Spicy Mexican Beef Bake

This layered, ground beef and black bean enchilada casserole is easy to assemble and sure to be voted a keeper with the whole family.

This recipe is an excellent source of fiber, protein, niacin, vitamin B6, vitamin B12, iron, selenium and zinc.

Recipe Ingredients:

1 1/2 pounds ground beef (95% lean)
3 (10-ounce) cans mild or hot enchilada sauce
1 tablespoon brown sugar, packed
1 (15-ounce) can black beans, drained and rinsed
3/4 cup chopped red bell pepper
1/3 cup diced celery
1/3 cup diced onion
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cumin
15 corn tortillas (6 to 7-inch diameter)
1 cup shredded reduced-fat Mexican cheese blend
Sour cream (optional)

Cooking Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 400°F (205°C).
2. Combine enchilada sauce and brown sugar in large bowl, stirring until sugar is dissolved. Set aside.
3. Heat large nonstick skillet over medium heat until hot. Add ground beef; cook 8 to 10 minutes, breaking into 1/2-inch crumbles and stirring occasionally. Pour off drippings, if necessary.
4. Stir in 2 1/2 cups sauce mixture, beans, bell pepper, celery, onion and cumin; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
5. Spray a 13x9x2-inch glass baking dish with nonstick cooking spray. Spread half of remaining sauce mixture over bottom of baking dish. Arrange 5 tortillas over sauce in dish, overlapping slightly; top with 1/2 of beef mixture and 1/4 cup cheese. Repeat layers once, using all remaining beef mixture, 5 tortillas and 1/4 cup cheese. Top with remaining 5 tortillas and sauce mixture, spreading sauce evenly to moisten tortillas. Reserve remaining 1/2 cup cheese.
6. Cover dish with foil. Bake in 400°F (205°C) oven 30 to 35 minutes or until heated through and bubbly. Remove foil; sprinkle with reserved cheese. Bake, uncovered, 2 to 3 minutes or until cheese is melted. Let stand, uncovered, 10 minutes.
7. Serve with a dollop of sour cream, if desired.

Makes 8 servings.

Test Kitchen Tips:

• Cooking times are for fresh or thoroughly thawed ground beef.
• Ground beef should be cooked to an internal temperature of 160°F (71.1°C).
• Color is not a reliable indicator of ground beef doneness.

Nutritional Information Per Serving (1/8 of recipe): 349 calories; 11 g fat (4 g saturated fat; 2 g monounsaturated fat); 67 mg cholesterol; 696 mg sodium; 38 g carbohydrate; 6.2 g fiber; 27 g protein; 5.5 mg niacin; 0.4 mg vitamin B6; 1.7 mcg vitamin B12; 3.7 mg iron; 16.5 mcg selenium; 5.2 mg zinc.

Recipe and photograph courtesy of The Beef Checkoff.