I happened to see this recipe in a cookbook from my Mom's old work place, and thought, "hm, I should try this." Ha ha! I love this cookbook, but this recipe was the most poorly written recipe I have ever tried. The photo is putting the dish together sadly written instructions.
I didn't read the instructions when I shopped for ingredients, and what do you know? There were ingredients in the instructions not listed at the top, and the layering of it all was not correct. I decided to re-write the recipe, and share it. You could make homemade corn tortillas for this. We indulge maybe once (or twice) a year for this, as the corn tortillas spike my husband's sugar.
Here is the recipe they way I make it now:
Note: I thaw tomatoes I froze from the garden, drain and add them vs. canned tomatoes (in case you grow a garden). I cut the recipe in half for us. Recipe is full recipe for a 9 x 13 in. baking dish.
Mexican Lasagna
In a large skillet brown:
2 pounds organic ground beef
1 onion, diced
Drain the grease off, and add either 4 Tbsp. of homemade taco seasoning, or add the following seasonings:
1/4 tsp. garlic powder
1 tsp. salt
1 Tbsp. chili powder
1/4 tsp. ground red pepper
1 tsp. pepper
Add 16 oz. diced tomatoes (one can with juice or home canned/frozen thawed).
For the cheese filling, mix together in a bowl:
24 oz. cottage cheese*
8 oz. Monterey Jack cheese, shredded
1 egg
12 corn tortillas
Layer in a lasagna pan (or pan the same size), 6 corn tortillas, then layer half of the meat mixture, then half of the cheese mixture. Repeat one more time.
Heat at 350°F for 30 minutes or until heated.
Top with shredded lettuce, pico (or diced tomatoes and onions), and sour cream. Add anything you like, for example more grated cheese, olives, etc.
*I've used half cottage cheese and half ricotta and it tasted wonderful as well.
We tried a new homemade queso recipe. I have made this with other cheese and homemade taco dry mix, but we liked this version better. We are not vegan, but the nutritional yeast, does give it a nice cheesy flavor, and it reheats nicely. It is a small batch version, which we also like. I have only tried one crock pot version once, and we did not like it.
Homemade Queso
1 cup cottage cheese, blended smooth with a food processor or blender.
Add: 4 Tbsp. Bragg's Nutritional Yeast (non-gmo)
and 1 Tbsp. Homemade Fajita Dry Mix
Blend well, and heat to enjoy with your choice of dip chip or vegetable.
We love to make Mexican corn bread for when we attend/host a taco bar night/day.
I am still on the hunt for a good, crock pot Mexican rice recipe.
A delicious crockpot side for Mexican Lasagna, and utilizes frozen off the cob corn (if you froze any), is Slow Cooker Creamed Corn (online recipe with The Southern Lady Cooks).
I freeze my corn off the cob corn with butter, so I thaw the corn and only add half the butter the recipe calls for. We love it!
I found another recipe to try soon, which involves sweet potatoes and a crock pot. It's called Tex-Mex Sweet Potatoes and Onions from the cook book, The Clean Eating Slow Cooker.
Mexican Lasagna ~ Taco Bar Ideas © Feb 2024 by Kristina at Pioneer Woman at Heart