Tortilla Casserole

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This tortilla casserole a.k.a. Mexican Lasagne is a family friendly meal. Made with layers of cheesy, creamy soft tortillas and Mexican style meat sauce it is comfort food at its fineness.

Trust me there is nothing better than Mexican Pasta!

A casserole topped with melted cheese, diced capsicum, corn and beans on a bench top scattered with tortilla chips and coriander leaves.

Why This Recipe Works

  • Flexitarian - made with a combination of ground beef and kidney beans
  • Family friendly - a little hack with the kidney beans means all their goodness without the 'beany' texture.
  • A true winter warmer.

Ingredients you will need

  • olive oil
  • onion
  • carrot
  • smoked paprika
  • ground cumin
  • ground coriander
  • cocoa powder
  • chilli flakes
  • minced beef
  • beef stock
  • kidney beans (canned)
  • diced tomatoes (canned)
  • corn kernels
  • tortillas
  • grated cheese
  • sour cream
  • Optional: colourful toppings black beans, diced capsicum/bell peppers, diced tomatoes, corn kernels, jalapeños, salsa
The ingredients to make tortilla casserole laid out on a bench top with text overlay labels.

Ingredient Notes and Substitutes

  • Smoked paprika: This can be substituted for paprika if you can not find the smoked version.
  • Spices: The spice combination I use of cumin, coriander, smoked paprika, chilli flakes, and cocoa powder is my Homemade Mexican Seasoning can be substituted for your favourite store bought taco seasoning.
  • Minced beef: This recipe will work with minced beef or lamb. If you are using chicken mince or ground turkey please be aware these meats can be drier and you may need to add extra olive oil to the dish.
  • Kidney beans: I use canned kidney beans but you can of course use dried kidney beans that have been soaked and prepped. Pinto beans, navy beans or haricot beans all work as well.
  • Corn kernels: Frozen, fresh or canned corn kernels all work fine.
  • Tortillas: Any soft flour tortilla or corn tortillas can be used. This recipe will also work with your favourite wraps or mountain bread. If you need this recipe to be gluten free be sure to check the labels on the tortillas you are using.
  • Grated cheese: I use grated cheddar cheese, but any cheese that melts well will work well; colby, edam, monterey jack cheese


How to make a Mexican Lasagne

Below are illustrated step-by-step instructions to make my tortilla casserole recipe, if you prefer just the written instructions then head straight to the printable recipe card below.

Step one: Dice the onion, grate the carrot and crush or finely slice your garlic. Optional: In a blender combine the diced tomatoes and the kidney beans and blitz until smooth. Alternatively you can leave the beans whole and not blended.

A bowl of grated carrot and a bowl of diced onions on a marble bench top.
A glass blender jug with tinned tomatoes and red kidney beans visible.

Step two: In a large skillet or fry pan heat the oil over a medium heat. Sauté the onion and grated carrot until soft, fragrant and a little caramelised. 

Step three: Add the garlic, paprika, cumin, coriander, and cocoa powder, sauté for one minutes.

Sautéed grated carrots, diced onions and spices in a stainless steel fry pan.

Step four Add the minced beef to the pan and cook until browned.

Minced beef browning in a stainless steel fry pan.

Step five: Add the beef stock, tomatoes, kidney beans and corn kernels, and simmer for 10 to 15 minutes. Preheat your oven to 180 degrees Celsius (360 F).

Large stainless steel fry pan on an inducitno stove top filled with saucy mexican mince.

Step six: Spoon a thin layer of the Mexican mince in the bottom of a baking dish. (This stops the first layer of tortillas from sticking to your dish. 

An empty ovel baking dish, next to a large fry pan of mexican mince, a bowl of sour cream, tortillas and a bowl of grated cheese.

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Step seven Begin your layering: Tortillas, Mexican mince, sour cream and cheese. Continue your layering: Tortillas, Mexican mince, sour cream and cheese

Tortilla being cut in half with a pair of scissors.
A Mexican lasagne being assembled into an oval baking dish.

Step eight: Continue your layering: Tortillas, Mexican mince, a scattering of any of your favourite colourful taco toppings, black beans, diced capsicum, jalapenos, diced tomatoes and cheese.

Bake for 30 minutes until piping hot and the cheese on top is melted and golden.

A tortilla casserole ready to go in to the oven, topped with minced beef topped with grated cheese, diced capsicum, black beans and corn kernels.

Enjoy!


A wedge of Mexican lasagne on a dinner plate, corn kernels. melted cheese, minced beef and sour cream oozing out between the layers.


Tips & FAQs

Here is how you can make this Mexican Lasagne perfectly every time!

  • Serve your tortilla casserole with fun colour fun sides. Tortilla chips, ice berg lettuce, salsa, fresh cilantro/coriander, limes.
  • Not all of my family enjoy spicy flavours so my tortilla is not highly spicy, but I serve it with hot salta and Mexican sauces on the side for those who want a bit more heat.
  • Get out your scissors when you are building your tortilla casserole as you can take advantage of the tortillas soft texture and literally cut them to the right size to fit your baking or casserole dish.
  • Try the bean blending technique in other dishes, to works great in regular lasagne, or bolognese .
  • If you don't want to use a blender, and your family are not fans of 'beany' texture, another useful kitchen implement is your potato masher! mash the beans in the cooked meat sauce, it works great, whenever I make vegetarian nachos I use my potato masher!
A glass blender jug filled with a pale red smoothie of beans and tomatoes.

How To Make This Recipe Suitable For Baby-Led-Weaning

This recipe is suitable for young children, messy to eat but ultimately suitable!

  • The large beans can be blended or can be mashed so do not present a choking hazard.
  • The tortillas cooked in the sauce end up with a very soft texture similar to well cooked pasta.
  • If you are making this recipe using the spices I suggest the salt content will not be high. If you are using a packet seasoning be sure to check the salt content as some can be very high.
A baking dish of Mexican casserole with one piece removed so that you can see the layers of filling.


A fork full of Mexican lasagne being lifted up in from to wedge of Mexican lasagne on a dinner plate, corn kernels. melted cheese, minced beef and sour cream oozing out between the layers.
A casserole topped with melted cheese, diced capsicum, corn and beans on a bench top scattered with tortilla chips and coriander leaves.

Tortilla Casserole

Tortilla casserole also known as Mexican Lasagne is delicious family friendly flexitarian dinner. Warm and comforting it's perfect for cooler nights.
Print Pin Rate
Course: Family Dinner Ideas
Cuisine: New Zealand
Keyword: tortilla casserole, tortilla bake, Mexican Lasagne
Servings: 6 people
Calories: 645kcal
Author: Stacey

RATE THIS RECIPE

5 from 1 vote

Save This Recipe!

I'll email this post to you, so you can easily come back to it later!

Ingredients

Mexican Mince

  • 2 Tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 large onion (diced) 200 grams
  • 1 medium carrot (grated) 150 grams
  • 2 cloves garlic (crushed)
  • 1 Tablespoon smoked paprika
  • 2 teaspoons cumin
  • 1 teaspoon coriander
  • 2 teaspoons cocoa powder
  • ½ teaspoon chilli flakes
  • 500 grams minced beef
  • 1 cup beef stock
  • 400 grams kidney beans (canned)
  • 600 grams diced tomatoes 1 ½ cans diced tomatoes
  • 1 cup corn kernels

Layers

  • 6-8 Tortillas The number of tortillas will depend on the size of tortilla you are using
  • 1 cup grated cheese
  • 1 cup sour cream 200 grams
  • Colourful toppings black beans, diced capsicum, diced tomatoes, corn kernels, jalapenos

Instructions

Mexican mince

  • Prep: Dice the onion, grate the carrot and crush or finely slice your garlic. Optional: In a blender combine the diced tomatoes and the kidney beans and blitz until smooth.
  • In a large fry pan heat the oil over a medium heat
  • Sauté the onion and grated carrot until soft, fragrant and a little caramelised.
  • Add the garlic, paprika, cumin, coriander, and cocoa powder, sauté for one minutes.
  • Add the minced beef to the pan ad cook until browned
  • Add the beef stock, tomatoes, kidney beans and corn kernels, and simmer for 10 to 15 minutes.
  • Preheat your oven to 180 degrees Celsius (360 F).

Assembly

  • Make a thin layer of the Mexican mince in the bottom of a baking dish. (This stops the first layer of tortillas from sticking to your dish.
  • Begin your layering: Tortillas, Mexican mince, sour cream and cheese
  • Continue your layering: Tortillas, Mexican mince, sour cream and cheese
  • Continue your layering: Tortillas, Mexican mince, a scattering of any of your favourite colourful taco toppings, black beans, diced capsicum, jalapenos, diced tomatoes and cheese
  • Bake for 30 minutes until piping hot and the cheese on top is melted and golden.
  • Enjoy

Video

Notes

  • Serve your tortilla casserole with fun colour fun sides. Tortilla chips, ice berg lettuce, salsa, fresh cilantro/coriander, limes.
  • Not all of my family enjoy spicy flavours so my tortilla is not highly spicy, but I serve it with hot salta and Mexican sauces on the side for those who want a bit more heat. 
  • Get out your scissors when you are building your tortilla casserole as you can take advantage of the tortillas soft texture and literally cut them to the right size to fit your baking or casserole dish. 
  • Try the bean blending technique in other dishes, to works great in regular lasagne, or bolognese .
  • If you don't want to use a blender, and your family are not fans of 'beany' texture, another useful kitchen implement is your potato masher! mash the beans in the cooked meat sauce, it works great, whenever I make vegetarian nachos I use my potato masher!
  • Smoked paprika: This can be substituted for paprika if you can not find the smoked version.
  • Spices: The spice combination I use of cumin, coriander, smoked paprika, chilli flakes, and cocoa powder can be substituted for your favourite store bought taco seasoning.
  • Minced beef: This recipe will work with minced beef or lamb. If you are using chicken mince or ground turkey please be aware these meats can be drier and you may need to add extra olive oil to the dish. 
  • Kidney beans: I use canned kidney beans but you can of course use dried kidney beans that have been soaked and prepped. Pinto beans, navy beans or haricot beans all work as well. 
  • Corn kernels: Frozen, fresh or canned corn kernels all work fine. 
  • Tortillas: Any soft flour tortilla or corn tortillas can be used. This recipe will also work with your favourite wraps or mountain bread. If you need this recipe to be gluten free be sure to check the labels on the tortillas you are using.
  • Grated cheese: I use grated cheddar cheese, but any cheese that melts well will work well; colby, edam, monterey jack cheese

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 645kcal | Carbohydrates: 45g | Protein: 31g | Fat: 39g | Saturated Fat: 16g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 15g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 101mg | Sodium: 571mg | Potassium: 1012mg | Fiber: 9g | Sugar: 8g | Vitamin A: 2889IU | Vitamin C: 14mg | Calcium: 305mg | Iron: 7mg
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One Comment

  1. 5 stars
    My family all went back for seconds! So filling and so nutritious. Thanks for creating this delicious recipe.