Lauren's Latest » Enchilada Lasagna

Wednesday, January 4, 2012

Enchilada Lasagna

I like enchiladas. And lasagna. So, I put them together into a layered, cheesy and spicy love child that I like to call Enchilada Lasagna.

I’m so creative with the names of my recipes, right? Totally.

Well, I made this Sunday afternoon while my little one was napping…or allegedly napping. Half way through this recipe, my husband yelled at me telling me to come down the hall. My little one was in fact NOT napping but getting into trouble…in the bathroom. So, I was a good wife, did not help clean up and took pictures. See here if you don’t get grossed out easily. A very memorable afternoon, indeed. PS-I’m not a totally horrible person…I did end up bathing our child. Just thought I would point that out.

So, once we got THAT situation under control {and I sanitized everything like 17 times} I returned to this meal, never to be the same again. Lol!

This meal is a great one that has lots of veggies, cheese and mexican goodness all inside. Not completely healthy, but not awful like traditional lasagna or enchiladas. I used the last of some random ingredients in my fridge–zucchini, green peppers, olives, green onions and spinach but you can adapt it so you use up what you have. {LOVE recipes like this!} And, it’s pretty simple and gets thrown together pretty quick too–unless your daughter is getting into trouble and you have to wash poop off her. Just sayin’.

So, lets make an Enchilada Lasagna!

Start by chopping some veggies–not too hard, right?

Then get some olive oil in a pan and heat it up over medium heat.
Saute the zucchini, onions and green peppers until they start getting soft, about 5 minutes.

While the veggies are doin’ their thing, grate some cheese and cube up some rotisserie chicken.

Back to the filling–stir in some cumin, salt, pepper, spinach and olives.

Once the spinach wilts you can pull the entire pan off the heat.

To this mixture, add in the chicken, black beans, salsa and cilantro.

I used this little baby can of salsa. It’s tasty.

Stir your filling together and that’s it! A big pan of deliciousness. You could eat this as is, but I was wanting cheesy layers.

Before assembly, you need to do two more things: take some corn tortillas and slice into pieces {so they will fit into my pan a little nicer}

…and crack open a can of some good green enchilada sauce. I really really love this brand.

Now we can assemble! Here’s how we do it: spread a little enchilada sauce in the bottom of a lightly greased baking dish, top with tortillas, then a little cheese and then half the filling.

After that, top with more cheese, more tortillas and more enchilada sauce. Top it off with cheese, the other half of the filling, even more cheese, tortilla strips, more enchilada sauce and yes…more cheese!

Cover this bad boy up and bake!

After 30 minutes or so it’s done! Serve it up with sour cream, avocados, tomatoes, cilantro, lime wedges, etc.
Add some salad and sweet mexican rice and voila! A great weeknight meal!

Enjoy!

Enchilada Lasagna
yield: 6
Print This Recipe

Ingredients:
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 small zucchini, diced
4 green onions, sliced
1/2 cup diced green pepper
1/4 cup sliced green olives {mild ones, such as lindsey olives}
2 cups baby spinach, chopped
1 teaspoon cumin
salt & pepper, to taste
2 cups cooked, chopped rotisserie chicken
7.5 oz. black beans {1/2 can}
7 oz. salsa {1 small can}
1/2 bunch roughly chopped cilantro
1/2 lb. grated cheddar cheese
9 corn tortillas, sliced
2 cups mild green enchilada sauce
desired toppings: sour cream, tomatoes, avocado, lettuce, cilantro, lime juice

Directions:
In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat. Saute zucchini, onion and green peppers until they start to soften, about 5 minutes. Stir in olives, spinach, cumin, salt and pepper until spinach starts to wilt. Once spinach is all wilted, remove from heat and stir in chicken, beans, salsa and cilantro. This is the filling for the lasagna. Set aside.
Spray a baking dish with non-stick cooking spray. {A 9×9 glass baking dish will be fine.} Spread 1/4 cup enchilada sauce across the bottom and place 1 layer of corn tortilla strips over top. Sprinkle some cheese over top. Spread half the chicken and veggie filling over the tortillas and cheese. Top with more cheese, more tortilla strips and 3/4 cup enchilada sauce. Continue layering the lasagna with more cheese, the last 1/2 of the filling, more cheese, the remaining tortilla strips, 1 cup of enchilada sauce and the last bit of cheese. Cover and bake at 350 degrees for 30-45 minutes. Remove from oven and cool 10 minutes before cutting and serving. Top with avocados, sour cream, avocados, tomatoes, etc.

dinner

34 comments »

34 Responses to “Enchilada Lasagna”

#
1

Erin @ Dinners, Dishes, and Desserts — January 4, 2012 at 3:32 pm

This looks wonderful! We love Mexican food here, and green sauce is my hubby’s favorite!

Reply
#
2

Julie @ Table for Two — January 4, 2012 at 3:39 pm

delicious looking! that mishap that happened in the bathroom is so funny! i’m glad you grabbed your camera as your first instinct back to the enchilada lasagna — what a nice combination of dishes!! it works out great! this would be yummy to make for mexican night at my house

Reply
#
3

Tara @ Chip Chip Hooray — January 4, 2012 at 3:47 pm

Mexican food turned into lasagna?! Just combine two of my favoritest things in the world, why dontcha.

Reply
#
4

Emilie @ Emilie's Enjoyables — January 4, 2012 at 3:50 pm

This looks delicious, great idea!

Reply
#
5

Lauren @ What Lauren Likes — January 4, 2012 at 3:51 pm

ummm……yes please!! Yum this looks delish

Reply
#
6

Jolene (www.everydayfoodie.ca) — January 4, 2012 at 4:08 pm

Enchiladas and lasagne as two of my favourite foods This recipe sounds great, and I can see why you wouldn’t want to put last nights little story with this, hehe!

Reply
#
7

Megan Pence — January 4, 2012 at 4:21 pm

Oh wow – that looks gorgeous. The colors, the flair!
Beautimus

Reply
#
8

Brittnee — January 4, 2012 at 4:22 pm

This is making my mouthwater! I will NEED to squize this in with our planned meals next week

Reply
#
9

Kathryn — January 4, 2012 at 5:15 pm

This is exactly what I want to eat right now. I wish you could send me over a portion!

Reply
#
10

Averie @ Love Veggies and Yoga — January 4, 2012 at 6:17 pm

Gorgeous and love that it probably makes leftovers which is a mom’s salvation on busy nights for dinner. After you’re done dealing with “the joys of motherhood”

Reply
#
11

Bev Weidner — January 4, 2012 at 6:47 pm

You had me at EN.

Reply
#
12

From Valerie's Kitchen — January 4, 2012 at 8:21 pm

I have SO been there Lauren. Four boys, need I say more? This dish looks right up my alley. Lovin’ how you’ve added the veggies so we can feel better about stuffing our face with Mexican food

Reply
#
13

Lacey Wilcox — January 4, 2012 at 8:37 pm

Why had I never thought to slice the tortillas to make them fit! LOVE THIS!

Reply
#
14

Autumn@Good Eats Girl — January 4, 2012 at 11:51 pm

Drooling! This looks amazing…we love Mexican food at our house! This is definitely going to go on the menu!

Reply
#
15

jenna — January 5, 2012 at 12:20 am

ooooooooohhhhh i wish i was eating this right now!! mexican is my absolute favorite! the gooey cheese and warm sauce of this lasagna sounds amazing!

Reply
#
16

Cookbook Queen — January 5, 2012 at 3:26 am

Love this idea!! Looks and sounds so yummy.

Except for the poop part. That is not so delicious. Sigh. I speak from experience as well.

Reply
#
17

Lindsay @ Pinch of Yum — January 5, 2012 at 4:48 am

Oooh, Lauren. Yum. Do you deliver?

Reply
#
18

beti — January 5, 2012 at 7:26 am

it looks so delicious, what a great combination of dishes

Reply
#
19

Whitney — January 5, 2012 at 3:27 pm

Looks so yummy!! I love how it can be versitle with whatever veggies you have in the fridge!

Reply
#
20

Erin — January 5, 2012 at 3:54 pm

Don’t really like olives, but a big fan of the rest!

Reply
#
21

Lauren at Keep It Sweet — January 5, 2012 at 4:54 pm

This needs to get into my dinner rotation!

Reply
#
22

Karen Lynch — January 5, 2012 at 9:53 pm

Making this tonight.

Reply
#
23

Deborah — January 6, 2012 at 6:34 am

This one would be a hit in my house!

Reply
#
24

Anna @ hiddenponies — January 6, 2012 at 6:40 am

What a great idea! And I had to see the pics behind your stinky story – too funny Being a mom really is the best

Reply
#
25

jilliann m — January 7, 2012 at 2:06 am

i have been craving enchiladas for a LONG time. so when i saw this recipe i had to make them. we just had them for dinner (with a few changes) and they were great!

Reply
#
26

Leanne Johnson — January 9, 2012 at 6:02 pm

that looks so yummy. Can’t wait to try!

Reply
#
27

Natalie @ Cooking for My Kids — January 10, 2012 at 6:57 pm

What a great combination of flavors. I cannot wait to try it!

Reply
#
28

Kary — January 15, 2012 at 10:00 pm

Great recipe! I have a similar dish that I prepare with black beans, corn, chicken, spinach and salsa. Will have to try yours, love the green enchilada sauce and cutting the tortilla’s in strips. I cut my in half and they never fit just right in the pan. Thanks for sharing!

Reply
#
29

Kay — January 20, 2012 at 3:04 am

Lauren, we made this tonight (the hubby helps chop) and absolutely love it! Thanks so much. It’s now on our favorite meals list.

Reply
#
30

bbrunophotography — January 21, 2012 at 7:39 am

I love changing ingredients around and experimenting and it sounds like you do, too. This really sounds great, and I can hide lots of good veggies in there–always a plus!
Thank you. Going to try it this weekend!

Reply
#
31

Lauren G. — January 25, 2012 at 3:46 pm

I keep a food diary online with myfitnesspal.com
Just wanted to let you know I added this recipe in as well and for 8 pieces in a 9×13 pan there are 2506 calories, 271 carbs,109 g fat, 129 g protein.
before that scares you… per serving (8 in a pan) thats: 313 calories, 34 carbs, 14 g fat and 16 g protein. Not too shabby for a very full meal.

I made it public to the website but made note all over that I do not own your recipe and noted your website and recipe name so people can find it (for copyright purposes)

Reply