Mexican Quesadilla Casserole Recipes

MEXICAN QUESADILLA CASSEROLE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Prepare a 13x9-inch baking dish with cooking spray.
• Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Cook and stir beef and onion in the hot skillet until beef is completely browned, 5 to 7 minutes; drain and discard grease.
• Stir tomato sauce, black beans, diced tomatoes with lime juice and cilantro, corn, and chopped green chiles into the ground beef mixture; season with chili powder, cumin, garlic, oregano, and red pepper flakes. Reduce heat to low and cook mixture at a simmer for 5 minutes.
• Spread about 1/2 cup beef mixture into the bottom of the prepared baking dish; top with 3 tortillas, overlapping as needed. Spread another 1/2 cup beef mixture over the tortillas. Sprinkle 1 cup Cheddar cheese over beef. Finish with layers of remaining tortillas, beef mixture, and Cheddar cheese, respectively.
• Bake in preheated oven until heated throughout and the cheese is melted, about 15 minutes. Cool 5 minutes before serving.

MEXICAN TORTILLA CASSEROLE

Steps:

• In a large skillet over medium-high heat, heat 1 tablespoon of the olive oil. Add the tomatoes, onion and garlic, stir and cook for a minute or two to soften the onion. Add 2 teaspoons of the chili powder, 1 teaspoon of the paprika and 1 teaspoon of the cumin. Stir and cook the mixture for another minute or two to release the flavors of the spices. Remove the mixture to a bowl and set aside.
• In the same skillet, heat the remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil. Add the chicken along with the remaining 2 teaspoons chili powder, 1 teaspoon paprika, 1 teaspoon cumin and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Saute the chicken until it's deep golden brown and done in the middle, about 4 to 5 minutes. Add 1 cup water and stir to make a sauce. Bring the sauce to a boil and cook until it's reduced by half, about 3 to 4 minutes. Stir in the beans and set aside.
• To assemble the casserole, pour half a jar (about 1 cup) of salsa verde into the bottom of a 9-by-13-inch casserole dish or disposable foil baking pan. Add a layer of half the tortillas on top of the salsa verde, overlapping the edges. Spoon the rice over the tortillas, spread the tomato mixture over the rice, then sprinkle the corn over the tomatoes. Next, add the chicken and bean mixture, then sprinkle on half the cheese and pour over half the enchilada sauce. Next, add the rest of the tortillas, then pour on the rest of the salsa verde and the rest of the enchilada sauce and sprinkle on the rest of the cheese.
• If you're baking the casserole right away, preheat the oven to 375 degrees F and bake, covered with foil, for 20 minutes. Then remove the foil and continue baking for 15 to 20 minutes, or until hot and bubbly. Serve with sour cream and cilantro.
• Find this recipe and more in Ree's new book, The Pioneer Woman Cooks: Dinnertime ($30, William Morrow Cookbooks).

CHEESY MEXICAN CHICKEN LASAGNA

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Brush the inside of an 8-inch square baking dish with oil.
• Toss the chicken with 1/2 teaspoon salt in a medium bowl. Heat the oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chicken and cook, undisturbed, until it begins to brown in spots, about 2 minutes. Add the poblanos, tomatoes and 1/2 teaspoon salt and cook, stirring frequently, until the chicken is cooked through, the peppers are crisp-tender and the tomatoes are saucy, 5 to 6 minutes. Remove the skillet from the heat and stir in the garlic. Transfer the chicken, vegetables and juices to a medium bowl to cool.
• Wipe out the skillet, add enough oil to just cover the bottom and heat over medium heat. Once the oil begins to shimmer, add 3 of the tortillas and fry until they are hot but still pale, about 10 seconds per side. Remove the tortillas to a baking sheet and sprinkle with salt. Fry the remaining tortillas in batches of 3, adding and heating oil as needed between batches.
• Cover the bottom of the prepared baking dish with 4 overlapping tortillas. Top with half the chicken-poblano mixture, sprinkle with 1 cup of the Mexican cheese blend and 1/4 cup of the Parmesan and dollop with 1/4 cup of the sour cream. Top with 4 more overlapping tortillas, the remaining chicken-poblano mixture, 1 cup of the remaining Mexican cheese blend and the remaining 1/4 cup each of Parmesan and sour cream. Top with the remaining tortillas and 1 1/2 cups Mexican cheese blend.
• Cover the dish loosely with foil and bake until the lasagna is hot and the cheese is melted, about 25 minutes. Remove the foil and bake for 5 minutes more. Let rest for a few minutes. Cut into 4 squares, place on 4 serving plates and divide the romaine and radishes among the plates.

QUESADILLA CASSEROLE

Steps:

• Brown beef and onions in a large skillet on medium-high heat, drain. Add tomato sauce, beans, corn and green chiles mix well. Stir in all of the spices (except red pepper). Bring to boil. Reduce heat to low simmer 5 minutes. Add red pepper to taste, if desired.
• Spread 1/2 cup of beef mixture on bottom of 13x9x2"-inch baking dish sprayed with non-stick cooking spray. Top with 3 of the tortillas, over lapping as needed. Layer with 1/2 of the remaining beef mixture and 1/2 of the cheese. Repeat with remaining tortillas, beef mixture and cheese.
• Bake in preheated 350 oven for 15 minutes or until heated through, let stand 5 minutes before serving.

CHICKEN QUESADILLA CASSEROLE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350.
• Cut chicken into small diced pieces, and saute in large skillet with Olive Oil and onions over medium-high heat until cooked throughout.
• Add Rotel, beans, tomato sauce, corn, and spices to chicken. Cook for 5 minutes until fully heated. Salt and Pepper to taste.
• In a 9"x13" greased casserole dish, put just enough of the mixture to cover the bottom of the dish. Layer tortillas, half of the remaining mixture, half of the cheese, tortillas, and the remainder of the mixture. Cover with the remainder of the cheese.
• Bake for 15 minutes, and then allow casserole to cool 5 minutes before serving.

BEEF QUESADILLAS

Steps:

• In a large skillet, cook the beef over medium heat until no longer pink; drain. Stir in the beans, chilies, oregano, cumin and salt. Cook over medium-low heat for 3-4 minutes or until heated through. , Brush one side of each tortilla with butter. Spoon 1/2 cup of the meat mixture over half of unbuttered side. Sprinkle with 1/3 cup cheese; fold in half. , Place on a lightly greased baking sheet. Sprinkle with paprika. Bake at 475° for 10 minutes or until crisp and golden brown. Cut into wedges.