eggplant tortilla casserole
Recipes

Eggplant Tortilla Casserole
This layered casserole is inspired by classic cheese enchiladas, minus the fuss of rolling and stuffing individual tortillas. You'd never guess that within this comforting casserole hides a layer of thinly sliced eggplant. The thin slices become tender when roasted and add a subtle savory note.
Ingredients
- 1 medium eggplant (about 1 lb.)
- 2 tablespoons neutral oil, such as canola or avocado, divided
- 2 medium onions, thinly sliced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon chili powder
- 2 teaspoons dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 (28 ounce) can no-salt-added diced tomatoes
- 2 (15 ounce) cans no-salt-added black beans, rinsed
- 2 (4.5 ounce) cans mild green chiles
- ¼ cup chopped fresh cilantro
- 10 corn tortillas, quartered
- 1 cup shredded extra-sharp cheddar cheese
Directions
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Coat a large rimmed baking sheet and two 8-inch-square baking dishes with cooking spray.
- Peel the eggplant; slice into 1/4-inch-thick rounds. Halve the rounds (or quarter, if large). Arrange in a single layer on the prepared baking sheet; brush 1 Tbsp. oil over the eggplant. Bake, turning once, until the eggplant is just beginning to brown on the edges, 10 to 15 minutes. Let cool.
- Heat the remaining 1 Tbsp. oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add onions and cook, stirring, until soft, about 10 minutes. Add garlic, chili powder, oregano, onion powder, and cumin; continue cooking just until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Stir in tomatoes, beans, chiles, and cilantro. Set aside.
- To assemble the casseroles: Cover the bottom of each baking dish with 1/4 of the tortilla pieces. Spread 1 cup of the tomato-bean mixture over the tortillas, then sprinkle each with 1/4 cup Cheddar. Top each with a layer of 1/2 of the eggplant pieces, then layer each with 1 cup of the tomato-bean mixture. Divide the remaining tortilla pieces and remaining tomato-bean mixture between the casseroles, then sprinkle each with 1/4 cup Cheddar. Cover both dishes with foil. Label and freeze one casserole for up to 1 month.
- Bake the remaining casserole until bubbling, about 30 minutes.
- Uncover and continue baking until the cheese is lightly browned, about 10 minutes more. Let stand for 5 minutes before cutting.