Chili Beef Bake

Total Time: 1 hr 15 mins Preparation Time: 15 mins Cook Time: 1 hr

Ingredients

• Servings: 8
• 2 lbs lean ground beef or 2 lbs extra lean ground beef
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic granules
• 1 tablespoon chili powder, divided
• 1 large onion, chopped
• 5 -6 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro leaves
• 1 jalapeno pepper, seeded and minced
• balsamic vinegar or red wine vinegar (optional)
• 2 (15 ounce) cans ranch-style pinto beans, drained,juice reserved
• 2 (10 3/4 ounce) cans condensed cream of chicken soup, undiluted
• 2 (10 ounce) cans diced rotel tomatoes & chilies, undrained
• 1 (8 ounce) package low-fat cream cheese, cut into 1 inch pieces
• 1/2 cup chopped green onion, both and green parts
• 6 -8 ounces sharp cheddar cheese, grated,more if desired
• 12 -18 large corn tortillas
• vegetable oil cooking spray
• extra virgin olive oil

Recipe

• 1 break up meat into a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat.
• 2 season to taste with salt, black pepper, garlic, and 1 tsp chili powder.
• 3 cook until done, breaking up lumps as necessary.
• 4 drain, and add remaining chili powder, onion, minced garlic, cilantro, jalapeno pepper, and reserved juice from beans.
• 5 stir to combine, cover, and cook over medium heat for about 10 minutes, stirring twice.
• 6 uncover, and continue cooking until most of liquid has evaporated.
• 7 taste, and adjust seasonings, adding balsamic and wine vinegar, if desired, until the meat mixture is slightly tart.
• 8 while meat is cooking, mix cream of chicken soup, tomatoes and green chilis, and cream cheese in a medium saucepan.
• 9 stir over medium heat until cheese is melted and mixture is smooth.
• 10 brush 6 tortilla lightly with olive oil, and place oiled side down, in a 9"x13"x2" (or larger, mainly deeper) baking dish, overlapping tem slightly.
• 11 oil and add more tortillas if necessary.
• 12 top tortillas with half of the meat mixture, beans, remaining meat, cheese, and more tortillas to cover completely.
• 13 add chopped green onions to soup mixture, and pour over tortillas (dish will be full).
• 14 bake, uncovered, at 350 degrees f for 45 minutes or until bubbly and heated through.