Layered Enchilada Crockpot Pie

I love potlucks. I love sampling the delicious "bests" that were brought to the potluck. I love gleaning new ideas - seeing new ways to prepare salads, new presentations for desserts, and finding new favorite items to add to our family's menu.

Today, our church had a potluck after our church service in the park. I brought a family favorite recipe - a wonderful, quick, flavorful meal that my family loves... and hopefully, my church family found it good as well as we brought home an empty dish.

Layered Enchilada Crockpot Pie

serves 10-12 (picture may be added at a later date)

5-6 (10 inch) flour tortillas
1 1/2 to 2 pound ground beef
1 medium onion, chopped
1/2 large green pepper, chopped
1 jalapeno, seeded and chopped
4 cloves of garlic, chopped
1 pint of grape tomatoes, quartered
2 tsp cumin
1 Tablespoon chili powder
salt and black pepper to taste
1/2 cup ketchup
2 cups salsa, divided (I used Pace Mild Picante sauce)
2 cups sharp cheddar cheese
1 bunch green onions

In a large skillet, brown the beef with onion, green pepper, garlic, and jalapeno. Add seasonings and tomatoes and cook for a minute longer. Stir in 1 cup salsa and ketchup.

Spray your crockpot with non-stick spray or line with aluminum foil to avoid stuck on food. Place the first (single) layer of tortillas in the bottom of the crockpot (tearing them to make them fit, if necessary). Pile on 1/2 of the meat, some cheese, and some of the chopped green onions. Layer on another layer of tortillas, the remaining meat, more cheese and more green onions. Layer on the final layer of tortillas, the final 1 cup of salsa, more cheese and green onions.

Cook in a crockpot at low setting for 4 hours or at high setting for 2 hours, until cheese is melted and it is nice and bubbly.


** Note: I love to mix-up the ingredients I use in this versatile dish, depending on the audience I am serving.

Other ingredients I like to use:
Monterrey Jack or Pepper-Jack cheese (any cheese is good)
Avocado
Sour cream
Red Peppers
Olives
Black Beans
Corn
Cilantro
Lime Juice (stirred into the meat, just after done cooking, before assembling the pie)
Doritos or tortilla chips, crumbled over the top

I hope your family enjoys this meal as much as our family does.