This is a hearty and delicious twist on the classic lasagna recipe. Served with a salad, Mexican lasagna makes a healthy, satisfying meal. This recipe can be easily modified to incorporate leftover chili or any leftovers from taco night, to not only use up leftovers, but to save time on the prep time for dinner. Mexican lasagna is easy to make, and will quickly become a family favorite.
Ingredients:
2 pounds lean ground beef or turkey
1 medium yellow onion, diced
1 bell pepper (greed, yellow or red), diced
1 10 oz. can Rotel diced tomatoes with green chilies (mild)
2 cups salsa
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
2 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon pepper
2 tablespoons taco seasoning
8 large flour tortillas, cut in thirds
2 cups shredded cheddar or Mexican blend of cheeses
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1. Preheat the oven to 375°F.
2. Heat a large skillet on high, add 1 tablespoon of olive oil, then add the ground beef or turkey, and the salt, pepper, and Worcestershire sauce.
3. Once the meat has browned, reduce the heat to medium, then add the diced onion and bell pepper to the pan. Allow the vegetables to cook for 5 minutes, or until they start to become tender. Add the Rotel tomatoes with diced chilies, 1½ cups salsa and the taco seasoning. Turn the heat to low and allow the flavors to cook together for 5 minutes or so. Taste the meat and sauce mixture, and add salt and pepper if needed.
4. In a 9″ x 13″ glass baking dish, spread ½ cup salsa in an even layer on the bottom of the dish. Then, lay down cut pieces of flour tortillas in a single even layer on top of the salsa. Cover the tortilla layer with a layer of the meat and veggie mix, then cover the meat layer with an even layer of cheese. Put down another layer of tortilla slices and repeat the process until all of the tortillas and most of the meat have been used. The last layer should be meat and the remaining cheese.
5. Place the Mexican lasagna in the 375°F degree oven, and cook for 30 minutes.
6. Take out of the oven and cover loosely with foil for 5-10 minutes.
7. Serve and enjoy!
There you have it, a delicious dinner that provides a unique twist on what most people think when they hear the word lasagna. If you want, you could top it off at the table with some guacamole, some sour cream, or even some slices of fresh avocado. This is a great dinner for a cool fall or winter evening. Also, any leftovers make a great lunch for the following day.
