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Hearty Butternut Squash & Black Bean Enchilada Bake Recipe

Hearty Butternut Squash & Black Bean Enchilada Bake Recipe


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4.5 from 31 reviews

  • Total Time: 35 minutes
  • Yield: 7 1x

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

  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. Ingredient Integration: Incorporate black beans and torn corn tortilla strips into the vegetable mixture, ensuring even distribution and creating a complex flavor profile.
  4. Sauce Fusion: Drench the skillet contents with enchilada sauce, creating a unified and rich culinary base that binds all ingredients together.
  5. 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.
  6. 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