Take your lasagna south of the border with this easy Slow Cooker Mexican Lasagna with Barbacoa! Spicy and saucy shredded beef and soft tortillas replace the classic ingredients in this fun, twisted weeknight meal.
So who else is trading in their grill for their slow cooker this week?
I love LOVE slow cooker meals all year round. Nothing beats a dump and go recipe that is nearly impossible to overcook, but for some reason, they make the most sense when summer is over.
For those of you with kids, easy meals are obvious. Running around for school and extracurriculars during the week, quality time on the weekends…slaving over dinner isn’t an option.
For us two-unit families, it’s a little easier, but that obviously depends on how busy life is! That work hustle combined with socializing, health routines, Sunday football…you get the idea.
Your slow cooker is the closest thing to your Mama’s meals, and it’s time to become besties with it again for comfort food season!
And I really think you should start with this Mexican Lasagna. It’s a good recipe with amazing flavor, and it’s a super easy crockpot meal too! As far as composition, this recipe might remind you a little of Shredded Chicken Enchiladas – or in this case, beef.
It’s super customizable. Pick your protein, your favorite toppings, your spice level. You can even use low-carb tortillas if you want to add fiber and reduce the carbs per serving!
So, what do you know about food safety?
Having worked in food retail for the last 18 years or so, I’ve learned quite a bit about foodborne illnesses and how to prevent them. I’ve also found that many of my friends and family have zero clue about how dangerously they treat their food.
I’m not going to bore you with scary names or symptoms. Instead, I’m gonna keep it real and real simple by saying you really don’t ever want to deal with one of them.
I’ve seen it. I’ve been there. It’s not pretty.
The good news is that prevention of foodborne illness is as easy as always following The Core Four.
The Food Safety Core Four…
CLEAN.
As in wash your hands for 20 seconds, rinse your fruits and vegetables, and wash your utensils and cutting boards before and after you cook. This prevents bacteria from spreading from both food and non-food surfaces.
SEPARATE.
Cross-contamination is the enemy. When shopping, keep raw meats, seafood, and eggs separate from your other food. Store raw meats properly in your fridge, and never above ready-to-eat food.
Always use separate cutting boards for meat, poultry, and seafood, and never place cooked food on a plate that once held the raw version.
COOK.
All food is considered safely cooked when it reaches a high enough internal temperature to kill the bacteria that causes foodborne illnesses. Use a meat thermometer to measure proper temps at the thickest part of the meat.
The safe temp for steaks, roasts, and fish is 145 degrees F, ground meat is 160 degrees, and poultry (as well as leftovers) is 165 degrees.
CHILL.
This is where most foodborne illnesses come to be. When you get home from grocery shopping, refrigerate (at 40 degrees F) or freeze (0 degrees F) all perishables immediately. Before dinner, be sure to pull out ingredients no more than two hours before cooking.
Never defrost food at room temperature. Thaw either in the refrigerator, cold water, or the microwave. After dinner, leftovers must be packaged and stored in the fridge within 2 hours to avoid bacteria growth.
To learn more about food safety, foodborne illness, and how simple it is to reduce your risk of catching them, visit The Story of Your Dinner.
This slow cooker lasagna is an easy meal that’s perfect for even the most novice chef. The Mexican flavor is delicious and not too spicy so it’s great for even picky eaters. The whole family will love it!
It’s wayyyyy better than traditional lasagna in my opinion and surprise your family and make it for taco Tuesday one week!
And leftovers are great to bring to work the next day! You’ll want to make this delicious meal part of your weekly rotations!
Ingredients for Mexican Lasagna
- Beef chuck roast – if you don’t want to use a chuck roast you can use ground beef instead.
- Olive oil
- Kosher salt, black pepper, ground cumin, dried oregano, ground cloves
- Dried guajillo peppers
- Chipotle chilis in adobo
- Fresh garlic
- Beef broth
- Lime juice
- Apple cider vinegar
- Salsa
- Corn or flour tortillas
- Pinto or black beans
- Red onion
- Shredded Monterey Jack cheese
- Sour cream
- Avocado
- Queso fresco
- Fresh cilantro
How to Make Mexican Lasagna
- Spray the slow cooker crock with cooking spray. Spread 1 cup of salsa on the bottom of the cooker.
- Layer tortillas on top of the salsa. Place a layer of shredded barbacoa beef on top of the tortillas. Top with ⅓ each of the beans, onions, remaining salsa, and cheese.
- Add another layer of tortillas on top of the cheese. Repeat the process two more times, beginning with beef and ending with cheese. Cover and slow cook on low for 3-4 hours. Remove the lid in the last 15 minutes to release some of the moisture.
- Serve with sour cream, avocado, queso fresco, and cilantro.
What Goes with Mexican Lasagna?
Any kind of Mexican sides would be a great addition to this dinner. Try some Spanish rice, guacamole & tortilla chips, corn salad, or jalapeno cornbread.
Can Mexican Lasagna be Frozen?
Yes – after assembly but before cooking. However, I wouldn’t recommend tying up your crock with it!
Build the lasagna in a well-greased crock and freeze it overnight. The next day, carefully remove it from the crock and wrap it in a double layer of plastic wrap, then a layer of aluminum foil. Freeze it for up to 3 months – when you’re ready to cook it, simply plop it back into the crock like a peg in a hole!
The only difference will be the cooking time, which I would recommend increasing by at least 2 hours to ensure no cold spots.
LOOKING FOR MORE DELICIOUS SLOW COOKER RECIPES?
- Slow Cooker Jambalaya
- Crock Pot Mexican Beer Chili
- Crock Pot Chicken Tortilla Soup
- Slow Cooker Enchilada Chicken & Potatoes
HELPFUL KITCHEN TOOLS FOR MAKING MEXICAN LASAGNA:
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Slow Cooker Mexican Lasagna with Barbacoa
Ingredients
Barbacoa Beef
- 4 pounds beef chuck roast
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- Kosher salt to taste
- Black pepper to taste
- 3 dried guajillo peppers
- 3 – 4 chipotle chilis in adobo
- 4 cloves minced garlic
- ½ cup beef broth
- 3 tablespoons lime juice
- 3 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 1½ tablespoons ground cumin
- 1 tablespoon dried oregano
- ¼ teaspoon ground cloves
Lasagna
- 32 ounces salsa (2 jars)
- 12 corn or flour tortillas
- 15.5 ounces pinto beans (1 can) drained and rinsed
- 1 red onion diced
- 2 cups shredded jack cheese
- Sour cream for garnish
- 1 avocado chopped (optional)
- Queso fresco crumbled (optional)
- Fresh cilantro for garnish (optional)
Instructions
Barbacoa Beef
- Wash hands with soap and water. Place guajillo peppers into a bowl and fill with warm water until covered. Soak 30-60 minutes until softened.
- Preheat oven to 300 degrees F.
- Season chuck roast with salt and pepper. Heat a large cast iron pot over high heat. Add oil, then sear chuck roast on all sides. Once seared, remove pot from heat and set aside. Wash hands with soap and water.
- In a blender, add soaked guajillo peppers, chipotle, garlic, broth, lime juice, cider vinegar, cumin, oregano, cloves, ½ teaspoon salt, and ¼ teaspoon black pepper. Blend until smooth, adding more broth if necessary to thin it out. Taste and adjust seasoning by adding more salt, pepper, or lime.
- Pour sauce over chuck roast. Cover with the lid and cook for 3 hours, until meat is tender and the internal temperature reaches 145 degrees F on meat thermometer. Use two forks to shred barbacoa.
Lasagna
- Gently rub cilantro under cold running water. Pat dry with paper towels.
- Lightly spray the inner bowl of the slow cooker with cooking spray. Spread 1 cup of salsa on the bottom of the cooker.
- Place a single layer of tortillas on top of the salsa, cutting them if necessary to fit the crock pot and cover the salsa completely.
- Place a layer of shredded barbacoa beef on top of the tortillas. Top with ⅓ each of the beans, onions, remaining salsa, and cheese.
- Add another layer of tortillas on top of the cheese. Repeat the layers two more times, beginning with beef and ending with cheese. Cover and slow cook on low for 3-4 hours.
- Served with a drizzle of sour cream, chopped avocado, queso fresco, and cilantro, if desired.
Jenn says
SOOOOO super excited to try this slow cooker mex lasagna! It looks DIVINE!
Linda says
Wow! A cross between Mexican and Italian all in one dinner! Love it! This is just the type of meal I like to get on early in the day and know that it will be ready when everyone else is. Since I love Mexican, this one is a no-brainer to add to my list of meals to make. Thanks for reiterating those food safety tips too. It’s always good to be reminded.
Beth Lee says
this is so clever to use the tortillas to make lasagne. I’ve never made lasagne in the slow cooker but now I can’t wait to try it!
Toni | Boulder Locavore says
This is perfection! Would love to try it!