This Taco Lasagna Recipe combines saucy taco meat with two types of cheese, layered in sheets of lasagna, and baked to cheesy perfection.
author’s note
Tacos And Pasta Might Be Soulmates!
Growing up, my mom made a taco lasagna that we were all completely obsessed with. And while you might be a little skeptical about combining two classics like lasagna and tacos, trust me, it is a match made in heaven.
So when I started craving it again and wanted to make my own version, I called my mom to ask for the recipe. She immediately said she never measured a single thing and always just eyeballed it, then gave me a very loose direction of what she usually did. That was my sign to start testing.
And while I’ll admit it took me several tries to perfect this taco lasagna, it was worth every round because the final version has become one of my all time favorite meals. My kids love it just as much as I did growing up. It never fails, it’s always delicious, and it’s one of those recipes I make when I want a guaranteed family win.
Taco Lasagna Recipe Ingredients
| Ingredient Category | What to Do |
|---|---|
| Lasagna | Boil in well salted water to fully season the noodles. |
| Veggies | Sauté onion, pepper, and minced garlic in oil. |
| Protein | Use lean ground beef or swap for ground turkey. |
| Seasonings | Add taco seasoning and beef bouillon for deeper flavor. |
| Tomato Base | Stir in tomato paste and fire roasted diced tomatoes for a rich sauce. |
| Enchilada Sauce | Choose mild or hot to control the spice level. |
| Cheese | Layer extra sharp Cheddar and Monterrey Jack. |
How To Make Taco Lasagna Recipe
- Cook Pasta: Boil lasagna in salted water; drain and lay flat to cool.
- Sauté Veggies: In olive oil, cook onion, red pepper, and garlic until softened.
- Brown Meat: Add ground beef to veggies, breaking it apart until fully cooked.
- Season: Stir in taco seasoning, beef bouillon, and tomato paste.
- Add Sauce: Mix in enchilada sauce and tomatoes.
- Assemble: In a greased dish, layer lasagna, meat sauce, and cheeses.
- Bake: Cover with foil, bake, then uncover and bake again.
- Serve: Garnish with toppings and enjoy!
Storage
How To Store Leftover Taco Lasagna Recipe
Storing Leftovers: Cool lasagna completely. Cover pan tightly with foil and refrigerate 3-5 days.
Freezing: Prepare without baking; cover with plastic wrap, then foil. Freeze up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in fridge before baking and add 20-30 minutes extra bake time.
What To Serve With Taco Lasagna Recipe:
Taco Lasagna Recipe
Video
Equipment
- 9 x 13-inch baking pan preferably ceramic
- Sheet pan (15" x 10")
Ingredients
- 12 lasagna sheets
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 red pepper finely diced, about 1 cup
- 1 yellow onion finely diced, about 1 cup
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic
- 1 ounce taco seasoning or homemade—see note 1
- 1 teaspoon beef bouillon powder see note 2
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1 pound lean ground beef 93/7
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 14.5 ounces crushed tomatoes or petite-diced tomatoes
- 10 ounces mild red enchilada sauce
- 2 cups freshly shredded sharp Cheddar cheese pack to measure
- 2 cups freshly shredded Monterey Jack cheese pack to measure
- Cooking spray
- Toppings as desired see note 3
Instructions
- Bring 12 cups water to a boil. Add 1 tablespoon salt. Add lasagna pieces (plus a few extra for backup). Cook to al dente per package instructions. Drain; transfer pasta with tongs to a lightly sprayed sheet pan. Lay flat to prevent sticking and set aside.
- In a pan over medium-high, heat oil. Add pepper and onion; sauté until onion is translucent. Mix in garlic, taco seasoning, beef bouillon, and tomato paste; cook for 30 seconds.Preheat oven to 375°F.
- Move veggies aside, increase heat to high. Add beef, let stand 30 seconds, then crumble and mix with veggies. Season to taste with salt and pepper (I add 1/2 teaspoon each).
- Stir in tomatoes and enchilada sauce. Cook 3–4 minutes, scraping bottom of pan to release any browned bits. Remove from heat; adjust seasoning.
- Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish. Spread a thin sauce layer (about 1/2 cup) on the bottom, then layer 3 pieces of lasagna, 1/4 of the sauce, and 1/2 cup of each cheese. Repeat for 4 total layers, finishing with sauce and cheese on top.
- Cover with foil sprayed with cooking spray, then bake 40 minutes. Uncover and bake another 8–10 minutes until cheese melts. Let stand for 5–10 minutes before serving.
- Garnish with your favorite toppings (these seal the deal!) and enjoy!
Recipe Notes
- 1 tablespoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon each paprika, cumin, garlic powder, onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon oregano
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
This looks yummy. I’m going to make it with ground turkey 🙂
That sounds delicious! I hope you enjoy!
This looks amazing. I love the mix of mexican and italian, my two favorites.
They are a great combo! Thanks for stopping by Stephanie!
This is my kind of recipe. I love different styles of lasagna.
Aaaaand, I just realized I already commented on this. I thought it looked familiar. Haha! Brilliant. 😉
This is exactly my favorite kind of dinner. The husband and kids will eat just about anything if it includes pasta and it’s a good way for me to sneak extra Mexican into the rotation without getting shouted at for always making Mexican. 😉 Love this!
Wow, this looks incredible Chelsea! Love that you combined two of my favorites here – tacos + lasagna definitely = perfection 🙂 Can’t wait to try this recipe and thanks for sharing! Hope you have a great week!
Thanks so much 🙂 Have a great week as well and enjoy thanksgiving!
Looks delish and something our family would enjoy!
Thanks so much for stopping by! My husband sure loved this meal a lot – I hope your family enjoys it as well!
This looks absolutely fantastic. I love your tex mex twist on this and the ease of this Taco Lasagna recipe.
Looks delicious and simple! I’ll just have to leave the cheese off of my portion. Thanks for a great new weeknight recipe!
What a great dinner!
Thanks Karly!