Mexican Lasagna

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My sister-in-law Sophie and I have the entire day off (we both take turning pulling weight at the clinic), so we’re just hanging out out and relaxing.  I find that one of the weirdest aspects of owning a small business is we only get random days off, not necessarily Saturdays and Sundays.  But a Tuesday on the couch?  Not so bad at all.

 

If it wasn’t for my time off, I wouldn’t have created this delicious recipe!  Feast your eyes on Mexican Lasagna.

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To me, this recipe is the quintessential Healthy Tipping Point recipe because 1) it’s simple; 2) there are only four ingredients; and 3) it’s kind of weird (like Pancake Truffles or Stuffed {Potato Skin} Shells).  I hate long and complex recipes!  I need something that I can throw together fast.

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This Mexican Lasagna is ridiculously delicious – but you really can’t go wrong when combining refried beans and cheese.  And you could easily make this recipe larger (or pile the corn tortillas higher!) with a few simple modifications.

 

Mexican Lasagna

 

Ingredients (for four small servings; I had two for lunch):

 

  • 8 small corn tortillas
  • 3/4 can mild salsa
  • 1 can refried beans
  • 4 slices of sharp cheddar cheese

 

Directions:

 

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  • Grease a small 8 by 8 casserole dish.  Spoon 1/4 of the can of salsa on the bottom.
  • Slice 4 of the corn tortillas in half and arrange them into the casserole dish.  Try to cover the entire bottom without overlapping (cut to fit).
  • Scoop out 1/2 the can of refried beans on top of the tortillas. Spread evenly.  Top with 1/4 can salsa.
  • Cover beans and salsa with slices of the 4 remaining tortillas.
  • Top second layer of tortillas with rest of refried beans and salsa (save some salsa for the top).  Lay the cheese on top so the dish is completely covered.
  • Bake for 15 minutes and then broil on low under cheese browns (keep on eye on it!).
  • Slice into quarters, top with a dollop of salsa, and serve.

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Couldn’t find my small casserole dish (where could it be hiding?!) so I used the old ‘aluminum foil barrier’ trick and it worked just fine.

 

I stashed what’s left in the fridge…

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Hopefully it will survive the rest of the day – I suspect heated leftovers will be amazing!

{ 68 comments }

 

  • Alice January 10, 2012, 1:43 pm

    um totally making this tomorrow night for dinner. i love me some easy, healthy mexican!

  • Cat @Breakfast to Bed January 10, 2012, 1:50 pm

    Ooooh, I bet this would be killer with some queso fresco!

  • Laura @ She Eats Well January 10, 2012, 1:54 pm

    That looks cheeeeesy. And delicious. I’d top mine with some avocado. Enjoy your day off!

    • CaitlinHTP January 10, 2012, 4:51 pm

      There are definitely so many fun ways to do tasty variations!

  • Annette @ EnjoyYourHealthyLife January 10, 2012, 1:54 pm

    mmmm I love some cheese and beans and some salsa. SO tasty!! This looks awesome!

  • Megan January 10, 2012, 2:01 pm

    This was a regular meal at dinner for my family when I was growing up! So yummy. My younger brother’s friends call it “bean pie.” 🙂

  • Angela @ Eat Spin Run Repeat January 10, 2012, 2:03 pm

    Oh wow, this looks so good, and SO easy!! I’d add a boatload of salsa to mine because that’s just the way I roll. Can I come over for leftovers? 😉

  • Brita January 10, 2012, 2:03 pm

    Beans + cheese + some kind of carb = The holy trifecta. Can’t wait to try this!

    I call this kind of food “fexican,” because I’m pretty sure there isn’t a single person of Mexican descent that would ever claim anything I make could be called mexican food. Whatever it is though, it’s delicious.

    • CaitlinHTP January 10, 2012, 4:52 pm

      Hahah fexican, i like it!

  • Dana @ the Big Fat Skinny January 10, 2012, 2:11 pm

    OMG this looks amazing. I can’t wait to make this!!!!!

  • Chelsea January 10, 2012, 2:16 pm

    Easy dishes make for my favorite dishes.

  • Rachel C. January 10, 2012, 2:26 pm

    This looks so good and super easy to make!
    I love refried beans and can’t wait to try this out

  • Maria January 10, 2012, 2:29 pm

    Such a great idea, I love things with only a few ingredients too!

  • Sarah January 10, 2012, 2:29 pm

    This looks really yummy! I make a similar casserole with cream of mushroom soup, enchilada sauce and rotel. I haven’t made it in forever since we’ve been eating less dairy – but maybe I’ll sneak it in this weekend!

    • CaitlinHTP January 10, 2012, 4:53 pm

      Oh yummy – do you have a recipe? I would love to try this.

  • kathleen @ the daily crumb January 10, 2012, 2:36 pm

    i love fast, easy, delicious + healthy recipes! this one fits the bill 🙂 enjoy your day off, friend.

  • Sara January 10, 2012, 2:50 pm

    Yum. I saw something similar (from Vegetarian Times) but it was more complicated. This seems so simple! Plus I have a can of refried beans I’ve been meaning to use.

  • Valerie January 10, 2012, 2:52 pm

    I made something similar to this the other week! I also threw in some chopped bell peppers and frozen corn. I used black beans, but I like the idea of refried better I think!

  • Gina @ Running to the Kitchen January 10, 2012, 2:54 pm

    This is so easy and tasty looking! I need an easy casserole idea for tomorrow’s dinner with a friend, this could be perfect 🙂

  • Leslie January 10, 2012, 2:54 pm

    I just made Sofie’s Apple Crumble night before last. It was amazingly good and will be made again as soon as I buy more apples. Tell her thanks for sharing her recipe. This looks yummy also.

    • CaitlinHTP January 10, 2012, 4:53 pm

      Aw I will! I am so glad you liked it 🙂 She’s a good cook.

  • Amber @ Busy, Bold, Blessed January 10, 2012, 2:55 pm

    I loooove this! Simple recipes are the BEST. I’m going to add some guac and maybe some onions and peppers. Or maybe even some black olives, yummm.

  • Ashley @ My Food 'N' Fitness Diaries January 10, 2012, 3:06 pm

    “you really can’t go wrong when combining refried beans and cheese”… totally agree! looks delicious! 🙂

  • Lisa (bakebikeblog) January 10, 2012, 3:19 pm

    oooh yummo! What a tasty meal!

  • Kelly January 10, 2012, 3:21 pm

    Looks good to me! I hate complicated recipes too…I am not likely to go by one bottle of something to use one time in one recipe. I am more of a “what do I have in my pantry that I can use” kind of girl.

  • Amanda @ AmandaRunsNY January 10, 2012, 3:26 pm

    My mom mad something similar when I was a kid and it was my favorite thing, but her recipe used the dough for crescent rolls that come in the tube in the fridge section. It was sooo good, but I think your’s is much healthier.

  • Amelia January 10, 2012, 4:21 pm

    Thanks for this recipe AND the aluminum foil trick! I’d never heard of that before. Genius!

  • Corrie Anne January 10, 2012, 4:27 pm

    My husband would love this so much. He’s always asking for Mexican!

  • Jessica / Life by the Arch January 10, 2012, 4:37 pm

    I’ve made this before but added corn, black beans and green chiles – it’s really good!

    • CaitlinHTP January 10, 2012, 4:53 pm

      Oooo yummy additions!

  • Natalie @fitjamericangirl January 10, 2012, 4:43 pm

    I must make this, I feel compelled.

  • Reenie January 10, 2012, 4:47 pm

    That looks really good 🙂

  • Whitney @ Whit's Kitchen January 10, 2012, 5:04 pm

    I saw something yummy like this on another blog too! I think the universe it telling me to make this NOW! 🙂

  • Crystal January 10, 2012, 5:04 pm

    Ooh, this looks like one of those dishes where the leftovers are even better. I’d top a piece with a fried egg…yum.

  • StoriesAndSweetPotatoes January 10, 2012, 5:37 pm

    The best meals are the ones that just look weird before the oven and perfect after. Never gets old to me.

  • Sarah January 10, 2012, 5:54 pm

    I am kicking myself for not picking up tortillas today! I am putting everything on my list for next time.. mmm looks SO delicious!

  • Amanda (modernation) January 10, 2012, 5:55 pm

    Yum! Mexican Lasagna is one of our favorite ways to mix up mexican night. Just saw a fee-form one on Pinterest that was so pretty – but if I made it I’m sure it would look more like the Leaning Tower of Pisa.

  • Katie @ Peace Love & Oats January 10, 2012, 6:07 pm

    That looks absolutely delicious! I’m sending this to my brother because he loves mexican!

  • Army Amy* January 10, 2012, 6:29 pm

    So many possibilities!*

  • Rachel January 10, 2012, 6:41 pm

    Mmm, looks tasty! I love simple recipes like this too, especially when they aren’t loaded with crazy ingredients. Sometimes it’s best to keep it simple.

    Hope you continue to enjoy your prenatal yoga, I’m sure it feels wonderful!

  • Kayla January 10, 2012, 6:44 pm

    I would love this! It’s inspired me to make a mexican themed pizza tonight.. we have a flax pre-made pizza dough hanging around! Wish me luck! Thanks for the post!

  • CJ @ http://healthy-happy-whole.com/ January 10, 2012, 6:49 pm

    this sound delicious and perfect for an easy lunch to pack for work! i would love putting this over a salad with some extra salsa and greek yogurt!
    yummy!!!

  • Sarah January 10, 2012, 7:08 pm

    Yum!

  • Lindsay @ The Reluctant Runner January 10, 2012, 7:35 pm

    I do this sometimes when I intend to make enchiladas but get lazy 🙂

  • Tamara January 10, 2012, 7:45 pm

    That looks so good and simple! Will be trying soon!

  • Jolene (www.everydayfoodie.ca) January 10, 2012, 8:28 pm

    That melty cheese in the last photo!!!! YUM.

  • *Andrea* January 10, 2012, 8:29 pm

    i seriously can’t wait for your recipe book to come out! i am in LOVE with simple, short, healthy, tasty recipes like this one – and would love to have them in one place, easy to reach 🙂

  • Jennifer January 10, 2012, 8:47 pm

    Hi Caitlin,

    I’m delurking. LOVE YOU BLOG BTW! But I wanted to pass on this link: http://vimeo.com/34813864 Maybe you can use it in your Operation Beautiful message. If not it’s worth a good laugh!

    Cheers,

    Jennifer

  • Larissa January 10, 2012, 9:15 pm

    okay no judgement cause everyone has their guilty pleasures and short cuts, but are those Kraft singles? i was so surprised when i saw what looked like them! i love mexican, oh and cheese of all types!

    • CaitlinHTP January 10, 2012, 9:36 pm

      Noooo. Kraft singles are not my kind of thing. They are just real cheddar cheese slices – so much better!

  • Chelsea @ One Healthy Munchkin January 10, 2012, 9:56 pm

    I love how your recipes are always so easy – I’m way more likely to make something like this rather than a complicated lasagna that requires making my own sauce and baking it for 45 minutes! Can’t wait to try this! 🙂

  • Kim January 10, 2012, 10:00 pm

    omg this looks delicious. i’m all for easy recipes. i once followed another version of this and totally destroyed it because it was too um, complicated. haha. thanks Caitlin!

  • Jen January 11, 2012, 12:18 am

    I want some! Could you send me one…or two…servings via the airwaves? PLEASE?! I know that it’s supposed to be easy and all, but I am tired & I’m sure that yours would be yummier! 🙂

  • Khushboo January 11, 2012, 12:45 am

    Love how easy this looks! I have no tortilla wraps at home but I’m tempted to try it with actual lasagne sheets!

  • Carly January 11, 2012, 12:53 am

    This looks delish! I’m definitely going to try it. What kind of salsa did you use?

    • Caitlin January 11, 2012, 11:30 am

      I used the kind that you find in the refrigerated section – it’s always so much fresher!

  • Courtney January 11, 2012, 8:01 am

    Great recipe! I made it last night after I saw the post. I had to go grocery shopping anyway so I picked up all of the ingredients…all except the beans. Luckily I had pinto beans on hand. Did you know how simple it is to make refried beans? Just warm up some oil with garlic then add the bean to the pan with the juices from the can. Let the juices cook off then use a stick blender to make it the right consistency. So easy!

    • Caitlin January 11, 2012, 11:30 am

      Oh awesome. I did not know this!!

  • shelley January 11, 2012, 9:41 am

    I made this tonight for dinner / lunches and it is amazing, I added spinach for some extra greens too. Making myself stay away from the fridge so I don’t eat it all at once!

    • Caitlin January 11, 2012, 11:30 am

      Glad you liked it!

  • Amber K January 11, 2012, 2:27 pm

    This looks delicious! Super easy dinners are the best.

  • Brigid January 11, 2012, 3:39 pm

    I made something similar recently that was delicious. We added sauteed bell peppers and mushrooms and a layer of green chiles. My other half declared it his favorite dinner ever!

  • Allison January 11, 2012, 4:38 pm

    Simple can be so satisfying and scrumptious- doesn’t hurt that there aren’t a pile of dishes to clean after too! Looks delic 🙂

  • Lexi @ Cura Personalis Foodie January 11, 2012, 11:36 pm

    Easy, healthy, delicious? WINNER!

  • Khadija January 13, 2012, 9:53 pm

    this looks delicious definitely saving it and trying it one day!

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