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Mexican Lasagna Casserole (Slow Cooker or Oven) First Image

Mexican Beef Casserole


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  • Author: Recipe Author
  • Total Time: 170 minutes
  • Yield: 6 servings 1x
  • Diet: Low Carb

Description

A delicious and hearty Mexican-style casserole made with layers of tortillas, spicy ground beef, and cheese.


Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 2 pounds lean ground beef
  • 1 onion, chopped small
  • 1 tablespoon Kalyn’s Taco Seasoning (or use your favorite purchased taco seasoning)
  • 1 cup Pace Picante Sauce
  • 2 cans (10 oz. can) Ro-Tel Tomatoes and Green Chiles
  • 6 low-carb tortillas, cut in half
  • 2 cups cottage cheese
  • 1 can (4 oz.) diced green chiles, drained
  • 2 eggs
  • 3 cups grated Mexican Cheese Blend

Instructions

  1. Heat the oil in a large heavy frying pan, add the ground beef, breaking it apart with your fingers, and cook over medium-high heat until the beef is browned and cooked through. Break beef apart with a turner or old fashioned potato masher as it cooks so it’s in small pieces.
  2. When the beef is done, push it over to the side, add a little more oil if needed, and cook the diced onion for a few minutes; then mix the onion with the beef.
  3. Add Kalyn’s Taco Seasoning, salsa, and Ro-Tel tomatoes and simmer over low heat until most of the liquid has evaporated and when you draw a turner across the bottom of the pan you don’t see any liquid.
  4. While beef mixture cooks, mix together the cottage cheese, drained green chiles, eggs, and 1 cup of the cheese.
  5. Cut the tortillas in half with kitchen shears and spray the slow cooker insert with non-stick spray.
  6. In the crockery casserole dish insert, make a layer of tortillas, using the cut side of the tortillas to go along the straight sides. Use the least amount of tortillas you can to cover the bottom.
  7. Make a layer of half the spicy meat mixture, half the cottage cheese mixture, and one cup of the grated cheese (or more). Then make a second layer each of the tortillas, meat mixture, cottage cheese mixture, and grated cheese.
  8. Cover the slow cooker and cook on HIGH for about 2 1/2 hours or until the casserole is bubbling and the cheese is nicely melted.
  9. If you’re using the Casserole Crock, you can brown the finished dish in a 400F/200C oven for about 15 minutes if desired, but that step is completely optional.
  10. If you want to try this in the oven, a reader reported she baked it for 45 minutes and it turned out perfectly and was a hit with her husband.
  11. I’d use 375F/190C if you’re baking it in a casserole dish and spray the casserole dish with non-stick spray.

Notes

  • Use your favorite taco seasoning if Kalyn’s is unavailable.
  • If you prefer, substitute ground turkey or chicken for the beef.
  • Feel free to customize ingredients with your favorite veggies or cheeses.
  • Prep Time: 20 minutes
  • Cook Time: 150 minutes
  • Category: Dinner
  • Method: Slow Cooker
  • Cuisine: Mexican

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1 slice
  • Calories: 450
  • Sugar: 3g
  • Sodium: 800mg
  • Fat: 25g
  • Saturated Fat: 12g
  • Unsaturated Fat: 10g
  • Trans Fat: 1g
  • Carbohydrates: 30g
  • Fiber: 4g
  • Protein: 35g
  • Cholesterol: 180mg