I make Mexican food at least once a week, my kids always request Chipotle carnitas, carne guisada, black bean soup, chicken tinga, green chile chicken enchiladas, carnitas tacos and this easy and satisfying Mexican lasagna. This Mexican lasagna is a fun and unique twist on the classic Italian style lasagna, with tortillas instead of noodles and a hearty Mexican beef mixture instead of red sauce. This dish is simple to make, and is sure to please any crowd.
Mexican Lasagna Ingredients
To make this recipe, you will need olive oil, ground beef, onion, garlic, taco seasoning, green chilies, diced tomatoes, corn, refried beans, enchilada sauce, flour tortillas, cheddar cheese and cilantro.
How Do You Make Mexican Lasagna?
To make Mexican lasagna, first make the filling by cooking up crumbles of ground beef in a large skillet. While the beef is cooking, add chopped onion and garlic to the pan. Add the taco seasoning, green chilies, diced tomatoes and corn. The last ingredient to stir into the filling is a can of refried beans. With the meat filling done you are ready to assemble the lasagna. Spread a little enchilada sauce on the bottom of a casserole dish. Place a layer of tortillas over the sauce and add the meat filling and then the shredded cheese. Repeat the layers until the baking dish is full. For the top layers you want tortillas, enchilada sauce and then cheese. Bake the dish until golden brown and bubbly. Once the lasagna is done, take it out of the oven, let it cool for a few minutes and serve it sprinkled with cilantro.
Tips For The Best Mexican Lasagna
To make this casserole in advance, assemble all the layers, then cover the dish with foil and refrigerate it for up to one day. When it’s time to eat, follow the baking instructions in the recipe, but add 15 minutes more to the bake time to compensate for starting with a cold dish. Let the baked lasagna rest for at least 5-7 minutes before you try to slice it. This will help the layers hold together. Leftovers will stay fresh in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. I recommend using freshly shredded cheese for this recipe. The pre-shredded cheese you by at the store is often coated in anti-caking agents and doesn’t melt as nicely. Serve your lasagna with side dishes such as Mexican rice, charro beans, or even some vegetarian fajitas.
Mexican Casserole Flavor Variations
Sometimes I make this recipe with different ingredients, depending on what I have on hand. You can easily customize this dish to your family’s tastes!
Protein: Use cooked shredded chicken or ground turkey instead of the beef. Fillings: Try black or pinto beans instead of refried beans, or add other vegetables such as diced red bell pepper. Cheese: Swap out the cheddar for different variety such as Monterey jack cheese, Colby or pepper jack. Tortillas: I use flour tortillas in this lasagna because my family prefers them. That being said, you can substitute corn tortillas, actual lasagna noodles or even do a layer of crushed tortilla chips.
This Mexican lasagna is a fun twist on a classic recipe. You’ll be amazed at how well all the Mexican flavors work in a lasagna. Give this recipe a try for a savory, cheesy meal that your whole family will love!
