This gluten-free enchilada casserole is my quick fix for making healthier weeknight meals. Combine enchilada sauce, sweet potatoes, kale, and beef chorizo for an easy, healthy weeknight meal. This meal is under 45-minutes and not only is a crowd-pleaser but a great way to hide veggies for kids!
This healthier enchilada casserole is gluten-free but keeps the essentials ingredients of your favorite enchilada recipe!
I LOVE enchiladas. Cheesy, crispy but soft, filling, flavorful bites of saucy meat, cheese and tortilla. It was my favorite dish my mom would make when I was in school. I now have the biggest problem: gluten-free tortillas ALWAYS BREAK. I could fry the tortillas but honestly who has time to fry them, roll them, fill them, etc.! I also don’t want to add the extra oil.
The solution? An enchilada casserole! It is two layers of: enchilada sauce, corn tortillas, healthier filling and cheese.
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How To (Step-By-Step)
The steps to this enchilada casserole are quite easy and take under 45-minutes!
FILLING: Cook beef chorizo with shredded kale and diced sweet potatoes. Allow the chorizo to season the vegetables. No oil here, only water!
BUILD THE CASSEROLE: Layer the tortillas, enchilada sauce, filling and cheese.
BAKE: Into the oven to bake!
TOPPINGS: Onto the best elements, the toppings! I always add limes, cilantro, and some guacamole goes a long way!
Tips for this Enchilada Casserole
- KALE. Use your favorite kind of kale. I prefer using curly kale! If you’re not a fan, swap for spinach! Always feel free to use more.
- BEEF CHORIZO. Can’t find un-cooked chorizo? You can use pre-cooked chorizo links. Follow the steps outlined, and break up the links into bite-sized pieces.
- TORTILLAS. I use corn tortillas because I prefer the taste (and they’re gluten-free), but you can use flour tortillas as well.
- ENCHILADA SAUCE. Buy your favorite enchilada sauce! I use red enchilada sauce, but if you’re all about that green enchilada sauce go for it!
- SHREDDED CHEESE. I use shredded cheddar cheese for this recipe. You can also use a Mexican-flavored shredded cheese, Pepper Jack, or other preference. For a dairy-free version, swap for dairy-free shredded cheese!
- SWEET POTATO. I love adding sweet potatoes for the filling. It gives extra mild sweet flavor to balance the spicier beef chorizo. You can use russet potatoes if you prefer.
- EXTRA VEG. Looking to add extra vegetables? Feel free to use diced bell peppers of any color, greens like spinach, or corn.
- EXTRA SPICE. Add jalapeño into the filling for extra heat!
Diet Substitutions
- VEGAN. Looking for a vegan option? Omit the chorizo and swap for black beans (drained) and roast the potatoes instead. Stir in 1 TSP of taco seasoning or chili seasoning.
- DAIRY-FREE. Swap shredded cheese for dairy-free shredded cheese! Make sure to watch the cheese when broiling it as dairy-free cheese tends to not melt as well, but can burn.
- EXTRA GUAC. Make guacamole to top: 2 avocados, 2 limes (juiced), and garlic salt.
- LOW CARB. For a low-carb option, remove the sweet potatoes. Swap for extra veggies like bell peppers, spinach, or extra kale.
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📖 Recipe
Gluten-Free Beef Chorizo, Kale & Sweet Potato Enchilada Casserole
Ingredients
- 8 Ounces Shredded Cheddar Cheese
- 2 Small Sweet Potatoes
- 4 Cups Shredded Kale
- 16 Ounces Chorizo Beef, Pork or Soy; uncooked or cooked
- 18 Ounces Red Enchilada Sauce
- 5 Corn Tortillas 6-8"
- ¼ Cup Water
Toppings (optional)
- 1 Lime
- 1 Avocado
- 1 Bundle Cilantro
- 1 Jalapeño
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425ºF.
- In a pot on the stove, start to cook the chorizo at medium-high heat - no need to add any fat. Break the chorizo into bite sized pieces.
- While the chorizo is cooking, peel and dice the sweet potatoes into ½-inch cubes. Cut the tortillas in half and leave to the side.
- Once the chorizo completes cooking, add the sweet potatoes and the water. Immediately cover. Every few minutes, remove the lid and stir, placing the lid back on after.
- Cook the chorizo and sweet potatoes until the potatoes are fork-tender (about 8-minutes).
- Once the sweet-potatoes are fork-tender, add in the kale and 1 Cup enchilada sauce to the pot and stir. Once kale wilts, remove the pot from the heat.
- Pour ¾ Cup of the enchilada sauce in the bottom of a 9x13-inch baking dish. Tilt the dish around in a circle so the sauce covers the entire bottom.
- Place four tortilla halves on top of the enchilada sauce. Put the flat edge touching the side of the baking dish.
- Spoon the beef chorizo, kale, sweet potato mixture on top and cover with a layer of cheese (use about ½ of the bag).
- Make a second-layer of tortillas using the six remaining halves. Lay four with the flat edge touching the baking dish side and the final two halves in the center. Layer again with the final ¾ Cup of the enchilada sauce.
- Top with the final layer of cheese, completing the bag.
- Put in the oven for 10-minutes. After 10-minutes, put on broil for 3-minutes, until the cheese browns and bubbles a bit.
- Take out of the oven and use a spatula to slice into four pieces. Serve in bowls or plates, with toppings on top or on the side!
I made this and it was delicious! Thanks Elise!!!!
I added a little more kale then the recipe called for and I added some spinach too.
Thanks, Linda! I love that you added spinach as well - the more greens the better! So glad you enjoyed :)
I tried to give it 5 stars but only 3 went. Sorry. It’s a 5 star!
This is awesome!!! SO flavorful! Cutting the sweet potatoes was the only time consuming part otherwise this is so easy to make. Even the left overs were good! I highly recommend this recipe.
So glad you enjoyed, Leslie!
Wow. This is definitely a favorite. I never would have thought of putting chorizo and sweet potato together but the flavor is amazing! The slight spice with the sweet is delicious! I have also heard you can get precut frozen sweet potatoes, not sure if that would be any good, but I am sure that may shorten the process. Either way I love this dish so much.