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Mexican Tortilla Casserole

Mexican Tortilla Casserole
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Mexican Tortilla Casserole is a quick and hearty one-dish meal combining tender tortillas, seasoned meat or beans, vibrant vegetables, and melted cheese. Ready in under 30 minutes, this flavorful casserole offers comforting, bold Mexican-inspired flavors that are perfect for busy weeknights or customizable to fit vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, or protein-packed diets.

Ingredients

Scale

Base

  • Flour or Corn Tortillas

Protein

  • 1 lb ground beef or 1 ½ cups cooked beans (black beans or lentils for vegetarian)

Vegetables & Aromatics

  • 1 cup diced tomatoes with green chiles (canned or fresh)
  • 1 medium onion, diced
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced

Cheese

  • 2 cups shredded cheese blend (cheddar, Monterey Jack, or Mexican cheese mix)

Spices

  • 1 tsp cumin
  • 1 tsp chili powder
  • ½ tsp smoked paprika

Fresh Finishing

  • ¼ cup chopped fresh cilantro
  • Juice of 1 lime

Instructions

  1. Prepare Your Ingredients: Dice the onion and garlic, shred the cheese if not pre-shredded, and chop the fresh cilantro. In a skillet, brown the ground beef or cook your beans with cumin, chili powder, smoked paprika, and the minced garlic and diced onion until the mixture is well-seasoned and aromatic.
  2. Assemble Layers in a Baking Dish: Begin with a layer of tortillas at the bottom of your casserole dish. Spread a scoop of the seasoned meat or beans evenly on top, followed by a layer of diced tomatoes with green chiles. Sprinkle a generous amount of cheese over this layer. Repeat these layers until all ingredients are used, finishing with a top layer of cheese to create a golden crust.
  3. Bake Until Bubbly and Melted: Place the casserole in a preheated oven at 375°F (190°C) and bake for about 20 minutes, or until the cheese is melted, bubbly, and slightly browned at the edges. This melds all the flavors and firms up the layers nicely.
  4. Garnish and Serve: Remove the casserole from the oven and let it rest for a few minutes. Sprinkle fresh chopped cilantro and squeeze lime juice on top to brighten the flavors before serving.

Notes

  • Use slightly stale tortillas for better texture that holds up during baking.
  • Don’t overload layers to avoid a mushy casserole—moderate ingredient amounts work best.
  • Pre-cook meat or beans thoroughly for even flavor distribution and to reduce bake time.
  • Mix different cheeses, combining mild and sharp varieties, to deepen richness.
  • Let the casserole rest 5-10 minutes after baking to set and make slicing easier.

Nutrition

Keywords: Mexican casserole, tortilla casserole, ground beef casserole, vegetarian casserole, quick dinner, one dish meal, gluten free Mexican, cheesy casserole

Find it online: https://linacorner.com/mexican-tortilla-casserole/