There are two things you need to know about me: I love lasagna and I love Mexican food. So it is no surprise that I have combined the two into this Healthy Mexican Lasagna!
{Updated from it’s original release in 2015}
And there is nothing not to love about this whole food makeover of a Mexican style lasagna.
Are you ready for another new recipe that your family will beg you to make over and over again?
You all should know that my mother-in-law makes the best, and I mean the best lasagna in the whole world. The first thing I did after Ryan proposed to me was to ask her if she would finally teach me how to make it!
For any of my family reading this, don’t worry, I have no plans of “healthifying” her lasagna recipe.
It’s an ooey, gooey pan of cheesy deliciousness and I love it! There is nothing healthy about it, but guess what? I don’t care–at all!
We only eat it a few times a year and I enjoy every last bite. It is truly comfort food at it’s finest.
My own mom passed down a beloved family recipe to me as well: Really Great Mexican Bake.
No joke, that is the title written on the recipe card.
And after you taste this healthified version, you will not dispute that title.
Every time I make this meal, I wish I had made a double batch because I get so sad when my family gobbles it all up without leaving leftovers. They make the best lunches, right?!?
It seems as though the kids have bottomless pits for stomachs on nights I make this recipe!
Needless to say, this Healthy Mexican Lasagna one of their favorite meals and for good reason.
Who can resist tortillas, a spicy meat and bean mixture, a little cheese, and tons of veggies? Plus, you can always dress it up with a smorgasbord of toppings like salsa, plain Greek yogurt, and you guessed it, more veggies!
This Healthy Mexican Lasagna contains at least 5 WHOLE FOOD INGREDIENTS.
If you want to bump that number up to 7 or even 10, here are some delicious whole food side dishes to serve with this recipe:
1. Try adding a cob of grilled corn with a South of the Border Coleslaw. {Bumps up the whole food count to 9}
2. This Mexican Street Corn Sweet Potatoes with Creamy Chipotle-Avocado Sauce looks like a great addition. {Bumps up the whole food count to 7+}
3. Serve with a side salad, any greens of choice, cucumber, tomato, shredded carrots, and pepitas. If you are tired of the same old boring salads, be sure to download our FREE Digital Cookbook with 14 unique salad recipes in it.{Bumps up the whole food count to 10+}
Lastly, if there are food allergies or intolerances, use gluten free tortillas made from corn and/or dairy free cheese that is plant based. Happy Eating!
Healthy Mexican Lasagna
Equipment
- skillet
- cutting board
- knife
- 8x8 pan
Ingredients
Meat Mixture
- 1 lb ground meat (turkey, beef, venison)
- 1 can 15oz chili beans, don't drain
- 1 can 16 oz tomato sauce
- 1 can 4oz chopped green chiles
- 1 bell pepper, diced
- 1 onion, diced
- 1 tsp sea salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1/16 tsp cayenne powder (optional)
Toppings and Tortillas
- 6 flour tortillas (corn tortillas for gluten free)
- 1/2 cup shredded cheese
- 1 can 2.25 oz sliced black olives. drained
- lettuce, sour cream, salsa, avocado
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350F.
- Brown ground meat in large skillet on stove top. Add in remaining "meat mixture" ingredients and simmer uncovered for 20 minutes. The mixture will begin to thicken and the flavors will combine.
- Now you are ready to assemble: Place just enough of the meat mixture to barely cover the bottom of the greased 8x8 glass pan then top with a tortilla**. Cover that tortilla with some of the meat mixture and repeat until you end up with the meat mixture on the top. Top with cheese and black olives. Bake for 30 minutes or until cheese is melted and meat mixture is slightly bubbling around the edges. **I usually cut the tortillas in half or quarters and stack them so they cover the meat mixture evenly.
- However, if you want to make this dish even more simple and do it like my mama taught me: Place half the meat mixture in the bottom of a 8x8 glass pan. Cover with tortillas. Pour the remaining meat mixture on top of tortillas. Top with cheese and black olives. Bake for 30 minutes and remove from oven when the cheese is melted and meat mixture is slightly bubbling around the edges.
- Let the casserole cool for 15 minutes and then cut into pieces and serve. You can top the casserole with shredded lettuce, sour cream (I use plain Greek yogurt), salsa, lettuce and/or avocado!
- Store leftovers in refrigerator...if you are lucky enough to have them!
I am a nut for Mexican food and this looks DELICIOUS! Thanks for the recipe. I’m trying this for sure.
Hi Pattie! I really think you will like this recipe if you are crazy about Mexican food too. 🙂 This is definitely one of our favorites! Happy Cooking!
I truly love this recipe and the specific spin that you’ve placed on it.
Pretty clever. I’m gonna be preparing this for my husband next week and
I’ll report back on how I get on. Thank you for the
great idea!
Thank you for your kind words, Anna! I can’t wait to hear what your husband thinks. 🙂 Blessings to you!
Your Mexican Lasagna sounds amazing! I can’t wait to give this one a try. I love it when delicious is healthy too! Thank you for sharing it with us at the Heath and Soul Hop.
Hey April! Happy Blogiversary to you 🙂 13 years, wow! This Mexican Lasagna may just be the perfect dinner to celebrate 😉
Love this idea! Both Lasagna and Mexican food are very popular at our house but we never thought to combine them. Yum!! Thanks so much for sharing on the Healthy Living Link Party 🙂
Well you know, sometimes combining works and sometimes it doesn’t…but this time it TOTALLY worked!! I’m craving this meal again already. I may have to make it this weekend 😉
Sammi ,Love this healthy version of Mexican lasagna , thanks for sharing with Hearth and soul blog hop, pinning and tweeting.
Hi Sammi,
Yum! I love Mexican food and lasagna as well! I appreciate the turkey version, I am not a fan of cooking with beef. 🙂 Thanks for sharing at Talented Tuesday.
Cheers,
AJ
Thanks Aspen! Yes, any ground meat is delicious in this recipe 🙂
This sounds great! I want to try it – and I bet my boys will love it too! Thanks for sharing on the Healthy Living Link Party!
This looks delicious!
Looks yummy. Thank you for sharing with us at #HomeMattersParty. We would love to have you again next week.
I need to make this! Thanks for sharing on the Healthy Living Link Party.
Yes you do, Elaine! 😉 It will quickly become a favorite!