Why You’ll Love this Mexican Lasagna
While traditional lasagna will always hold a special place in my heart, this Mexican twist brings everything I crave in comfort food without the fuss of making pasta from scratch or dealing with those finicky ricotta layers that never seem to cooperate.
Instead, I get bold flavors, melty cheese, and tortillas that actually behave.
What Ingredients are in Mexican Lasagna?
This Mexican lasagna keeps things refreshingly straightforward with ingredients you can grab during your regular grocery run. No hunting down specialty items or making three trips to different stores because you forgot the ricotta again, which honestly happens to me more than I’d like to admit.
- 2 lbs hamburger meat
- 2 (19 ounce) cans red enchilada sauce
- 2 (16 ounce) cans pinto beans with jalapeño peppers
- 2 (15 ounce) cans chili (no beans)
- 1 (20 ounce) package flour tortillas
- 2 lbs shredded Mexican cheese
The beauty of this ingredient list lies in its flexibility and forgiveness. Can’t find pinto beans with jalapeños? Regular pinto beans work just fine, and you can always add your own heat with some diced jalapeños or hot sauce.
The flour tortillas act as your pasta layers, so grab the burrito-sized ones if you can find them, they’ll cover more ground in your casserole dish. As for the cheese, pre-shredded Mexican blend saves time, but if you’re feeling fancy or have extra cheese hanging around, a mix of cheddar and Monterey Jack does the trick perfectly.
How to Make this Mexican Lasagna
Making this Mexican lasagna is wonderfully straightforward, though I’ll admit the layering process can feel a bit like playing edible Tetris with tortillas. Start by browning your 2 lbs of hamburger meat in a large skillet over medium heat, breaking it up as it cooks, then drain off that grease because nobody wants a greasy lasagna swimming in its own juices.
While the meat’s doing its thing, grab a separate bowl and mix together your 2 cans of red enchilada sauce, 2 cans of pinto beans with jalapeño peppers, and 2 cans of chili. Once your meat is browned and drained, add it right into that saucy mixture and stir everything together until it looks like the world’s most delicious slop.
Now comes the fun part that honestly makes me feel like I’m building something important. Spray your casserole dish with cooking spray, then start your layering adventure with flour tortillas from that 20-ounce package, covering the bottom of your dish as best you can. Don’t stress if they overlap or leave tiny gaps, tortillas aren’t known for their perfect geometry skills. Spread a generous layer of your meat mixture over the tortillas, then sprinkle on some of that 2 lbs of shredded Mexican cheese like you’re blessing the dish with dairy goodness.
Repeat this tortilla-meat-cheese pattern until you’ve used up your ingredients, making sure to end with a final layer of cheese on top because cheese should always have the last word. Pop the whole thing into a 350°F oven for 30 minutes, and you’ll have a bubbling, golden masterpiece that somehow manages to taste like both comfort food and fiesta rolled into one glorious casserole. If you’re planning to serve this at a large gathering or restaurant, consider investing in a bread making machine to complement your Mexican feast with fresh, warm bread rolls.
Mexican Lasagna Substitutions and Variations
Since recipes are basically suggestions dressed up as commandments, you can absolutely swap out ingredients in this Mexican lasagna to match whatever’s lurking in your pantry or suits your particular taste buds.
Ground turkey works perfectly instead of beef, corn tortillas replace flour ones beautifully, and black beans can substitute pinto beans without missing a beat.
What to Serve with Mexican Lasagna
When you’re staring at a bubbling casserole dish of Mexican lasagna, you might wonder what else belongs on the plate—and honestly, you’ve got options that’ll make your taste buds do a little happy dance.
I’m thinking cool, crisp lettuce salad, maybe some guacamole and chips, or even simple rice and beans for extra heartiness.
Final Thoughts
Three things I want you to remember about this Mexican lasagna recipe: it’s forgiving, it’s crowd-pleasing, and it’s going to become your new go-to comfort food.
You can swap ingredients, adjust portions, and it’ll still turn out delicious. Trust me, this recipe doesn’t judge your cooking skills, and neither will your family when they’re asking for seconds.
