Here's a healthy ground beef recipe that's sure to please the entire family. It does mine.
It's a lighter healthier take on a a recipe called Family Burrito Bake from the Pampered Chef Dinner in Your Deep Covered Baker (affiliate link) Cookbook, that's already pretty healthy.
Photo Credit: Pampered Chef
Recipe Notes
Because it's made with corn tortillas - not flour - this quick & easy healthy dish is really more of a ground beef enchilada casserole or Mexican lasagna. (Burritos are traditionally made with flour tortillas, but would get soggy in a casserole dish (affiliate link) like this.
Regardless of what you call it, I love that this recipe makes for an easy and delicious dinner using common ingredients many people keep stocked in their kitchen.
How Many Calories and WW Points in this Enchilada Casserole?
The original recipe has 340 calories calories - pretty good for such a hearty satisfying Mexican dish. I was able to shave off calories and WW SmartPoints by using fat-free refried beans, using reduced-fat cheese and cutting the amount of cheese in half.
According to my calculations this slimmed down version has 298 calories and
6 *SmartPoints (Green plan)
4 *SmartPoints (Blue plan)
4 *SmartPoints (Purple plan)
7 *PointsPlus (Old plan)
To see your WW PersonalPoints for this recipe and track it in the WW app or site, Click here!
Isn't it great to be able to satisfy your cravings for Mexican food without guilt?
Recipe Substitutions
No ground beef? Substitute ground turkey or chicken for the beef if you prefer. Chopped or shredded cooked chicken or turkey would also work well would also work well.
Photo Credit: F. Quinn
Serving Suggestions
Healthy sides that would go well with this Mexican inspired casserole include:
- Simple tossed green salad ( love the bagged chopped salads widely available in supermarkets these days.)
- Zucchini (sauteed, roasted or grilled
- Zucchini tomato mushroom skillet
- Zucchini noodles (Zoodles)
- Cauliflower rice (I love to keep a package or two in the freezer for when I'm too lazy to make it myself.)
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Slim & Healthy Ground Beef Enchilada Casserole Recipe
Ingredients
- Non-stick cooking spray
- 1 medium onion, chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, pressed
- 1 pound extra-lean ground beef
- 2 tablespoons low-sodium taco seasoning mix
- 1 can (11 ounces) Mexican corn, drained
- 1 jar (12 ounces) chunky salsa
- 6 corn tortillas (6 inches each)
- 1 can (16 ounces) non-fat refried beans
- 3 tablespoons water
- 1 cup grated reduced-fat Monterey Jack or Mexican style cheese blend
- Chopped fresh tomato and chopped fresh green onions for garnish (if desired)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400F degrees.
- Mist a large skillet set over medium heat with nonstick cooking spray. Add the onion, garlic and beef to the skillet, breaking up the beef and stirring until the beef is browned and onion is softened. Drain the beef mixture. Stir in the taco seasoning, corn and 1 cup of the salsa and mix well.
- In a small bowl, combine the refried beans and water until smooth and spreadable.
- To assemble, spray a 9x13-inch baking dish with non-stick cooking spray. Place 2 tortillas over bottom of the dish. Cut one tortilla to fill any gaps as layers are assembled. Spread ⅓ beans evenly over tortillas. Top with ⅓ beef mixuture and ⅓ of the cheese. Repeat layers one time. Arrange remaining 2 tortillas over cheese. Top with remaining beans and beef mixture.
- Cover and bake in 400F degree oven until hot, about 25 minutes. Remove foil and top evenly with remaining salsa and cheese. Bake until cheese is melted, another 5 to 10 minutes.
- Remove from the oven and let rest and set for 5 to 10 minutes before serving. Garnish with chopped fresh tomato and green onions if desired. Divide the casserole into 8 even servings.
Equipment
Recipe Notes
Source: the Pampered Chef Dinner in Your Deep Covered Baker (affiliate link) Cookbook
*Points® calculated by WW. *PointsPlus® and SmartPoints® calculated by Simple Nourished Living; Not endorsed by Weight Watchers International, Inc. All recipe ingredients except optional items included in determining nutritional estimates. SmartPoints® values calculated WITHOUT each plan's ZeroPoint Foods (Green plan, Blue plan, Purple plan) using the WW Recipe Builder.
More Healthy WW Friendly Mexican Casserole Recipes from my Favorite Websites:
- Bubble Up Enchiladas - Bubble Up Enchiladas is a casserole dish (affiliate link) made with layers of biscuits, ground turkey and enchilada sauce, and topped with cheese. They call it Bubble Up because of the biscuits "bubble up" when they bake in the oven. (Recipe-Diaries)
- Healthy Taco Casserole - Healthy Taco Casserole with ground turkey, pinto beans, corn, salsa, and cheese makes a healthy, easy, and filling meal your whole family will love (Slender Kitchen)
- Layered Chicken Enchilada Bake - If you love Mexican flavors and you are looking for a meaty, cheesy, saucy casserole that will fill you up and satisfy your cravings, this Layered Chicken Enchilada Bake is for you. (Emily Bites)
- Skinny Beef & Bean Enchilada Casserole - Forget all the tortilla rolling, I've got a skinny twist that’s easy to assemble and really, really good. This casserole has many of the same ingredients of a classic enchilada and some updated skinny ones too. For example, instead of adding a large amount of high fat cheese, I'm adding fat-free cottage cheese to the layers and only topping with ½ cup of shredded reduced-fat cheese. (Skinny Kitchen)
- Two Ingredient Dough Bubble Up Enchilada Casserole - This Two Ingredient Dough Enchilada Casserole is filled with ground turkey, beans, corn and then smothered in a red enchilada sauce. This makes for a simple yet delicious meal that the whole family will love! (Pound Dropper)
- WW Chicken Enchilada Bake - Do you love the flavors of Mexican food? Sometimes it takes a little creativity and effort to find the perfect Weight Watchers recipe, but it is possible to make recipes healthier and more points friendly! So satisfying you won't even miss those extra calories. (Life is Sweeter by Design)
And here's a great video demonstrating making a yummy Weight Watchers Mexican Lasagna from WW Girl...
Martha is the founder and main content writer for Simple-Nourished-Living.
A longtime lifetime WW at goal, she is committed to balancing her love of food and desire to stay slim while savoring life and helping others do the same.
She is the author of the Smart Start 28-Day Weight Loss Challenge.
A huge fan of the slow cooker and confessed cookbook addict, when she's not experimenting in the kitchen, you're likely to find Martha on her yoga mat.
This post contains affiliate links to products I like. When you buy something through one of my Amazon links or other (affiliate links), I receive a small commission that helps support this site. Thank you for your purchase!
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KIMLOTUS
What is the serving size?
Martha McKinnon
Hi KimLotus, The serving size is 1/8th of the casserole. Divide the casserole into 8 even pieces and each piece has the calories/points plus specified. Hope this helps.
Katherine
Made this tonight and it was a hit! Very flavourful! It will be a staple in my monthly menu plan. Yummmmm!
Martha McKinnon
Thanks for letting us know Katherine!
Kelly Izquierdo
Family loved it, even my picky son, but I used roasted corn instead of Mexican corn.
Martha McKinnon
So happy to hear this Kelly! Thanks for letting us know.
Andrea Hernandez
My three kids loves this recipe. My only complaint is that it doesn’t serve 8. I followed the recipe, but there was just not enough. Was barely enough for my 3 kiddos. Maybe they just really liked it??
Lynette
What would the points be if I use flour tortillas
chris
Are 2 small corn tortillas supposed to cover the bottom of a 9 x 13 pan?
Is there some trick I'm missing? Do I cut it up or something?
Jan David
You didn't include the tortillas in the points?
Cindy
Was easy and so delicious! Grandson loved it too. Will be a keeper!
Steve & Pat
We loved this recipe. Very good Mexican flavor. We used chopped left over rotisserie chicken breast and it worked great. We were surprised that the serving size was plenty with a small salad.
Thanks
Gayle
Can I post recipes to Pinterest?
Martha McKinnon
Hi Gayle, We've been having some technical issues with the Pinterest Pin capabilities. Hoping to have it resolved soon. ~Martha
Ccg
Tasty!
Carol Greene
My family loved it and it was sooo easy to make!
Angela
Would I be able to freeze this?
Martha McKinnon
Hi Angela, Though I haven't tried it, I believe this would freeze fine. ~Martha
Kayleigh Duggan
This was absolutely AMAZING.
I used enchilada sauce in place of salsa and cottage cheese in place of beans because I’m allergic.
Added a few mushrooms and some tajin seasoning. I used Mission extra thin corn tortillas which added a perfect flavor.
I have added this to my regular dinner rotation and already can’t wait for leftovers tomorrow! Thank you so much for this fabulous recipe!!
SusieMA
If I use ground turkey breast will the points be less?
Teresa Boyd
could not find Mexican corn...used regular can of corn. used 1 cup hot salsa (we like spicy) and for top used can of Rotel tomatoes. VERY GOOD