Published Date: April 16, 2024
Last Updated: April 16, 2024
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This Lazy Enchiladas recipe epitomizes comfort food without the hours of preparation and cooking. Simply throw together some of your favorite premade ingredients in a casserole dish, top it with an insane amount of melty cheese, and bake until it’s bubbly and delicious.
What Makes This Lazy Meal A Hit
Minimal Ingredients. Made with only three ingredients, you won’t need a fully-stocked kitchen to make this simplistic dish.
Ready in a Flash. The simple preparation of this taquito casserole allows you to have dinner on the table in under 30 minutes.
Customizable. With endless possibilities for flavor combinations, this lazy enchilada casserole can be a building block for creativity.
Budget-Friendly. Coming in at around $2 a serving (YMMV) this meal is great for families trying to stretch their grocery budget.
With just a few inexpensive grocery items, an oven, and the most basic kitchen skills, this recipe for lazy enchiladas is guaranteed to be your go-to for those busy weeknights.
Are Lazy Enchiladas Good?
I’ll be the first person to admit that this is far from gourmet food. While it isn’t top-tier fine dining, it is incredibly flavorful and filling. So, if you’re in the mood for some classic comfort food that is a good flavor pay-off for the amount of effort required, this recipe is for you!
Ingredients To Grab
All you need for this frozen taquito casserole is three simple ingredients. Yes, three! Sure, you can customize it to jazz it up however your family prefers it (I’ll include some of our favorite variations below) but for the classic dish, here’s what you should grab:
Frozen Taquitos- Grab your favorite brand and favorite protein. We like to shop on a budget, so the beef generic brand is what I use.
Enchilada Sauce- Enchilada sauce is INCREDIBLY easy to make, but if you want a truly lazy lasagna, the canned stuff is ideal. I grab the value-sized can and call it a day.
Shredded Cheese- If I’ve said it once, I’ve said it a thousand times: SHRED YOUR OWN CHEESE. Sure, shredded cheese would be a little lazier, but it just doesn’t give that delicious cheese pull that everyone loves.
How To Make Lazy Enchiladas
Preheat and Prep. Preheat your oven to 375F and spray a 9×13 baking dish with nonstick spray.
Assemble the Lazy Enchiladas. Pour 1/3 of the can of enchilada sauce into the bottom of the casserole dish. Place the frozen taquitos in a single layer on top of the sauce. Add the remaining sauce on top of the taquitos. Top the taquito casserole with shredded cheese.
Bake. Cover the casserole dish and bake for 10 minutes. Remove the aluminum foil and bake for an additional 10 minutes.
Serve and Enjoy! Serve with your favorite toppings and dig in.
Tips And Tricks
For an absolutely fool-proof experience, check out these tips and tricks before you get started:
Use nonstick spray. Don’t forget to spray the casserole dish before baking to avoid sticking. As the enchiladas bake, the tortillas become tender and are easily torn.
Add plenty of sauce. As the taquitos bake, the tortillas will begin to absorb the enchilada sauce. While it may seem like it is swimming in sauce before you get started, a lot of it will be reduced and absorbed while baking.
Cover with foil. Covering this dish with foil at the beginning of the baking process will prevent the cheese from burning while the frozen taquitos warm through. If you don’t have foil (or want to prevent single-use waste) you can always bake the lazy enchiladas without cheese and add it on afterward. The residual heat from the cooked dish will melt the cheese over time.
Variations
My favorite kind of recipe is one that can be a guide to jump-start creativity in the kitchen. Here are some ideas to switch things up next time you make this dish:
Try different proteins. I opted for beef taquitos, but chicken, pork, or even veggie taquitos would also be delicious depending on your dietary preferences.
Experiment with add-ins. While assembling your frozen taquito casserole, add a layer of refried beans, precooked Mexican rice, or even charred corn before topping it with enchilada sauce and cheese. Bake according to the time and temperature listed below.
Switch up the sauce. While red enchilada sauce is our family’s preference, green enchilada sauce is a popular choice for this lazy enchilada casserole.
What To Eat With Lazy Enchiladas
Want something to add to your dinner table to make these lazy enchiladas feel like they’re a meal you poured a lot of love into? Try some of these tasty sides:
Refried Beans- These smooth and flavorful beans give an extra boost of protein while adding a delicious creamy addition to the plate.
Mexican Rice- This seasoned rice is absolutely packed with flavor and is perfect for soaking up the extra enchilada sauce on your plate.
Salad- Cut some of the richness of this hearty bite with the freshness of a green salad.
Tortilla Chips- Add a layer of texture to your plate with some tortilla chips for dipping or crumble them over the top of the casserole before serving.
Storage And Reheating
Not only are these Lazy Enchiladas great for a busy weeknight, but they’re also good for meal prep. When stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator they can last for 3-4 days.
Place them in individual portions for a quick grab-and-go lunch to grab and take to the office. The tortillas will continue to soften over time, so consider serving your leftover taquitos with tortilla chips.
If you love my recipe for Lazy Enchiladas as much as our family does, make sure you share it on social media so your friends can give it a try too! Don’t forget to bookmark it so you can make it again next time you need a tasty lazy meal.
Preheat and Prep. Preheat your oven to 375F and spray a 9×13 baking dish with nonstick spray.
Assemble the Lazy Enchiladas. Pour 1/3 of the can of enchilada sauce into the bottom of the casserole dish. Place the frozen taquitos in a single layer on top of the sauce. Add the remaining sauce on top of the taquitos. Top the taquito casserole with shredded cheese.
Bake. Cover the casserole dish and bake for 10 minutes. Remove the aluminum foil and bake for an additional 10 minutes.
Serve and Enjoy! Serve with your favorite toppings and dig in.
I'm married to my high school sweetheart and we have three amazing sons.
I love carbs, cheese, and all things spicy and deep fried. There's nothing that makes me happier than a full kitchen table and a family with a full belly!
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