Mexican Lasagna Tortilla Layers (Printable Version)

Tortilla layers with spiced beef, beans, corn, and melted cheese baked to golden perfection

# What You'll Need:

→ Meats

01 - 1 lb ground beef

→ Vegetables & Beans

02 - 1 medium onion, diced
03 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
04 - 1 red bell pepper, diced
05 - 1 can (14 oz) black beans, drained and rinsed
06 - 1 can (5 oz) corn, drained
07 - 1 can (14 oz) diced tomatoes

→ Sauces & Seasonings

08 - 1 packet (1 oz) taco seasoning
09 - 1/2 tsp chili powder
10 - Salt and pepper to taste

→ Tortillas & Cheese

11 - 8 medium flour tortillas
12 - 3 cups shredded Mexican cheese blend

→ Garnishes

13 - Fresh cilantro, chopped
14 - Sliced jalapeños
15 - Sour cream

# Preparation Steps:

01 - Preheat oven to 350°F.
02 - In a large skillet over medium heat, cook the ground beef until browned. Drain excess fat.
03 - Add onion, garlic, and bell pepper to the skillet. Sauté for 3–4 minutes until vegetables soften.
04 - Stir in taco seasoning, chili powder, black beans, corn, and diced tomatoes. Simmer for 5 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.
05 - Lightly grease a 9x13-inch baking dish. Place two tortillas on the bottom, tearing as needed to fit.
06 - Spread one-third of the meat mixture over the tortillas. Sprinkle with one-fourth of the cheese.
07 - Repeat layers twice more: tortillas, meat mixture, cheese. Top with a final layer of tortillas and remaining cheese.
08 - Cover loosely with foil and bake for 25 minutes.
09 - Remove foil and bake an additional 10 minutes, until cheese is bubbly and golden.
10 - Let rest for 5 minutes before slicing. Garnish with cilantro, jalapeños, and sour cream if desired.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • The layers get all melty and intertwined, so every bite has beef, beans, cheese and just enough spice to keep things interesting
  • You can assemble it ahead of time and pop it in the oven whenever you are ready, which makes dinner parties feel effortless
02 -
  • Tearing the tortillas to fit the pan is completely necessary and actually creates beautiful texture variation
  • The resting period is not optional unless you want a messy slide onto everyone is plates instead of neat layers
03 -
  • Spread the meat filling all the way to the edges so every bite has that perfect ratio of filling to tortilla
  • If your tortillas are thick, give them a quick 30-second warm-up in the microwave before layering so they bend without cracking