Simple, quick, cheesy, and so tasty! This Easy Mexican Quesadilla Casserole makes for the perfect weeknight dinner recipe and is sure to be a hit with the whole family! Conveniently prepared in one pan (cast iron skillet) for even more busy weeknight ease!
What Exactly is “Quesadilla Casserole” and What Makes it So Good?
Basically… it’s a giant, loaded, double decker stacked quesadilla. Not only is it easier to make than making individually toasting quesadillas for everyone at your table, but it’s actually much tastier, too! This easy Mexican quesadilla casserole makes everyone’s favorite lazy meal into a legitimate dinner the whole family will love even more!
Do I have to use a Cast Iron Skillet to make the Easy Mexican Quesadilla Casserole?
No you don’t! I find that using a cast iron skillet makes the meal even more convenient by cutting out a dish to clean. That, and the skillet is the perfect size for burrito-style tortillas cutting out another step of preparation. But if you lack a cast iron skillet or would just prefer to use a traditional casserole dish, you can absolutely do so! If you do choose to use a casserole dish instead of a cast iron skillet, here are the modifications you’ll want to make:
Casserole Dish Preparation Modifications:
- Quarter the tortillas. You may also need to use a few extra to cover the dish, since some of your slices will overlap slightly and you have more space to cover. Once you’ve sliced up your tortillas, arrange the slices to cover the perimeter to the best of your ability in each layer that calls for tortilla! You may also want to pre-toast the bottom layer of tortillas as this is done in the cast iron skillet before adding the top layers.
- Add More Cheese. The cast iron skillet is smaller than a casserole dish, so you will need more cheese to complete the “cheese” layers indicated in the recipe! This is easy to eyeball, but plan to have 2-3 bags of mixed cheese on hand to ensure you can fill all the necessary layers! As for the beef mixture, no need to prepare more of that! There is already more than enough, so it will be the perfect amount to fill a casserole dish.
What Do I Need to Prepare the Easy Mexican Quesadilla Casserole?
As always, this recipe includes minimal and simple ingredients! Below are the ingredients you’ll need to prepare this delicious weeknight dinner recipe!
- Burrito Sized Tortillas
- 1 lb ground beef
- Mixed Mexican Shredded Cheese
- Red Onion
- Chopped Green Chilies
- Salsa
- Chili Powder & Garlic
And that’s all! Six simple ingredients you likely already have on hand and a couple of everyday seasonings bring this magical dish to life!
What are the Layers?
The recipe below will provide detail as to how each layer should be prepared, but here is a simple reference of the layers in order from bottom to top! This 8-layer double decker quesadilla is loaded with flavor and a whole lot of protein! Here’s what the layers consist of:
- Quesadilla
- Cheese
- Beef/pepper/onion Mixture
- Cheese
- Quesadilla
- Beef/pepper/onion Mixture
- Cheese
- Quesadilla
- Top with garnish
Serving the Quesadilla Casserole
The best part! This meal is at the top of my husbands list for weeknight meals, and my kids gobble it up too! Serving it is simple and so versatile, but here’s how my family enjoys it along with a few tips:
- Slice in “pie form” with a pizza cutter. I find this keeps the crispy tortilla in tact the best and keeps the hot melted cheese from sticking everywhere!
- Top with avocado, cilantro, and maybe a little more cheese if you dare!
- Serve with a side of salsa, avocado cream sauce, or sour cream! This meal is tasty as is, but I always prefer something fun to dip it in!
Looking for more Mexican Inspired Meals?
Look no further! We love Mexican food around here, so naturally I’ve shared many of our favorites! Here are a few we have on regular weeknight dinner rotation:
- Green Chile Pork Carnitas
- Tex-Mex Wedge Salad
- Tex-Mex Smothered Chicken Bake
- Verde Chicken Street Tacos
- Creamy Crockpot Chicken Tortilla Soup
Alright I’ve kept you waiting long enough – find my Easy Mexican Quesadilla Casserole Recipe below!
Easy Mexican Quesadilla Casserole
Equipment
- Cast Iron Skillet Recommended (10.25") – but can use any casserole dish
Ingredients
- 3 burrito style (large) tortillas (If making in a traditional casserole dish, 5 tortillas sliced)
- 4 C mixed Mexican shredded cheese (~5 cups for traditional casserole dish)
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1/4 red onion
- 1 can chopped green chiles (4 oz can)
- 1/2 C salsa (your preference)
- 2 tsp chili powder
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- to taste salt
Instructions
- Brown and drain the ground beef over medium high heat.
- In the cast iron skillet, combine the cooked beef with onion, salsa, chilies, and seasoning. Toss and simmer over medium high heat for about 5 minutes – until onions are tender. Add salt to taste and set aside in a bowl.
- Wipe the pan of major debris (may need to rinse with water and then wipe), but no need to clean entirely. You just want to prepare a decent surface to spray nonstick oil before adding your first layer of tortilla! *If using a traditional casserole dish instead of a cast iron skillet, spray the pan with nonstick spray.
- Into the greased pan, add your first layer of tortilla – a single large tortilla in the bottom – and press down into the edges along the perimeter of the pan. Heat on medium for a minute or two to lightly crisp the bottom of the tortilla in the pan before turning off the heat. *If using a casserole dish, arrange one layer of sliced tortilla in the bottom of a greased dish.
- Over the tortilla, sprinkle the following layers: one large handful shredded cheese (~3/4 C), about a half of the beef mixture (enough to cover the cheese), and another large handful shredded cheese. Top with another tortilla – pressed lightly into the edges where it meets the pan. *If using casserole dish, insert sliced tortillas for tortilla layer.
- Repeat the layers of cheese, beef mixture, and cheese once more. Top with one final tortilla (or sliced tortilla layer for a casserole dish). *Note – if you are using a cast iron skillet, you likely will have a small amount of your beef mixture to spare – I like to stash these leftovers in the fridge to enjoy with nachos or for lunch! It's also great to enjoy on it's own with some avocado!
- Place the entire pan in the oven and broil for ~4-5 minutes (until top tortilla layer is crisp and lightly browned).
- Slice with a pizza cutter to avoid excess crust cracking/cheese sticking. Serve with avocado, salsa, cilantro, sour cream, any garnish you please! Enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
With Love,
Kelsie
