Cheesy Taco Lasagna

You know how some foods just hit different? This Taco Lasagna takes all the flavor and fun of taco night and bakes it into a hearty, macro-friendly casserole. The secret is dipping the tortillas in the flavorful meat sauce—it locks in moisture and turns a simple tortilla into a star layer. It's customizable, easy to prep, and absolutely delivers on flavor.

Ingredient List (for 6 Servings)

• 1.5 lbs Ground Lean Meat (Chicken, Turkey, or Extra-Lean Beef)
• 1 cup Diced Yellow Onion & 1 cup Diced Bell Pepper
• 1 (15 oz) can Canned Diced Tomatoes (undrained)
• 1-2 tbsp Canned Chiles in Adobo, chopped (This is the flavor bomb!)
• 1 tbsp each Chili Powder, Cumin, Smoked Paprika, Garlic Powder
• 1 tsp Cornstarch (Optional, for thickening the sauce)
• 12-14 Flour Tortillas (Low-carb or whole wheat)
• 2 cups (8 oz) Shredded Cheese (Monterey Jack/Cheddar blend, divided)
• 1 (15 oz) can Black Beans, rinsed and drained (Optional, but great for fiber)
• Cooking Spray or a tiny bit of oil

Instructions (Easy Step-by-Step)

1. Prep the Filling: Sauté the **onion** and **bell peppers** until soft. Set them aside.
2. Cook the Meat: Brown the **ground lean meat** until cooked through. Drain the grease (if any) and add the cooked veggies back in.
3. Sauce Time: Stir in the **seasonings** for 1 minute. Pour in the **diced tomatoes** and **chiles in adobo**. Bring it to a simmer. (If it looks too soupy, use that cornstarch trick!)
4. Prep Pan: Preheat the oven to $\mathbf{350^\circ F}$. Spray your $9 \times 13 \text{ inch}$ pan.
5. Layer 1 (The Dip!): Dip each **flour tortilla** into the meat sauce—don't let them soak! Arrange them on the bottom of the pan.
6. Layer 2 (The Good Stuff): Spread **half** the meat mixture. Sprinkle with **half** the black beans (if using) and then $\mathbf{1/2 \text{ cup}}$ of the shredded cheese.
7. Layer 3 (More Tortillas): Dip the next set of tortillas in the sauce and lay them over the filling.
8. Layer 4 (The Finale): Spread the **remaining meat** and **remaining beans** (if any) over the top.
9. Final Bake: Sprinkle the **remaining 1 cup** of cheese generously over everything. Bake for $\mathbf{15-20 \text{ minutes}}$, or until it's bubbly and the cheese is melted and happy.
10. Serve: Let it rest for 5-10 minutes (hard, I know) before slicing and digging in!