Mexican Lasagna Tortilla Layers (Print Version)

Tortillas layered with spiced beef, beans, corn, and cheesy goodness make this hearty Tex-Mex bake a family favorite.

# 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

# How-To Steps:

01 - Preheat your 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 about 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 tortillas soften beautifully in the oven, creating layers that soak up all those spiced juices without getting mushy or falling apart like traditional pasta sometimes does.
  • Everything comes together in one pan, making it perfect for those nights when you want something comforting but dont have hours to spend at the stove.
02 -
  • I once skipped resting the lasagna and ended up with a beautiful delicious mess on the plates, so those 5 minutes are absolutely worth it.
  • Tearing the tortillas to fit your pan is totally fine and actually creates more interesting textures than perfect layers ever could.
03 -
  • The trick to perfect layers is overlapping the tortillas slightly so no filling leaks through to the bottom of the pan.
  • Sprinkle a handful of cheese between each layer of tortillas, not just on top, so every bite is perfectly gooey.