When I’m craving Mexican food but still want dinner to be easy and healthy, this Crockpot Mexican Casserole checks all the boxes.
I attribute my regular cravings for Mexican flavor to my mother, who I’m convinced needs a dose of Mexican food at least twice a week in order to maintain her equilibrium.
- Growing up, at least 50% of the meals we ate out were Mexican…or “Mexican” depending upon how strictly you define the term.
- Our traditional Christmas night dinner? My grammy’s Green Chile Chicken Enchiladas.
- Clearly, the love of Mexican food spans generations.
Now, I will not for a second pretend that the Mexican recipes I make at home, such as this crockpot Mexican casserole, are authentic, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t delicious.
Make this recipe tonight, then stow some away for the next time you need a fast, healthy dinner…or for when your own Mexican craving strikes!
This particular crockpot Mexican casserole recipe is ultra easy to make, reasonably healthy, and offers the convenience you are seeking when you pull out your crock pot.
No, you won’t find this crockpot Mexican turkey casserole recipe on an actual Mexican restaurant menu, but when your family is clamoring for second helpings, you’ll be too busy congratulating yourself on serving an easy meal that’s loaded with fiber and protein to worry about that small detail.
5 Star Review
“WOW! I made this recipe last night, and I am totally blown away by how delicious this is!”
— Dan —
How to Make Crockpot Mexican Casserole
Like the more authentic Mexican food that inspired it, this ground turkey slow cooker casserole is the right mix of comfort and freshness.
The spices are rich but not overpowering, and like my other slow cooker Mexican recipes, from Slow Cooker Taco Casserole to Crockpot Mexican Chicken to Slow Cooker Chicken Enchilada Soup, it’s a complete crowd pleaser every time I serve it.
The Ingredients
- Ground Turkey. Not only does ground turkey help make the casserole more satisfying, but it also adds scrumptious flavor. Plus, it’s a lean and healthy source of protein.
- Quinoa. Helps make the casserole extra satisfying. Additionally, quinoa is packed with fiber and is considered and complete protein.
- Red Enchilada Sauce. Smoky and bursting with beloved Mexican flavor. Either canned enchilada sauce or my stellar homemade red Enchilada Sauce will work well.
- Black Beans. Creamy and nutritious. Black beans are rich in fiber and protein.
- Fire-Roasted Tomatoes. Incredibly rich, smoky flavor packed into the convenience of a can.
- Corn. A delicious and sweet addition to our Mexican casserole.
- Bell Peppers. Red and green bell peppers add beautiful color and nutritional benefits to the dish.
- Spices. Garlic powder, chili powder, and cumin give the casserole bold, earthy flavor. Keep these on hand at all times.
- Mexican Blend Cheese. For that must-have melty, cheesy topping.
The Directions
- Brown the turkey, then transfer it to a slow cooker.
- Stir in the remaining casserole ingredients (except the cheese). Cook on HIGH for 2 1/2 to 3 hours or on LOW for 5 to 6 hours.
- Stir in part of the cheese, and add the remaining cheese on top. Cook on HIGH until the cheese melts. ENJOY!
Storage Tips
- To Store. Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight storage container for up to 4 days.
- To Reheat. Gently rewarm leftovers in a baking dish in the oven at 350 degrees F or in the microwave.
- To Freeze. Freeze casserole in an airtight freezer-safe storage container for up to 3 months. Let thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.
Meal Prep Tip
You can sauté the turkey and onions up to 1 day in advance and chop the peppers 1 day in advance as well. Store in the refrigerator in separate containers, then add to the slow cooker according to the directions when ready to cook.
Leftover Ideas
Leftover crockpot Mexican casserole makes a fabulous topping for nachos. You can also tuck it into tortillas for delicious enchiladas.
What to Serve with Crockpot Mexican Casserole
Recommended Tools to Make this Recipe
- Slow Cooker. Be sure it is at least 6 quarts (you could maybe squeeze it in a 5 quart, but I haven’t tried). Perfect for any of my easy Mexican crockpot recipes!
- Dutch Oven. Great for browning the meat.
- Can Opener. A must-have tool for every kitchen.
The Best Slow Cooker
No matter which of my delicious slow cooker recipes you want to make, this high-quality, programmable version will work well.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, you can swap the red enchilada sauce for green if you prefer.
While I haven’t tried making this into a crockpot Mexican casserole with rice, a few readers have swapped rice successfully. You may need to adjust the cook time and liquid ratio.
Follow the directions for my Instant Pot Mexican Casserole recipe instead.
Crockpot Mexican Casserole
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 pound ground turkey or chicken, I used 93% lean ground turkey
- 1 medium yellow onion diced
- 1 cup uncooked quinoa
- 2 (10-ounce) cans red enchilada sauce (mild or medium) or 2 1/2 cups homemade red enchilada sauce
- 1 (15-ounce) can black beans drained and rinsed
- 1 (15-ounce) can fire-roasted diced tomatoes in their juices
- 1 cup corn kernels fresh or frozen
- 1 red bell pepper cored and diced
- 1 green bell pepper cored and diced
- 2 tablespoons chili powder
- 1 tablespoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 cup water
- 1 cup shredded Mexican blend cheese divided
- For serving: chopped fresh cilantro diced avocado, chopped green onion, sour cream or plain Greek yogurt
Instructions
- Heat the olive oil in a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium high. Add the turkey and onion. Cook and stir, breaking up the turkey as you go, until the turkey is no longer pink, about 5 minutes. Transfer to the bottom of a large slow cooker.
- To the slow cooker, add the quinoa, enchilada sauce, black beans, tomatoes, corn, red bell pepper, green bell pepper, chili powder, cumin, garlic powder, and 1/2 cup water. Stir to combine, then cover and cook on high for 2 1/2 to 3 hours or low for 5 to 6 hours, until the liquid is absorbed and the quinoa is tender.
- Remove the lid and stir. Taste and adjust any seasonings as desired. Stir in 1/2 cup of the shredded cheese, then sprinkle the remaining cheese over the top. Cover and cook on high until the cheese melts, about 10 to 15 minutes. Serve hot with any desired toppings.
Video
Notes
- TO MAKE AHEAD: You can sauté the turkey and onions up to 1 day in advance and chop the peppers 1 day in advance as well. Store in the refrigerator in separate containers, then add to the slow cooker according to the directions when ready to cook.
- TO STORE: Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight storage container for up to 4 days.
- TO REHEAT: Gently rewarm leftovers in a baking dish in the oven at 350 degrees F or in the microwave.
- TO FREEZE: Freeze casserole in an airtight freezer-safe storage container for up to 3 months. Let thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.
Nutrition
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This is an excellent recipe! It is delicious and very nutritious…and super easy to make! I love the addition of sour cream or plain yogurt, cheese, and avocado. My whole family enjoyed it, including my 3-year-old grandson!
Hi Clair! So glad you enjoyed the recipe! Thank you for this kind review!
My family loves this! It is in our regular cycle of meals. I’m my family of 6, some eat it like chili, some eat it as a dip with tortilla chips, and it is delicious left over. It’s a good meal prepping dish is it doesn’t all get eaten.
Hi Aimee! So glad you enjoyed the recipe! Thank you for this kind review!
Too much chili powder, very dry and spicy
I’m sorry to hear the recipe wasn’t to your taste, Cheryl. I know it’s disappointing to try a new recipe and not enjoy it. I (and many other readers) have enjoyed it, so I really wish they would’ve been a hit for you too!
Would the recipe doubled fit in a traditional crockpot?
Hi Sara! I’m not sure what you mean when you say traditional crockpot?
Just made the recipe doubled and it fits totally fine! Even with extra cheese 🙂
Great to hear! Thank you Tony!
This was very good! Thank you! Made with hamburger and well rinsed kidney beans ( was out of black beans). My husband is on a low-sodium diet so I made the enchilada sauce recipe with homemade seasoning and tomato paste to cut down on salt. Used just a sprinkle of cheese. My husband is picky and he loved it.
Hi Marta! So glad you enjoyed the recipe! Thank you for this kind review!
Turned out really mushy, even cooked on low.
I’m sorry to hear you had trouble with the recipe, Janet. I know it can be so disappointing to try a new recipe and it does not turn out for you. It has worked well for myself (and others) and I wished it would have been a hit for you too.
I really wanted to love this recipe, especially since Mexican food is a staple in my house and crock pot meals are the best option for cooking in this Southern summer heat. Unfortunately, it really wasn’t good.. I followed the recipe to a tee, but it turned out tasting bland and dry and with overcooked quinoa. Possibly for the first time ever my husband didn’t go back for seconds, or even eat a few extra bites while cleaning up after dinner. We both snacked on the leftovers but ended up throwing most of them out after a few days.
I’m sorry to hear the recipe wasn’t to your taste, KH. I know it’s disappointing to try a new recipe and not enjoy it. I (and many other readers) have enjoyed it, so I really wish they would’ve been a hit for you too!
This recipe is fantastic! I made it this week as a meal prep for lunches for myself and my husband. The recipe was super easy to execute. I used ground turkey, tri-colored quinoa, and frozen corn in my version. My husband and I both loved it!! It’s super filling with the amount of fiber in it. It reheats great in the microwave. I followed the instructions word-for-word. The only addition I made was I seasoned the onions and turkey with salt and pepper when I cooked them, and I seasoned the whole casserole with salt & pepper after it was done cooking. I will definitely make this again!
Hi Danielle! So glad you enjoyed the recipe! Thank you for this kind review!
I have never commented on a recipe in my 37 years of life, but I had to say this is SO good. I’m trying to do a healthy meal prep, and this was insanely easy and delicious!!!!! It tastes like a Mexican-style chili almost. I packed mine with veggies and did just one can of the enchilada sauce. I’m not a big fan of quinoa but it melts in there and soaks up the flavors. Delicious! Thank you!
Hi Sivan! So glad you enjoyed the recipe! Thank you for this kind review!
Delish! Making it a second time! I was curious if you knew approximately how big one serving was. I was hoping to enter it on a calorie tracker. Thank you!
Hi Renee! So glad you enjoyed the recipe! I’m sorry I didn’t measure out the servings. It will be 1/8 of the recipe.