Vegetable Oil
• Oregano
• Cumin
• Canned Chopped Green Chiles
• Canned Black Beans
• Red Enchilada Sauce - Store-bought or homemade enchilada sauce
• Tortillas - 10" flour tortillas work best but corn tortillas can also be used
• Shredded Cheese - cheddar, jalapeno jack, and 4-cheese Mexican blend are all good choices

Ingredient Notes

Corn or flour tortillas? You can use either to make this casserole. Here are some notes on each:

• Corn Tortillas - Authentic Mexican enchiladas are traditionally made with corn tortillas. Additionally, they are great for gluten-free enchilada casseroles too.
• Flour Tortillas - Many people enjoy flour tortillas over corn ones. This casserole works great with either one.

What cheese is best for enchiladas? There are several types of cheese you can use for making enchiladas and this casserole.

Authentic enchiladas are made with cotija cheese. Other choices are shredded Mexican cheese blend, Monterey Jack, Cheddar, Pepper Jack, or a combination of the cheeses.

How to Make Turkey Enchilada Casserole

to prepare turkey filling

1. In a medium skillet, heat oil and add onion, green chiles, and spices.
2. Saute until onion is translucent, about 5 minutes.
3. Place in a large bowl and add chopped or shredded turkey.
4. Pour 1 ½ cups of enchilada sauce over the turkey mixture and stir. Set aside.

to assemble enchilada casserole

5. Pour a small amount of enchilada sauce into the bottom of a 9x13-inch casserole dish that has been sprayed with a nonstick spray.
6. Begin by layering flour tortillas that have been halved until they cover the entire bottom.
7. Take ⅓ of the turkey mixture and add over tortillas.
8. Scatter ⅓ of the black beans over the turkey.
9. Sprinkle 1 cup of cheese over the beans. Repeat with 2 more layers of all ingredients.
10. Finish by pouring the remaining enchilada sauce over the entire turkey enchilada casserole.

finishing enchilada casserole

11. Cover the casserole with aluminum foil and bake for 30 minutes at 350 degrees. Remove from oven, uncover, and sprinkle with remaining ¾ cup cheese. Return to oven for 10 minutes.

Just look at that beautifully browned and baked casserole. Before serving, it is best to let it rest for 5-10 minutes as it will hold together better when lifting out. Enjoy!

Recipe Variations

Leftover turkey can easily be substituted with ground turkey or other ground meat including beef, chicken, Mexican chorizo, and pork. To do so, just cook the meat along with the onion until it is cooked through.

Additionally, you can also make this into leftover turkey enchilada casserole using your Thanksgiving turkey leftovers. And they'll never guess it's leftovers!

Make this casserole into a green enchilada casserole by substituting green chile enchilada sauce for the red enchilada sauce.

What to Serve with Enchilada Casserole

Are you wondering what goes with enchilada casserole? There are many sides and toppings you can serve with it. Here are some good ones:

• Chopped Lettuce
• Chopped Tomatoes
• Chopped or Sliced Avocado
• Corn - serve it separately or add it directly into the casserole
• Refried Beans
• Mexican Rice, Spanish Rice, or Spanish Quinoa
• Fresh Chopped Cilantro
• Hot Sauce
• Simple Green Salad

Make Ahead Enchilada Casserole

You can make this casserole a day in advance. Simply prepare it as instructed except don't bake it. Wrap the casserole in foil and keep it in the refrigerator.

When you are ready to cook, you generally need an extra 10 minutes to the baking time because it is cold from being in the fridge.

How to Store, Freeze, and Reheat

Store: Cover the casserole dish with foil and store it in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.

To Freeze Unbaked: Cover with aluminum foil and freeze for up to 3 months.

To Freeze Baked: Make sure the casserole is cooled to room temperature. Transfer the leftovers to a freezer-safe container or slice the casserole into individual servings and place them in separate freezer containers. Freeze for up to 3 months.

Frozen enchilada casserole can be cooked or reheated straight from the freezer. However, be sure to use a metal dish or disposable casserole dish because a glass dish will shatter if transferred directly from the freezer to the oven. When you are ready to cook or reheat, bake it covered at 350°F until it is heated through.

If you prefer thawing it, you'll need to thaw it in the fridge overnight.

To Reheat Baked: Bake it in an oven-safe dish covered in foil at 350°F for 20 to 30 minutes, or until heated through. Additionally, you can also microwave it in 1-minute increments until heated through. When microwaving, cover the dish with parchment or wax paper because it will splatter.

More Mexican, Tex Mex, and Southwestern Recipes

• Air Fryer Quesadillas with ground beef, refried beans, and cheese.
• Mexican Pork Stew is easy to make with leftover pork tenderloin.
• Pork Enchiladas with green sauce.
• Taco Stacks with ground beef, guacamole, and cheese.

Find lots of easy and delicious recipes for Mexican food on 2CM!