Description
This Easy Mexican Lasagna recipe is a flavorful, layered casserole combining seasoned ground meat, rice, corn, tortillas, and melted cheddar cheese. It’s a quick and hearty dish perfect for weeknight dinners, blending classic Mexican flavors with a comforting lasagna style to please the whole family.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat Mixture
- 1.5 pounds ground beef or ground turkey
- 1 cup yellow onion, chopped
- 1 packet taco seasoning
- 2 cups salsa
- ¼ cup taco sauce or enchilada sauce
- 15 ounce can corn, drained
- ⅓ cup water
- 1.5 cups cooked rice
Assembly
- 3-4 burrito-size tortillas (or 5-6 large tortillas)
- 4 cups sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
Garnishes
- Sour cream
- Chopped tomatoes
- Chopped green onions
- Additional taco sauce or enchilada sauce
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C) and spray a 9×13 inch casserole dish with non-stick cooking spray to prevent sticking.
- Cook Meat and Onions: Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat on the stove. Add the ground beef or turkey and chopped onion. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the meat is fully cooked and the onions are tender, about 5-7 minutes.
- Drain Grease: Drain any excess grease from the skillet to reduce fat content and prevent a greasy dish.
- Add Seasonings and Liquids: To the meat mixture, add the taco seasoning packet, salsa, taco or enchilada sauce, and ⅓ cup of water. Stir to combine thoroughly.
- Add Corn and Rice: Stir in the drained corn and cooked rice. Let the mixture simmer gently on low heat for 5-6 minutes to allow flavors to meld and the mixture to thicken slightly.
- Assemble Lasagna: In the prepared casserole dish, spread half of the meat mixture evenly. Layer tortillas over the meat mixture, then sprinkle half of the shredded cheddar cheese on top. Add the remaining meat mixture over the cheese, then add another layer of tortillas and finish with the remaining cheese on top.
- Bake: Place the casserole in the preheated oven and bake for about 15 minutes, or until the cheese is fully melted, bubbly, and slightly golden.
- Garnish and Serve: Remove from oven and let it cool slightly. Garnish with sour cream, chopped tomatoes, green onions, and additional taco or enchilada sauce as desired before serving.
Notes
- You can substitute ground turkey for ground beef for a leaner option.
- Use fresh or leftover cooked rice for convenience.
- To make it spicier, add jalapeños or hot salsa.
- Leftovers can be refrigerated for up to 3 days and reheated in the oven or microwave.
- For a gluten-free version, use corn tortillas instead of flour tortillas.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice (approx. 1/6 of recipe)
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 700mg
- Fat: 22g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0.5g
- Carbohydrates: 35g
- Fiber: 4g
- Protein: 28g
- Cholesterol: 75mg
