Mexican Lasagna Recipe – Rachel Cooks®

This Mexican lasagna isn’t your conventional Italian-inspired lasagna! (It’s not skillet lasagna or lasagna soup both.) Right here, corn tortillas take the place of noodles, we use salsa as an alternative of marinara, and there’s tons of Tex-Mex taste in each chunk.

It is a dinner that’s filled with protein—floor beef or turkey, black beans, AND cheese—and it’s each bit as satisfying as conventional lasagna. It’s not fairly as heavy or wealthy as Italian lasagna; I feel skipping the ricotta filling helps with that!

Mexican Lasagna Casserole

One thing slightly completely different. If you happen to had been to mix enchiladas, taco bake, and lasagna in a single casserole, you’d get this Mexican lasagna recipe. It’s a enjoyable technique to swap up your dinnertime routine!

Household-friendly. I don’t know the way it’s at your own home however at mine, Mexican meals is all the time a assured winner. The adults like it, the youngsters like it, and everybody can select their very own toppings to place their very own spin on their meal. This recipe makes a big casserole so there’s sufficient for 8 good-sized servings, a lot for a household.

Layers of taste. With seasoned beef (or turkey), numerous veggies, candy corn, zippy inexperienced chilies, salsa, and tons of melty cheese, that is the form of dinner that you simply simply don’t wish to finish. Good factor it makes a lot so you possibly can lower your self one other slice or stay up for it for lunch tomorrow!

Able to eat in 1 hour. Like most lasagnas, this Mexican lasagna recipe will take a little bit of time to drag collectively however the effort is value it. The lasagna wants about forty minutes within the oven however that’s all hands-off time. You too can get a leap begin on the recipe by prepping a few of the components upfront to make it doable for a weeknight.

Ingredient Notes

• Floor beef or turkey: Seasoned floor meat is used for the “taco” meat. If you happen to occur to have a batch of my wholesome taco meat within the freezer, it may be substituted for the meat, greens, and taco seasoning. I like to maintain ready-to-use taco meat readily available for meals like this.
• Onion and bell pepper: You need to use any colour bell pepper or sort of onion. The fragrant greens are cooked with the meat to infuse it with taste.
• Taco seasoning: I like to make use of do-it-yourself taco seasoning however you should purchase a taco seasoning packet from the shop, too. Fajita seasoning is an effective substitute.
• Black beans: That is one other ingredient the place you will have choices. I like black beans however pinto beans would additionally work.
• Corn kernels: I exploit canned corn however when you have frozen corn readily available, be at liberty to swap that in. Thaw it below sizzling working water first.
• Diced tomatoes: Hearth-roasted tomatoes can be wonderful on this recipe however common works, too. Frivolously drain off the surplus juice.
• Diced inexperienced chilies: You’ll discover canned chiles in each gentle and sizzling variations so select whichever one appeals to you.
• Cilantro: If you happen to’re on group cilantro-tastes-like-soap, you possibly can merely omit this.
• Salsa: You need a conventional tomato-based salsa that is available in a jar. Contemporary salsa (pico de gallo) received’t work as nicely. Keep away from distinctive salsas like pineapple or peach salsa; save these sorts of salsa for tortilla chips!
• Corn tortillas: Flour tortillas could be substituted (the recipe will now not be gluten-free) however we choose the best way corn tortillas soften and in addition discover the style to be superior on this recipe. Flour tortillas can change into slightly bit gummy or pasty in a recipe like this.
• Mexican mix shredded cheese: Most packaged Mexican blends include Monterey Jack, cheddar, and Asadero, and typically mozzarella. If you happen to like your tacos with cheddar, you possibly can substitute it; nevertheless, for my part, sharp cheddar is a bit too assertive for this Mexican lasagna. Plain mozzarella would most likely be a better option.
• Garnishes: I might say garnishes are arguably probably the greatest components of any recipe! This Mexican lasagna has loads of taste however in case you’d like, garnish it together with your selection of cilantro, sliced inexperienced onions, chopped onions, jalapeño, avocado, bitter cream, or further salsa or pico de gallo.

How you can Make Mexican Lasagna

Brown the meat. Add the bottom beef or turkey to a big skillet set over medium-high warmth, together with the onion and bell pepper. Use a wood spoon to interrupt up the meat because it cooks; proceed cooking till the meat is cooked by way of and now not pink.

End the filling combination. Stir within the black beans, corn kernels, tomatoes, inexperienced chilies, and taco seasoning. Cook dinner till the combination is heated by way of. Season to style, then stir within the chopped cilantro. 

Begin layering. Unfold ½ cup of salsa on the underside of a greased 9 x 13 inch baking dish, then prime with 6 corn tortillas, overlapping them as obligatory.

Maintain layering. Unfold half of the meat/vegetable combination over the tortillas, adopted by a cup of shredded cheese.

End the meeting. Add 6 extra tortillas, the remaining meat combination, and one other cup of cheese. Layer on the remaining 6 tortillas, ½ cup salsa, and one other cupe of shredded cheese. Cowl the baking dish with a sheet of foil coated with nonstick spray (so the cheese doesn’t stick).

Bake. Place the pan within the preheated oven and bake at 375ºF for half-hour. Take away the foil and bake 10 minutes extra, or till the cheese is golden and the sauce is effervescent up alongside the sides.

Serve. Let the Mexican lasagna set for no less than 5 to 10 minutes. Very like Italian-style lasagna, this lasagna shall be simpler to serve in case you enable time for it to agency up. Lower the lasagna into squares, and serve it together with your favourite toppings.

Ideas and Variations

Get a head begin. Make the filling combination as much as 2 days upfront; then, whenever you’re able to bake the Mexican lasagna, you solely need to layer the whole lot and pop it within the oven. You too can assemble your complete casserole as much as a day upfront and bake it whenever you’re prepared (see the recipe card for particulars).

Make it vegetarian. Use your favourite plant-based floor beef substitute. You’ll want so as to add 1 tablespoon of oil to the skillet to maintain it from sticking because it’s leaner than floor beef and turkey.

Spice it up. For extra warmth, use sizzling salsa, spicy inexperienced chilies, and serve with sizzling sauce. You too can use poblano peppers or jalapeños as an alternative of bell peppers, or garnish with pickled jalapeños.

Serving Solutions

Fridge: Retailer leftovers in an hermetic container for as much as 4 days or freeze for as much as 3 months. Thaw frozen Mexican lasagna earlier than reheating.

To reheat: Heat up leftovers in a coated baking dish at 350ºF within the oven, or warmth particular person parts within the microwave till warmed by way of. Verify the middle of the lasagna to verify the layers are fully heated by way of. Typically the highest will really feel heat however the layers beneath are nonetheless chilly.

• ▢ 1 pound floor beef or turkey
• ▢ 1 cup finely diced onion (1 medium onion)
• ▢ 1 cup finely diced bell pepper (1 medium pepper, any colour)
• ▢ 1 can (15 oz.) black beans, rinsed and drained
• ▢ 1 can (15 oz.) corn kernels, drained
• ▢ 1 can (15 oz.) diced tomatoes, drained
• ▢ 1 can (4 oz.) diced inexperienced chiles, undrained
• ▢ 1 packet (1 oz.) taco seasoning (see observe)
• ▢ ¼ cup minced recent cilantro (leaves and small stems)
• ▢ 1 cup salsa, divided (canned, not recent)
• ▢ 18 small corn tortillas, divided (5-inch diameter)
• ▢ 3 cups shredded Mexican cheese mix, divided
• ▢ optionally available toppings: sliced avocado, bitter cream, chopped inexperienced onions, salsa, cilantro, and many others.

• Preheat oven to 375°F. Grease a 9 x 13-inch baking dish with nonstick spray.

• Warmth a big skillet over medium-high warmth. Add the bottom meat, onion, and bell pepper. Cook dinner, breaking apart meat into crumbles, till meat is cooked by way of, and greens are softened.

  1 pound floor beef or turkey, 1 cup finely diced onion, 1 cup finely diced bell pepper

• Stir in black beans, corn kernels, tomatoes, inexperienced chiles, and taco seasoning. Cook dinner for a couple of minutes till heated by way of. Style and regulate seasoning with salt and pepper if wanted. Stir in chopped cilantro.

  1 can (15 oz.) black beans, rinsed and drained, 1 can (15 oz.) corn kernels, drained, 1 can (15 oz.) diced tomatoes, drained, 1 can (4 oz.) diced inexperienced chiles, undrained, 1 packet (1 oz.) taco seasoning

• Unfold ½ cup salsa in backside of ready baking dish. Prepare 6 corn tortillas on prime of the salsa, overlapping barely to cowl the underside.

• Spoon half of the meat and vegetable combination over the tortillas, spreading it out evenly. Sprinkle 1 cup shredded cheese over the meat combination.

• Add one other layer with 6 tortillas, remaining meat combination, and 1 cup shredded cheese.

• Prime with 6 extra tortillas, ½ cup salsa, and 1 cup shredded cheese.

• Cowl the baking dish with aluminum foil (spray foil evenly with nonstick spray so the cheese doesn’t persist with it). Bake in preheated oven for half-hour.

• Take away the foil and bake for a further 10 minutes, till the cheese is golden brown and the sides are effervescent.

• Take away from the oven and let cool for five to 10 minutes earlier than slicing. Cooling the lasagna helps the layers agency up so it’s simpler to chop into squares to serve.

• Serve sizzling, garnished together with your favourite toppings corresponding to sliced avocado, bitter cream, chopped inexperienced onions, and salsa.

• Taco seasoning: If you happen to choose, substitute 3 tablespoons do-it-yourself taco seasoning for the bundle of seasoning.
• Storage: Leftover lasagna could be refrigerated for as much as 4 days, or frozen for as much as 3 months. If you happen to like, freeze individually wrapped servings of lasagna for a fast lunch or dinner sooner or later.
• Make forward: The lasagna could be ready forward (not baked); refrigerate it in a single day or wrap it securely and freeze it for as much as 3 months. Thaw in a single day within the fridge earlier than baking as instructed. Add 10 minutes to the baking time because the lasagna is chilled. I often verify the inner temperature of the casserole with a instantaneous learn thermometer to verify it’s heated all over (165°F or extra).
• Beforehand printed: This recipe was initially posted as Wholesome Mexican Lasagna with Swiss Chard. We’ve retested and revised the recipe (2/2025).

Serving: 1sq., Energy: 506kcal, Carbohydrates: 53g, Protein: 30g, Fats: 20g, Saturated Fats: 10g, Polyunsaturated Fats: 2g, Monounsaturated Fats: 6g, Trans Fats: 0.4g, Ldl cholesterol: 77mg, Sodium: 1243mg, Potassium: 823mg, Fiber: 10g, Sugar: 6g, Vitamin A: 1466IU, Vitamin C: 40mg, Calcium: 388mg, Iron: 5mg

Vitamin data is robotically calculated, so ought to solely be used as an approximation.

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