Carnitas Casserole is the perfect way to use leftover carnitas to make an easy recipe your whole family will love that is quick and easy. This is one of those easy dinner recipes that is great for busy weeknights!
You're going to want to add this recipe to your meal plan. Make a big batch of pork carnitas and use half for this easy casserole and make tacos or quesadillas out of the other half!
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This Carnitas Casserole is one of our go-to easy recipes for dinner. This recipe is perfect for repurposing leftovers and stretching your meat even further! This filling casserole recipe would make a great freezer meal and is great for picky eaters.
If you like pork enchiladas, you'll love this delicious Mexican casserole recipe!
🧂 Ingredients
This is meant to be a brief overview of this great recipe. For step-by-step instructions and a full printable recipe card with ingredients, please scroll down to the teal box below.
- pork carnitas (I like to use my instant pot or slow cooker)
- cooked rice
- pinto beans or black beans
- green chiles
- red enchilada sauce
- corn tortillas
- shredded cheese
- tomatoes
- queso fresco
- red onion
- fresh cilantro or parsley (optional)
🔪 Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 400 degrees.
- Prep a 9x13 casserole dish with nonstick cooking spray.
- Combine the carnitas, Spanish rice, pinto beans, and green chiles in a large bowl.
- Pour the enchilada sauce into the casserole dish to cover the bottom slightly.
- Top the enchilada sauce with a single layer of corn tortillas or flour tortillas.
- Over the tortillas, scoop a layer of carnitas mixture, using about a third of the mix.
- Top the carnitas with ⅓ of the cheese and pour about ⅓ of the leftover enchilada sauce over the cheese.
- Repeat the layers twice if your casserole dish is deep enough, and finish with the remainder of your cheese and sauce.
- Bake for 20-30 minutes or until the cheese has melted and the edges are bubbling.
- Allow the casserole to rest for 10 minutes before serving.
- Serve topped with fresh cilantro, sour cream, lime juice, or green onion.
🥄Equipment
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In addition to a liquid measuring cup, measuring spoons, and dry measuring cups, you will need a large mixing bowl and 9x13 baking dish.
I swear by this cutting board and knife which are perfect for chopping veggies.
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Related: Crockpot Chicken Enchiladas
🍲 Storage
To Store: Leftover pork enchilada casserole should be stored in the fridge in an airtight container. (These are my favorite airtight containers.)
To Reheat: Microwave individual portions in 30 second intervals until heated throughout.
To Freeze: Assemble the casserole without the top layer of cheese. Wrap the unbaked casserole in aluminum foil and then slide it into a 2-gallon resealable freezer bag. Label and freeze.
To Thaw: Remove the casserole from the freezer and place in the fridge overnight to thaw.
✏️ Make Ahead
This recipe can be assembled a day ahead of time. Cover with plastic wrap and place in the fridge until ready to bake. However, keep in mind that a cold casserole will take longer to bake.
📖 Variations
The first time you try any new recipe we recommend that you make it just as it is written on the recipe card since that is how the recipe has been tested. However, the next time you make our recipe, you might want to try one of these ideas:
Don't want to go to the trouble of making pork carnitas? You can also use leftover pulled pork and add taco seasoning to it. You could also use ground beef, shredded beef, rotisserie chicken, or shredded chicken to make a version of this pork recipe.
If you prefer, you can use green enchilada sauce instead of red.
This casserole can be halved and made in a 9x9 baking dish, or you can make two smaller dishes and freeze one.
Out of something you need? Check out our free ingredient substitutions printable!
🍴 Serving Suggestions
Since I typically serve this with my favorite taco toppings like pico de gallo or homemade guacamole, I don't often have another side dish. It's delicious with fresh salsa on top, too.
😋 Similar Recipes
Next time, try one of these delicious recipes:
- hamburger and potato casserole
- Philly cheesesteak casserole
- big mac casserole
- Greek spaghetti casserole
- shredded beef enchiladas
- hashbrown hamburger casserole
And if you love beef casserole recipes, check out this collection of easy ground beef casseroles.
Related: Shredded Beef Enchiladas
Not ready to make this beef casserole recipe yet?
When you do make it, please come back and comment and leave me a 5-star rating below! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Carnitas Casserole
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Ingredients
- 3 to 4 lbs cooked pork carnitas
- 2 cups cooked rice brown or white
- 1 15 ounce can pinto beans or black beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 7 ounce can chopped green chiles
- 1 28 ounce can red enchilada sauce, divided
- 1 24 to 30 count corn tortillas, torn into about 8 wedges each
- 2 cups shredded Mexican cheese blend divided
- 1 cup diced tomatoes for garnish
- 1 cup crumbled queso fresco for garnish
- ½ cup diced red onion for garnish
- ¼ cup chopped fresh cilantro or parsley optional
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 400F degrees.
- Prep a 9x13 casserole dish with nonstick cooking spray.
- Combine the carnitas, rice, beans, and green chiles in a large bowl.3 to 4 lbs cooked pork carnitas, 2 cups cooked rice, 1 15 ounce can pinto beans or black beans, drained and rinsed, 1 7 ounce can chopped green chiles
- Pour the enchilada sauce into the casserole dish to cover the bottom slightly.1 28 ounce can red enchilada sauce, divided
- Top the enchilada sauce with a single layer of corn tortillas or flour tortillas.1 24 to 30 count corn tortillas, torn into about 8 wedges each
- Over the tortillas, scoop a layer of carnitas mixture, using about a third of the mix.
- Top the carnitas with ⅓ of the cheese and pour about ⅓ of the leftover enchilada sauce over the cheese.2 cups shredded Mexican cheese blend
- Repeat the layers twice if your casserole dish is deep enough, and finish with the remainder of your cheese and sauce.
- Bake for 20-30 minutes or until the cheese has melted and the edges are bubbling.
- Allow the casserole to rest for 10 minutes before serving.
- Serve topped with for favorite toppings.1 cup diced tomatoes, 1 cup crumbled queso fresco, ½ cup diced red onion, ¼ cup chopped fresh cilantro or parsley
Kayla says
I love making pork carnitas in the crockpot so I gave this a shot with some leftovers. I didn’t quite have 3 lbs of cooked pork that that the recipe calls for, mine weight out to around 1.5 lbs but it turned out well. Definitely a good use of leftover ingredients in the fridge and versatile as it could me made with other meats.
Angela Paris says
I'm so glad you enjoyed it!!
Teena- Northern Canada says
Can this be baked then frozen? and then what would the rewarming instructions be? Also, this meal is for a nursing mom so i'm omitting the beans since they could give gas to the baby.. Hope it works
Angela Paris says
Hi Teena! How sweet of you to prepare this for a new mama!
I'd recommend following the instructions in the post under Storage which includes freezing info. I think you'll have a better result if you freeze it before baking.
Then, once the casserole thaws overnight in the fridge, add the cheese and bake as directed. It may need a few extra minutes since it will be cold from the fridge and not room temperature.