Ridiculously Easy Lunchbox Enchilada Casserole
Now, I'm telling you all this for a very simple reason: I'm hoping you'll take it easy on me when you see the following recipe, one that's guaranteed to offend everyone from lunchbox gourmands to raw foodists. If you loathe food out of cans, object to microwave ovens, or fear cooking in plastic, get away, quick, and don't look back! Because what you're about to see might shake you to your very core.
This is what I made for my daughter's lunch on Friday:

Just about everything in it came out of a can or a jar, and I heated it in plastic in the microwave. All together, it took me just 6 minutes, about the same time it would have taken to make the peanut butter sandwich she begged me not to make. And you know what--she loved it.
While I was at it, I put together two more servings of this ridiculously easy enchilada casserole, one for my husband to take with him to work and one for myself. I figured I needed something stronger than salad to pull me out of my blahs, and a hot lunch just might do the trick. You know, it may have worked: it was a tasty and warm treat on yet another cold, rainy day. And, more importantly, it gave me something to blog about!

Ridiculously Easy Lunchbox Enchilada Casserole
(printer-friendly version)
The amount of ingredients you need for this will depend on the size of the container you're making it in. My daughter's 12-ounce microwaveable thermos held less than the CorningWare dishes that I used for my and my husband's lunches, so the ingredients listed below are just approximations based on one serving--you may find you need more or less.
1/2 cup salsa
2-3 corn tortillas, cut into quarters
2/3 cup fat-free refried beans or chili beans (or a combination of the 2)
1/4 cup frozen corn kernels
a handful washed baby spinach
2-3 jumbo black olives, sliced
Choose a 1-serving dish that can be safely microwaved. (The thermos shown above is designed to be put into the microwave; most are not and should not be used for this.) Spread a couple of tablespoons of salsa in the bottom of the dish. Next place a layer of tortillas over the salsa, trying to cover most of the dish's bottom--a little overlapping is okay. Spread the tortilla with half of the beans and top with the spinach. Add another layer of tortillas. Spread with the rest of the beans, sprinkle with the corn, and spoon a little salsa over the corn. Top with a final layer of tortillas. Spread the tortillas with a good layer of salsa, and put the olives on the top. (Or, hold the olives and add them after cooking.)
Cover the top loosely with waxed paper (do not use the thermos top), and put the dish into the microwave. Cook on high power until heated all the way through, 2 to 3 minutes.
Microwaves vary, so check to make sure that the inside is warm by inserting a knife into the middle and checking a sample. If you're making this in a thermos, it will continue to cook after you've sealed the container, so getting it hot in the middle is not so important. If serving right away, heat it until it's very hot and then let it sit for a few minutes to cool.
Makes one serving. With 2 tortillas and 2 olives: 306 Calories (kcal); 3g Total Fat; (7% calories from fat); 12g Protein; 62g Carbohydrate; 0mg Cholesterol; 1287mg Sodium; 9g Fiber. 6 Weight Watchers Points (or Core plus 1 point for tortillas).
Tags: vegan recipes vegetarian cooking food fat-free
Labels: Ridiculously Easy














38 Comments:
sounds AWESOME.
wow, susan, you actually just described one of my fears. my blog is still a baby blog but the other day I was thinking: what do I do when I have blogged about every original, tasty dish I know????
don't be too hard on yourself, the winter blues gets us all. cooking in microwaves in plastic dishes is absolutely ok if you don't do it every day. which, as we know, you don't.
Wow! So easy, but it looks delicious.
Oh I know that blogging burnout feeling and the ennui - this looks like a great dish for when cooking feels a bit much!
I've done something like this similar in a small crockpot (1.5 qt?) and found it neat to sprinkle some nutritional yeast between layers (or better yet, make a nutritional yeast sauce).
Best, Mark
hope you feel better soon!
It may be ridiculously easy, but it sure does look ridiculously delicious, too! So many of my favorite ingredients in one place!
I can relate about the rain--our equivalent over here is snow, and I've definitely HAD ENOUGH of it!! Hope the sun comes out soon. :)
I think the best things can come out of a can sometimes, so there's nothing wrong with packaged foods!
Although who can beat a fresh hydroponic tomato or home grown vegies hey? :D
this is terrific. thanks for the recipe. I appreciate easy ideas like this because I cook everyday and need some inspiration for those blah-dont-wanna-cook moments.
good idea
Thanks for this awesome looking recipe! I've actually been looking for individually portioned, microwaveable recipes today, and lo and behold, here we are! As a college student whose usually required to cook in a microwave in her tiny apartment, recipes like this are a godsend.
I believe I have been in the same spot. The one thing is that my dinners have been bean burritos or toast and peanut butter. This looks really good. I wish you sunshine and warmer weather. It rained here all day yesterday and today. Tonight we finally have stars. I did make 3 loaves of bread today. Gotta be able to make toast. :o)
i just made this in a bowl for dinner to test it out. amazingly delicious! i plan on making this for my boyfriends lunch tomorrow, accompanied by some fried spanish rice and vegan cheese. :)
I can use such a ridiculously recipe on those lazy days. But this is still healthy. Thanks for the idea, Susan.
Wow, this looks delicious. Corn tortillas are hard to find on London (sigh). I have a tortilla press but it's kind of a pain and they never turn out terribly well. But this does remind me that I need to make salsa soon. Got any good recipes? ;-)
i might have to make an entire casserole out of this for dinner - and leftovers for lunch.
Monica--I don't have a real recipe for salsa. I just chop onions, peppers, and tomatoes and season to taste.
Maya--If you want to make a whole casserole dish full, take a look at my "regular" enchilada casserole recipe.
i completely understand about not wanting to cook much of anything original this time of year...it seems an effort just to throw some curry powder, veggies and lentils together in a pot some nights! But that recipe is lovely and easy and I'm sure tasty. I have these little round glass containers that would work perfectly for this and I think I might make up a few and stick them in the freezer as quick lunches for my partner. Thanks!
My sons eat something like this every single day when they get home from school... hehe. I see nothing wrong with it! (of course, my kids unfortunately put cheese on theirs)..
I think part of being a healthy vegan is realizing there can be healthy and delicious (and kid friendly) foods we can all enjoy.
perfect portion for such a perfect, delectable enchilada dish - yum!
hey susan,
at this time of year, everyone feels a bit of the blues sometimes. too much rain & grayness does not help at all. Thanks for the great recipe. i'm all about keeping things simple lately!! hope the sun comes out for you soon~
this is quite inspiring
i think we all need a bit of vitamin D!
Well, I think it looks great. There's nothing wrong with eating out of a can sometimes. There's something comforting about quick, canned convenience foods...just like grandma used to (and still does) whip up.
I love this idea. My boyfriend and I take our lunches to school each day and we're getting sick of *the usual* soup from a can, leftover stir fry, etc. This sounds like it will hit the spot nicely. Thanks for sharing!
Hey Susan,
So glad to see you unmasking the truth - that we aren't all 100% healthy,enviro, and 'on' 100% of the time.
Excellent post!
Susan,
thanks!
as a busy mom to 4 I love anything like this
However I don't have a microwave
I would get one but don't have the room.
I am sure I can pop this in the oven though-looks awesome & quick
Em
"...some kind of low-level depression caused by too many rainy days and too little sunlight." True that, sister. Ugh :P Seems like this fun Mexi-lunch brightened things up, though :)
Ridicously easy is #1 in my book.
Looks yummy! It is so nice to have a few standby recipes that you can throw together in no time at all.
Hi there,
So glad I stumbled on to your blog.. tried the fake mac n' cheese recipe and LOVED it.. (ps. yeast is such a massive nutrition bomb.. think it's possible to OD on it? With this recipe, I might just do that!)
Just wanted to say that this is a BRILLIANT blog. I'm a food-obsessed vegan myself and love to check out all sorts of blogs, but this is probably my favourite now. SO many things I want to try! I'm going to try the peach upside-down cake.. it doesn't sound too beyond my meager baking abilities.
Can't wait to try even more of your recipes. This enchilada casserole is no exception.. seems like a great thing to bring on the go.
Sincerely,
Jenna from Ottawa, Ontario
Ps. it's funny but these recipes don't even strike me as "fat-free" at face (they are delicious and rich, for one).. I guess it's because I have been eating this way for years.. I never even really think about fat. Geez, people really need to get off those unhealthy "diets" (Atkins or other starvation methods) and realize that the simplest method - fruits and veggies, whole grains, and lean protein (soy, beans, etc) - is the best method.
Susan, you took the words right out of my mouth, as you know! As always, thanks for your encouraging words on my blog- visiting yours is definitely fuel for my creativity!
Awesome idea! Thanks for sharing! :-)
Susan, I made a grilled enchilada version of this on my George Forman grill all the time...though Im not vegan so I usually add a tablespoon of low fat cheese,and hot sauce cause I love spices. I definitely have to try the layer and heat way though-I might even try doing it in an oven just to get a crispy top on those tortillas. Sounds really good.
wow! i just ate this, and it was fantastic, fast, and easy for lunch! I felt like I was eating real food, not food on the run like I so often do. Mind you, I'd never cooked refried beans before (I now feel so sheltered, as I'm usually very food wise, I think the 'fried' has always turned me off) and when i opened the can I was shocked! I was expecting beans! Now I feel really silly! ha! Apart from that, and the entire mouthful that ended up on my shirt, the best lunch I've had at work in AGES!
Thanks!
I just made this for lunch, and it is AWESOME!!
Thanks so much :)
This is fan-freakin-tastic! Thank you! I love how this tastes!
Thank for this recipe idea! It's so simple and delicious--perfect for at work! And it gave me an excuse to go out and buy some pretty little dishes to make it in ;-) I offered to make it for my dh, who NEVER takes his own food to work, and he's now hooked on it too. He said he'd eat it every night--somehow methinks he might tire of it after a few ;-)
Such an awesome, simple solution for a work day! Thanks so much, Susan. I have had this twice already in the last two weeks, and it is super delicious.
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