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30-Minute Simple Mexican Lasagna

30-Minute Simple Mexican Lasagna
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The 30-Minute Simple Mexican Lasagna is a quick, flavorful, and family-friendly dish that layers traditional Mexican ingredients to create a vibrant and hearty meal. Perfect for busy weeknights, it combines ground meat, tortillas, refried beans, melty cheese, and zesty enchilada sauce for a comforting and delicious dinner that comes together in just half an hour.

Ingredients

Scale

Main Ingredients

  • 1 lb ground beef or turkey
  • 8–10 corn or flour tortillas
  • 1 cup refried beans
  • 1 ½ cups Mexican cheese blend, shredded
  • 1 cup enchilada or taco sauce
  • 1 medium onion, diced
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 bell pepper, diced
  • 1–2 jalapeños, diced (adjust to taste)
  • 1 tsp ground cumin
  • 1 tsp chili powder
  • ½ tsp smoked paprika
  • Fresh cilantro, chopped, for garnish
  • 1 lime, juiced
  • Optional garnishes: diced tomatoes, chopped green onions, sour cream, diced avocado

Instructions

  1. Prepare the Meat and Veggies: Heat a skillet over medium heat. Sauté the diced onion and minced garlic until fragrant and softened, about 2-3 minutes. Add ground beef or turkey, cooking until browned and crumbly. Stir in diced bell peppers, jalapeños, cumin, chili powder, and smoked paprika. Cook for an additional 5-7 minutes to meld the flavors, then drain any excess fat.
  2. Warm Up the Tortillas: Briefly warm tortillas in a skillet or microwave until they become pliable to prevent cracking during layering.
  3. Layer the Lasagna: Spread a thin layer of refried beans on the bottom of a baking dish to form a creamy base. Add a layer of tortillas, then half of the cooked meat mixture. Drizzle with enchilada sauce and sprinkle shredded cheese evenly. Repeat the layers with remaining tortillas, beans, meat, sauce, and finish with a generous topping of cheese.
  4. Bake Until Bubbling: Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C). Bake the assembled lasagna for 15-20 minutes or until the cheese is melted, bubbly, and golden, and sauce bubbles around the edges.
  5. Add Fresh Garnishes: Allow the lasagna to rest for 5 minutes after baking. Top with freshly chopped cilantro, diced tomatoes, and a squeeze of lime juice to brighten the flavors before serving.

Notes

  • Use fresh tortillas and warm them before layering to avoid sogginess and cracking.
  • Drain excess fat from cooked meat to prevent the dish from being too oily.
  • Apply just enough enchilada sauce to moisten layers without making it watery.
  • Let the lasagna rest after baking to help the layers set for easier slicing.
  • Customize the cheese blend by mixing different types to enhance flavor and meltability.

Nutrition

Keywords: Mexican lasagna, quick dinner, 30-minute meal, family-friendly, one-pan, baked Mexican dish, easy Mexican lasagna

Find it online: https://recipesbykaeli.com/30-minute-simple-mexican-lasagna/