Taco Lasagna is a delicious casserole that’s the perfect mashup of Mexican meets Italian. Layers of seasoned beef, cheese, and tortillas are cooked to perfection in the air fryer or oven. A great weeknight meal that also freezes well for easy meal prep.
Do you like to have dinner theme nights? Like Mexican Monday or Spaghetti Saturday? Soup and Sandwich Night, Pizza Night, or Casserole Night? If you don’t, you may want to consider it.
I find that having weekly theme nights makes meal planning and prep soooooo much easier. Plus, it’s tons of fun! And one of my family’s most requested dishes is this Taco Lasagna, this delicious and Air Fryer Chicken Fajitas and really really good to cook Air Fryer Frozen Burrito.
What exactly is taco lasagna? It’s the perfect mash-up of a Mexican food favorite and that classic Italian layered casserole. And the bonus is that it is much easier to make than standard Italian lasagna.
Whether you decide to use the air fryer or your oven, this Taco Lasagna made with tortillas (instead of noodles) is a perfect weeknight meal. Plus, you can even prep it ahead of time and freeze it until needed. #freezermealsforthewin
Why Make This Recipe
- Crowd Pleaser – This tasty recipe will be a hit with both kids and adults alike.
- Make Ahead – Prep ahead and freeze for later use.
- Pantry Friendly – Just a handful of everyday staple ingredients are all that’s needed.
- No Mess or Fuss – This no-fuss, easy-to-assemble casserole eliminates the mess and makes clean up a breeze.
Ready to make this Easy Mexican Casserole? Gather your ingredients and I will show you…
How To Make Easy Taco Lasagna
Get the complete ingredients list and instructions from the recipe card below.
- Heat olive oil in a pan and cook the onions until they begin to soften.
- Add the garlic and the beef, cooking until the beef is browned.
- Add in the spices and tomato sauce and bring to a simmer.
- Start to assemble the lasagna by placing a tortilla on the bottom of your air fryer basket or a baking dish.
- Next, add a layer of beef, then a layer of cheese, and continue this process. Finish with a final tortilla topped with cheese.
- Air fry or bake in the oven following the instructions below.
How To Make Air Fryer Taco Lasagna
Assemble the lasagna as directed above directly in the basket of your air fryer. Cook at 350F / 176C for 7 minutes, or until the cheese is fully melted.
How To Bake This Mexican Lasagna
Assemble the lasagna ingredients in a pie plate or casserole dish following the directions above. Bake in the oven at 350F / 176C for 20 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
Expert Tips
- If you want a spicier version, add chopped jalapeno when you cook the beef. You could also add spicy pepper jack cheese.
- Use plain canned tomato sauce, not pizza or spaghetti sauce as those often have Italian flavors and seasonings added.
- Divide the meat mixture into three parts so you finish with a tortilla layer. This will help your lasagna to hold its shape better and be easily cut into single servings.
- Make enough ingredients for two casseroles and freeze one for later following our instructions below.
Delicious Variations
- Top it off – Top slices of this lasagna with chopped black olives, cilantro, guacamole, sour cream or your favorite salsa.
- Fill it with veggies – Add additional veggies to the meat mixture such as corn, bell peppers, zucchini or squash.
- Leave out the meat – You can make this meatless by substituting the beef with your favorite beans such as black beans or pinto beans.
- Add a side – Corn, refried beans, Mexican rice, and salad all make great side dishes for this casserole.
Make Ahead and Storage
- Make Ahead – Make the meat mixture in advance and assemble the lasagne as directed. Cover the whole thing with plastic wrap and pop it in the fridge for up to 2 days. Pull it out of the fridge one hour in advance and bake or air fry according to the recipe.
- Store – Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat in the microwave.
- Freeze – To freeze this Mexican casserole just follow the make ahead instructions and put it into the freezer for 3 to 6 months. Defrost by placing in the fridge overnight. Set the casserole on the counter one hour before cooking and bake or air fry according to the recipe.
FAQs
Can I Make a Healthier Version of this Recipe?
It’s easy to make a few adjustments to make a healthier version of this recipe. Try replacing the ground beef with ground turkey or chicken, or eliminate the meat altogether and use black beans instead. You can also make this recipe with reduced-fat cheese.
I’m Not a Fan of Flour Tortillas.
No problem. Whether you don’t like flour tortillas or avoid them due to a gluten intolerance you can make this recipe without them. Corn tortillas or gluten-free tortillas are great substitutes and you will be able to assemble and cook the casserole as instructed.
Can I Double This Recipe?
You can double or even triple this recipe. If you are using your air fryer you can make it as big as your air fryer basket allows. If cooking in a casserole dish in the oven, make sure to slightly overlap the tortillas when doubling or tripling the recipe.
More Instant Pot Recipes You May Like
- Easy Air Fryer Chicken Fajitas. An easy weeknight dinner for the family.
- Air Fryer Chicken Breast. Loved by the whole family.
- Air Fryer Chicken Thighs. Crispy and great for meal prep.
- Air Fryer Frozen Taquitos. Pull out from the freezer and cook.
- Air Fryer Tortilla Chips. Great for snacking and meals.
- Air Fryer Churros. Perfect for people with a sweet tooth.
Serving Suggestions
- Air Fryer Green Beans.
- Dump and Start Instant Pot Mexican Black Beans.
- Instant Pot Mexican Rice.
- Jalapeno Strawberry Margaritas.
Tools Needed
- An awesome Air Fryer.
- Handy mixing bowls.
- Much needed kitchen accessories.
- Measuring cups and teaspoons.
- Awesome spices.
Thank you for reading my Taco Lasagna with Tortillas recipe post. And please come visit again as I continue to slice, dice, and dream up affordable Air Fryer recipes, Instant Pot Recipes, Southern Recipes, and more. Thanks for supporting Recipes from a Pantry, food blog.
Get The Easy Taco Lasagna Recipe:
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Easy Air Fryer Taco Pie
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 onion chopped
- 1 garlic clove minced
- 16 ounces (454g) ground beef
- 1 teaspoon oregano
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- 1/2 teaspoon adobo
- 1/2 cup (112g) tomato sauce
- salt and pepper to taste
- 2 cups (266g) cheddar cheese shredded
- 4 flour tortillas or corn tortillas or gluten-free tortillas
Instructions
To Make Air Fryer Taco Lasagna:
- Heat olive oil in a pan and cook the onions until they begin to soften.
- Add the garlic and the beef, cooking until the beef is browned.
- Add in the spices and tomato sauce and bring to a simmer.
- Start to assemble the lasagna by placing a tortilla on the bottom of your air fryer basket.
- Next, add a layer of beef, then a layer of cheese, and continue this process. Finish with a final tortilla topped with cheese.
- Cook in the air fryer at 350F / 176C for 7 minutes, or until the cheese is fully melted.
To Make Taco Lasagna in the Oven:
- Heat olive oil in a pan and cook the onions until they begin to soften.
- Add the garlic and the beef, cooking until the beef is browned.
- Add in the spices and tomato sauce and bring to a simmer.
- Start to assemble the lasagna by placing a tortilla in the bottom of a baking dish.
- Next, add a layer of beef, then a layer of cheese, and continue this process. Finish with a final tortilla topped with cheese.
- Bake in the oven at 350F / 176C for 20 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
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Notes
- If you want a spicier version, add chopped jalapeno when you cook the beef. You could also add spicy pepper jack cheese.
- Use plain canned tomato sauce, not pizza or spaghetti sauce as those often have Italian flavors and seasonings added.
- Divide the meat mixture into three parts so you finish with a tortilla layer. This will help your lasagna to hold its shape better and be easily cut into single servings.
- Make enough ingredients for two casseroles and freeze one for later following our instructions.
This recipe sounds amazing! Air Fryer taco lasagna not only sounds genius but certainly a recipe that the entire family will love!
Such a fun and flavorful recipe. And I appreciated the confirmation the GF flour tortillas would work in the recipe.
This looks very tasty and I’m also loving the fusion of Mexican and Italian, the best of both worlds!
This looks so fun! I love having theme nights for dinner. It really takes the guess work out of dinner, and makes planning so much easier! This recipe is super simple, and tasty!