Description
This Mexican Lasagna is a flavorful, layered casserole that combines seasoned ground beef, melted Mexican cheeses, and soft tortillas to create a hearty and comforting dish with a Tex-Mex twist. Perfect for family dinners, it features a savory meat sauce, creamy cheese mixture, and is topped with bubbly melted cheese for a satisfying meal.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat Layer
- 1 lb ground beef (or ground turkey for a leaner option)
- 1 small onion, chopped
- 1 packet taco seasoning (or homemade seasoning)
- 1 can (15 oz) tomato sauce
- 1 cup salsa (choose your heat level)
- 1 can (4 oz) diced green chilies (optional)
Cheese Mixture
- 2 cups ricotta cheese (or cottage cheese for a lighter option)
- 1 egg
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 cup shredded Mexican blend cheese (cheddar, Monterey Jack, or your favorite)
Other Ingredients
- 6 large flour tortillas (or corn tortillas for a gluten-free option)
- 2 cups shredded Mexican cheese blend (for topping)
- Fresh cilantro, chopped (for garnish, optional)
- Sour cream and salsa (for serving, optional)
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C) to ensure it’s ready for baking the lasagna later.
- Cook Meat Mixture: In a large skillet over medium heat, brown the ground beef along with the chopped onion, breaking the meat apart as it cooks. Once browned, drain any excess fat for a less greasy result.
- Simmer Meat Sauce: Add the taco seasoning, tomato sauce, salsa, and diced green chilies to the skillet. Stir well to combine and let this mixture simmer gently for 5 to 7 minutes to allow flavors to meld. Remove from heat.
- Prepare Cheese Mixture: In a medium bowl, mix together ricotta cheese, egg, ground cumin, garlic powder, and 1 cup of shredded Mexican blend cheese until smooth and thoroughly combined.
- Assemble Lasagna Base: Spread a thin layer of the prepared meat mixture evenly on the bottom of a 9×13-inch baking dish to create the base layer.
- Add Tortilla Layer: Place a layer of flour or corn tortillas on top of the meat layer. Trim or overlap tortillas slightly if needed to cover the entire surface.
- Spread Cheese Layer: Evenly spread a layer of the cheese mixture over the tortillas to add creamy texture and flavor.
- Repeat Layers: Continue layering the meat mixture, tortillas, and cheese mixture in the same order until all ingredients are used, finishing with a final layer of meat on top.
- Add Cheese Topping: Sprinkle the remaining 2 cups of shredded Mexican cheese blend generously over the top layer of meat.
- Bake: Place the assembled dish into the preheated oven and bake for 25 to 30 minutes, or until the cheese topping is melted, bubbly, and slightly golden and the casserole is heated through.
- Rest: Remove the lasagna from the oven and let it rest for 5 minutes to set and make slicing easier.
- Garnish and Serve: Garnish with freshly chopped cilantro if desired, and serve with sour cream and extra salsa on the side for added flavor and moisture.
Notes
- You can use ground turkey instead of beef for a leaner dish without sacrificing flavor.
- Switch to corn tortillas to make this dish gluten-free.
- Adjust the heat level of the salsa to suit your personal spice preference.
- The cheese mixture can be made lighter by choosing cottage cheese instead of ricotta.
- Leftovers store well covered in the refrigerator for up to 3 days and can be reheated in the oven or microwave.
- For extra richness, add a layer of sliced jalapeños or black olives if desired.
