Description
Rich butternut squash & black bean enchilada bake brings Mexican comfort to hearty dinner tables. Layered flavors merge roasted vegetables, spices, and melted cheese for a satisfying meal you’ll savor.
Ingredients
																
							Scale
													
									
			- 1 (15 oz/425 g) can red enchilada sauce
 - 8 yellow corn tortillas
 - 3 cups butternut squash (½-inch-diced, peeled)
 - 1 (15 oz/425 g) can black beans, drained and rinsed
 - 1 cup shredded Colby Jack or Mexican cheese
 - 1 medium yellow onion, diced
 - 3 cloves garlic, minced
 - ½ jalapeno, diced
 - 1 tbsp olive oil or avocado oil
 - 1 tsp cumin
 - 1 tsp chili powder
 - Salt
 - Pepper
 - Cilantro
 - Greek yogurt
 
Instructions
- Sauté Foundation: Heat olive oil in an oven-safe skillet over medium flame. Introduce diced onion, minced garlic, and chopped jalapeno, stirring until vegetables become translucent and fragrant.
 - Vegetable Transformation: Add cubed butternut squash, generously seasoning with cumin, chili powder, salt, and pepper. Cook while occasionally covering with a lid, allowing vegetables to caramelize and develop deep, robust flavors.
 - Ingredient Integration: Incorporate black beans and torn corn tortilla strips into the vegetable mixture, ensuring even distribution and creating a complex flavor profile.
 - Sauce Fusion: Drench the skillet contents with enchilada sauce, creating a unified and rich culinary base that binds all ingredients together.
 - Cheese Layering: Disperse half the cheese throughout the mixture, stirring to create pockets of melted goodness. Top with remaining cheese and transfer to a high-temperature broiler.
 - Final Flourish: Broil until cheese transforms into a golden, bubbling crust. Remove from heat and garnish with fresh cilantro leaves. Serve with optional accompaniments like Greek yogurt, guacamole, or hot sauce to elevate the dining experience.
 
Notes
- Squash Caramelization Tip: Dice butternut squash uniformly to ensure even cooking and maximize caramelized edges for deeper flavor complexity.
 - Spice Balance Strategy: Adjust chili powder and cumin quantities based on personal heat tolerance, allowing customizable flavor intensity.
 - Tortilla Texture Hack: Use slightly stale corn tortillas for better absorption and structural integrity within the enchilada bake.
 - Cheese Melting Technique: Select a cheese blend with good melting properties like monterey jack or mild cheddar to achieve optimal golden, stretchy coverage.
 
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
 - Cook Time: 20 minutes
 - Category: Dinner, Lunch
 - Method: Baking
 - Cuisine: Mexican
 
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 7
 - Calories: 250
 - Sugar: 4 g
 - Sodium: 600 mg
 - Fat: 10 g
 - Saturated Fat: 3 g
 - Unsaturated Fat: 7 g
 - Trans Fat: 0 g
 - Carbohydrates: 36 g
 - Fiber: 8 g
 - Protein: 9 g
 - Cholesterol: 15 mg