Name: Taco Lasagna
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 45 min
Total time: 65 min
Ingredients: 2 pounds lean ground beef; 2 (1.25 ounce) packages taco seasoning mix; 4 cloves garlic, minced; 1 tablespoon chili powder; 0.5 teaspoon cayenne pepper; 0.5 cup water; cooking spray; 18 (6 inch) corn tortillas; 1 (24 ounce) jar salsa; 1 cup sliced green onion; 1 (16 ounce) container sour cream; 1.5 cups shredded Cheddar cheese; 1.5 cups shredded Monterey Jack cheese

Cook Time: 45 minutes

This hearty and flavorful casserole is a perfect combination of ground beef, cheese, and zesty salsa, all layered between soft corn tortillas. It's a crowd-pleaser that is simple to make and guaranteed to satisfy.

Ingredients

2 pounds lean ground beef
2 (1.25 ounce) packages taco seasoning mix
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 tablespoon chili powder
teaspoon cayenne pepper
cup water
Cooking spray
18 (6 inch) corn tortillas
1 (24 ounce) jar salsa
1 cup sliced green onion
1 (16 ounce) sour cream
1 cups shredded Cheddar cheese
1 cups shredded Monterey Jack cheese

Directions

Step 1: Place the ground beef in a large, deep skillet. Cook over medium-high heat until the beef is evenly browned. Drain any excess fat.

Step 2: Season the beef with taco seasoning, minced garlic, chili powder, and cayenne pepper. Stir in the water, reduce the heat to low, and simmer the mixture for 10 minutes to allow the flavors to meld.

Step 3: While the beef mixture simmers, preheat the oven to 375F (190C). Grease the bottom of a 9x13-inch baking dish with cooking spray.

Step 4: Arrange 6 tortillas in the bottom of the prepared baking dish, slightly overlapping to cover the surface.

Step 5: Spread 1/3 of the salsa evenly over the tortillas.

Step 6: Layer half of the beef mixture over the salsa, spreading it evenly.

Step 7: Sprinkle half of the sliced green onions over the beef mixture.

Step 8: Add half of the sour cream by dropping spoonfuls randomly over the onions.

Step 9: Top with cup of Cheddar cheese and cup of Monterey Jack cheese, spreading evenly.

Step 10: Repeat the layering process: add 6 more tortillas, spread the remaining salsa on top, then sprinkle with the remaining cheeses.

Step 11: Place the casserole in the preheated oven and bake for 30 to 45 minutes, or until the top is golden brown and the cheese has melted throughout the layers.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

Calories: 475
Total Fat: 29g (37% Daily Value)
Saturated Fat: 15g (76% Daily Value)
Cholesterol: 97mg (32% Daily Value)
Sodium: 1041mg (45% Daily Value)
Total Carbohydrates: 28g (10% Daily Value)
Dietary Fiber: 4g (14% Daily Value)
Total Sugars: 4g
Protein: 27g (53% Daily Value)
Vitamin C: 4mg (4% Daily Value)
Calcium: 336mg (26% Daily Value)
Iron: 3mg (14% Daily Value)
Potassium: 542mg (12% Daily Value)

Note: Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.

Comments

Kimberly Thompson

08/08/2024 12:31:32 PM

I prepared this dish for Cinco de Mayo last year and decided to make it again this year. It's always a crowd-pleaser! I included sliced black olives and jalapeno slices, and served sour cream on the side. Instead of Monterey Jack, I used Pepper Jack cheese. Delicious!

Adam Rivera

02/08/2024 09:46:33 PM

Super simple dish that everyone enjoys. I found 2 lbs of beef to be too much, so I opted for 1 lb and replaced the rest with cooked quinoa. After cooking 1 cup of quinoa, I mixed it in with the beef just before adding the spices. The texture was excellent, making the dish satisfying without feeling too heavy. I skipped adding water with the spices to avoid the "sloppy joe" texture. Another option is to use Greek yogurt instead of sour cream. I sprinkled chopped romaine on top of each serving for some added crunch. Delicious!

Betty Gonzalez

06/18/2024 11:22:58 PM

Taco Lasagna night has become a beloved tradition for my family and me! I've made some tweaks to the recipe to suit our tastes. Instead of traditional lasagna noodles, I use corn tostadas, breaking them into pieces and layering them like a puzzle. I go light on the taco sauce, but add plenty of cheese, black bean and corn salsa, diced green chiles, and sliced jalapeños. I've found some great homemade taco seasoning recipes here that are much better than store-bought blends. The layers consist of tostadas, cheese, meat, refried beans, salsa, chiles, jalapeños, and cheese, repeated with another layer of tostadas. While my wife wasn't keen on adding chipotle chiles, I find they add a nice kick of heat. I use large, deep single-use lasagna baking pans to ensure we have leftovers for the next day since it always disappears quickly in our household.

Sharon Cruz

03/06/2023 10:55:31 AM

I used crunchy taco shells, broke them in half, and substituted green onions with green chilies. It was a big hit and so delicious!

Jose Hall

09/19/2023 06:37:33 PM

My group of 10 guests absolutely loved it! Even some of the children had a great time ^-^

Sharon Collins

04/09/2024 12:48:22 AM

This dish was absolutely fantastic! I couldn't wait to try it after coming across the recipe. I couldn't stop talking about it for two days straight. I made a few modifications by including onions, green peppers, fresh jalapenos, and Ro-tel in the meat mixture. Instead of green onions, I opted for chipotle peppers in adobo sauce to give it an extra kick (we love our food spicy here in Georgia). This recipe is definitely a keeper and will be added to my regular rotation.