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    Home » Dinners » Mexican Lasagna With Corn Tortillas

    Published: Jan 5, 2021 · Modified: Feb 25, 2022 by Nancy · This post may contain affiliate links.

    Mexican Lasagna With Corn Tortillas

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    This Mexican Lasagna features savory ground beef, beans, and melted cheese in between layers of flavorful corn tortillas. Pour some margaritas and add a bowl of chips, and you've got a real crowd pleaser!

    Mexican lasagna in a green 9 x 13 tray

    Most Foods We Call Mexican are Actually Tex-Mex

    Most of the "Mexican" cuisine we serve in the U.S. originated in Texas, melding the popular foods of Texas with flavors of Mexico. Anyone who has spent any time in Mexico can tell the difference between authentic Mexican food and Tex-Mex. Though this style of food first appeared in the late 1800's, its popularity soared nationally in the mid century, and the term "Tex-Mex" entered the American vernacular in the 1960's.

    Taco Bell has tried twice, 15 years apart, to establish its Tex-Mex restaurants in Mexico, only to be shunned by the residents who did not recognize or accept the food as Mexican. Though it has a huge international presence, to this day there is not a single Taco Bell restaurant in Mexico!

    This recipe for Mexican lasagna, sometimes also called taco casserole or taco lasagna, is definitely a Tex-Mex style dish. It's easy to make, packed with flavor, and is always a crowd pleaser!

    Ingredients

    Here's what you'll need to mix up this delicious Mexican lasagna casserole:

    • Ground beef
    • Yellow onion
    • Picante sauce
    • Chili beans
    • Cottage cheese
    • Salt/Pepper
    • Egg
    • Shredded Monterey Jack cheese
    • Shredded cheddar Cheese
    • Corn tortillas

    Optional Toppings

    • Green onions
    • Sliced black olives
    • Sliced avocado
    • Sour cream
    • Salsa

    How To Make Mexican Lasagna

    The layers consist of three parts: a meat sauce, a cottage cheese mixture, and layers of shredded cheese with corn tortillas in between.

    We are not fans of super spicy foods, so we select ingredients with a mild to medium spice level. However, if you want to turn up the heat, choose a hot picante sauce and hot chili beans. You can also finely chop a tablespoon of jalapeño pepper and add it to step 1.

    First: Make the Meat Mixture

    • Ground beef browning in a cast iron skillet
      Step 1: Brown beef & onion
    • ground beef in skillet with picante sauce, chili beans, salt and pepper added
      Step 2: Add picante sauce, beans, salt & pepper

    Second: Make the Cottage Cheese Mixture

    Cottage cheese in mixing bowl with egg added in
    Add egg to cottage cheese and mix thoroughly

    Third: Assemble the Mexican Lasagna

    • Meat mixture in the bottom of 9 x 13 pan
      1. Layer ⅓ meat mixture
    • Monterey Jack cheese on top of meat mixture in 9 x 13 pan
      2. Sprinkle with Monterey Jack
    • Cottage cheese mixture on top of Monterey Jack in 9 x 13 pan
      3. Layer cottage cheese mixture
    • Layer of tortillas on top of cottage cheese mixture in 9 x 13 pan
      4. Add tortillas and repeat layers
    • Finished pan of Mexican Lasagna with cheddar cheese sprinkled over top
      5. End with meat mixture; top with cheddar
    • Slice of Mexican Lasagna on a green plate topped with sour cream and olives, with sliced avocados and lime on the side
      6. Serve with toppings

    Hints for Making Mexican Lasagna

    • Make it as spicy as you like with your choice of picante sauce, chili beans, and salsa. And you can always add some chopped chili peppers and hot pepper sauce if you prefer to really turn up the heat!
    • Use one of the shredded Mexican cheese blends in place of the Monterey Jack and/or shredded cheddar if you prefer.
    • Make some side dishes to serve along with it. Our favorites are Southern Style Cornbread and Homemade Tortilla Chips.

    This casserole is a real crowd pleaser at pot luck gatherings. Bring along tortilla chips and mix up some Cadillac Margaritas, and you've got a party on your hands!

    If you have a vintage recipe you'd like share with us for possible publication, please scan it and email it to [email protected]. We'd love to hear from you!

    Slice of Mexican Lasagna on a green plate topped with sour cream and olives, with sliced avocados and lime on the side.

    Mexican Lasagna With Corn Tortillas

    Nancy Blackstone
    Mexican Lasagna features savory ground beef, beans, and melted cheese in between layers of flavorful corn tortillas.
    5 from 1 vote
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 20 mins
    Cook Time 40 mins
    Total Time 1 hr
    Course Main Dish
    Cuisine Mexican
    Servings 10 Servings
    Calories 536 kcal

    Ingredients
     
     

    Casserole

    • 2 pounds ground beef
    • ½ cup chopped yellow onion
    • 24 oz. jar picante sauce I use medium, choose the heat level you prefer
    • 15 oz. can chili beans undrained
    • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
    • ½ teaspoon black pepper
    • 2 cups cottage cheese 24 oz.
    • 1 large egg beaten
    • 2 cups shredded Monterey Jack cheese 8 oz.
    • 12 6-inch small corn tortillas
    • 1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese 4 oz.

    Toppings

    • 1 bunch thinly sliced green onions optional
    • sliced black olives optional
    • sliced avocado optional
    • sour cream optional
    • salsa optional

    Instructions
     

    • Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
    • In a large skillet, cook beef and onion over medium heat until beef is browned and onion is tender. Drain fat.
    • Stir in picante sauce, beans, salt and pepper; set aside.
    • In a small bowl, combine cottage cheese and egg. 
    • Spread ⅓ of the meat mixture in the bottom of a 13 x 9 in pan. 
    • Top with half the Monterey Jack cheese, then half the cottage cheese mixture, then six tortillas.
    • Repeat layers, ending with meat.
    • Sprinkle cheddar cheese over top. 
    • Bake at 350 degrees for 40 - 45 minutes until cheese has melted and juices are bubbling. Remove from oven and let stand 5 minutes before cutting and serving.
    • Serve with your choice of toppings.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 536kcalCarbohydrates: 27gProtein: 34gFat: 32gSaturated Fat: 15gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 12gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 122mgSodium: 1446mgPotassium: 777mgFiber: 5gSugar: 7gVitamin A: 706IUVitamin C: 3mgCalcium: 363mgIron: 4mg
    Keyword cheesy taco casserole, Mexican Casserole, Southwest Casserole, Taco casserole, Tex Mex Dinner, Tortilla Casserole
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
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    Nancy and Bentley

    Hi, I'm Nancy! Welcome to Flourchild where I share classic mid-century recipes from the 1940's - 1970's. I feature many vintage handwritten recipes, and provide modern shortcuts and a variety of healthy and special diet-friendly versions whenever possible. Join me in exploring the delicious flavors and from-scratch cooking techniques of our past!

    More about me →

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