Getting your children in to the kitchen to help prepare and serve food is one of the best ways to build important practical life skills: Food preparation, handling kitchen tools with care, learning step-by-step processes, and spending time with family!

There are some recipes that lend themselves well to cooking with children, and here’s just such a one: Black Bean Enchilada Casserole.

The dish doesn’t include meat, so you don’t have to worry about food contamination. Additionally, after an adult helps to open cans, your child can practically assemble this dish all by themselves! Here’s how to make Black Bean Enchilada Casserole, adapted from Aberdeen’s Kitchen:

Ingredients:

24 Corn Tortillas
3 1/2 cups red enchilada sauce
1 red and 1 green bell pepper, diced
1 1/2 cups corn, frozen or can
2 15 oz cans cooked black beans, rinse and drain in a colander
2 cups shredded cheddar and monterey jack cheese
Fresh cilantro and/or green onion for garnish.

Prepare: Invite your child to do this part!

Grease a 9×13 baking dish and set aside. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees
Layer the ingredients thusly: 8 overlapping tortillas, followed by enchilada sauce, enough to coat the tortillas. Next, half the beans, half the corn, half of the peppers, and a third of the cheese.
Start again with a new layer of 8 tortillas, sauce to cover, the rest of the beans, corn, peppers, and another third of the cheese.
Top with the last 8 tortillas. Pour the remaining enchilada sauce over the top and finally the remaining cheese.

Note: If you like spicy food, add jalapeño or hot sauce to the enchilada sauce before layering. Also consider tossing the beans with salt prior to layering.

Bak on the middle rack of the oven for 45-55 minutes, until the cheese is melted and the sauce is bubbling.

Let cool for 5-10 minutes, serve with fresh cilantro and green onion, and a side of hot sauce!

Your child can be proud to serve this dish to family and friends, knowing they helped prepare dinner. Enjoy!

What recipes does your family enjoy cooking together? Let us know in chat!

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