California Mexican Tortilla Casserole Recipe

Craving a hearty, cheesy, and flavorful casserole? This California Mexican Tortilla Casserole, inspired by a dietitian and Bon Appetit, is a crowd-pleaser! Layers of seasoned beef, creamy cottage cheese, melty Jack and cheddar cheeses, and warm tortillas create a dish that's both comforting and delicious. Perfect for family dinners or potlucks, this recipe serves 6-8.

Prep Time 30 mins

Cook Time 95 mins

Calories 821.9 kcal

Protein 116g

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The Forktionary Kitchen Team

Adapted from Food.com, then tested & standardized by Forktionary.

Ingredients for California Mexican Tortilla Casserole

1 lb ground beef
1 medium onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 tablespoons chili powder
1 (28 ounce) can crushed tomatoes
1 tablespoon sugar
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup sliced black olives
4 ounces canned green chiles, diced
8-10 (6-inch) corn tortillas
1 (15 ounce) container cottage cheese
1 large egg
1 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
sour cream, for serving (optional)
chopped green onions, for serving (optional)

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How to Make California Mexican Tortilla Casserole

Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
Grease a 3-quart casserole dish.
In a large skillet, sauté 1 lb ground beef with 1 medium onion (chopped) and 2 cloves garlic (minced) over medium heat until browned. Drain excess grease.
Sprinkle 2 tablespoons chili powder over the meat and mix well.
Stir in 1 (28 ounce) can crushed tomatoes, 1 tablespoon sugar, 1 teaspoon salt, 1/2 cup sliced black olives, and 4 ounces canned green chiles (diced).
Simmer over very low heat for 15 minutes.
In a medium bowl, beat together 1 (15 ounce) container cottage cheese and 1 large egg until well combined.
Spread 1/3 of the meat mixture evenly in the bottom of the prepared casserole dish.
Layer with half of 1 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese, half of the cottage cheese mixture, and half of 8-10 (6-inch) corn tortillas.
Repeat layers with the remaining 1/3 of meat mixture, remaining Jack cheese, remaining cottage cheese mixture, and remaining tortillas.
Top with the final 1/3 of the meat mixture and sprinkle with 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese.
Bake, uncovered, at 350°F (175°C) for 45-55 minutes, or until thoroughly heated and cheese is melted and bubbly.
Let stand for 10 minutes before serving. Serve with sour cream, sliced black olives, and chopped green onions, if desired.

Nutrition Information (Approximate per serving)

Sodium

82 g

Sugar

33g

Fat

116g

Carbs

13g

Recipe Categories (Choose a category and find related recipes!)

Main Courses Main Dish / Dinner Beef & Red Meat Ground Beef Recipes The Americas American Mexican Game Day Recipes Baking

Recipe Tags (Choose a tag and find related recipes!)

Time To Make Course Main Ingredient Cuisine Preparation North American Casseroles Main Dish Mexican Oven Dietary Meat Equipment 4 Hours Or Less

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take to make California Mexican Tortilla Casserole?

California Mexican Tortilla Casserole takes about 125 minutes from start to finish — roughly 30 minutes to prepare and 95 minutes to cook.

How many calories are in California Mexican Tortilla Casserole?

California Mexican Tortilla Casserole has approximately 821.9 calories per serving, with about 116 g protein, 13 g carbohydrates and 74 g fat.

What ingredients do I need for California Mexican Tortilla Casserole?

The key ingredients for California Mexican Tortilla Casserole are Ground Beef, Onion, Garlic, Chili Powder, Tomato Sauce, Sugar. See the full list with measurements above.