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Taco Lasagna with loads of cheddar cheese and cumin-spiked beefy tomato sauce is made even easier with prepped and frozen homemade ground beef taco filling. It’s sure to become one of your family’s favorite weeknight meals!
It’s easy to serve up this hearty and deliciously cheesy meal on even the busiest weeknights when you have a stock of frozen Ground Beef Taco Filling. Cook up a big batch of homemade taco filling, store in BPA-free vacuum-seal bags using the FoodSaver® System and this as well as a multitude of other quick and easy meals will be on the table with ease!
Inspired by Grandma (and FoodSaver!)
This simply delicious recipe is based on my grandma’s recipe and method. A few years ago when I visited with my kids grandma pulled a Taco Lasagna that had been vacuumed and sealed out of the freezer and popped it in the oven. While we chatted, it cooked. And later, to my surprise, even the pickiest of my kids ate it up and asked for seconds! Grandma, who loves to showcase her abilities, was embarrassed that we were so impressed with her simple freezer meal and wished she had made something more elaborate to impress us. Truth is, it has become a staple in our weekly meal plan and the one that gets the most rave reviews at the dinner table.
And you guys might remember how much grandma and I love our vacuum sealers 🙂 I shared a bit about it this post about using the FoodSaver® for sous-vide cooking. And it has so many uses in addition to just sous-vide cooking!
Quick Weeknight Meals with FoodSaver® FM5200 Vacuum Sealing System
Honestly, I think we both just love the idea of investing in something now that will reduce waste and save so much time and money in the long run. The System includes vacuum seal bags and rolls, vacuum zipper bags and containers designed to work together with vacuum sealers for optimal performance.
One of the main benefits of using the FoodSaver® System and multi-layer, BPA-free vacuum-seal bags is how much food and time you save! Keep food fresh up to 5x longer, compared to ordinary storage methods, and help prevent freezer burn. And it makes cooking and entertaining a breeze! Whether it’s marinating, batch cooking, or meal prepping and planning. FoodSaver® is the solution!
Plan ahead and cook up a big batch of versatile and economical ground beef taco filling to store in BPA-free vacuum-seal bags using the FoodSaver® System and have a multitude of quick and easy meals on the table with ease!
In addition to this family friendly Taco Lasagna use homemade ground beef taco filling for:
- taco soup
- enchiladas
- taco pie
- stuffed peppers
- taco salad
- spiced sloppy joes
- empanadas
and so much more!!
And now with the NEW FoodSaver® FM5200 you can keep food fresh in even less time with less steps*
*Compared to FoodSaver® V4440 Models
FoodSaver® – As seen on TV! But conveniently available in the home section at Walmart. Find the entire system and accessories in the food storage aisle at your local Walmart!
I recently picked up the new FoodSaver® FM5200 Vacuum Sealing System and some extra 2 pack 11″ x 16′ Vacuum Seal Rolls.
And now you can too and save big with Walmart Rollback!
From now until 12/22 save over $25 on a FoodSaver® FM5200 Vacuum Sealing System and enjoy savings on the
FoodSaver® 11″ x 16′ Vacuum Seal Roll, 2 Pack too when you shop online!
And they’re so easy to use.
How to Make, Vacuum and Seal a Bag
You can make bags in half the steps with the easy to use Express Bag Maker*. Start by installing a 11″ x 16′ Vacuum Seal Roll into the side of the FoodSaver® Vacuum Sealer FM5330. Open the lever and pull forward to ensure that the roll is pulled forward to the white line.
Then, press the power button and lower the Seal and Cut Bar by turning the lever to the ‘seal’ position.
Wait until the red ‘seal’ light is no longer illuminated before turning the lever to the ‘unlock’ position.
Pull the now-sealed roll to measure out your bag. It’s always recommended to leave at least three inches of space between contents and top of bag. I like to make my bags on the large side since I flatten everything down to make defrosting easier.
Slide the Bag Cutter across the bag and fill. I fill my Vacuum Seal Bags in the same fashion as icing bags. I place the empty sealed bag into a large bowl and fold the edges over for to ensure the top portion stays clean.
With both hands, insert the open end of the bag through the bottom of the Vacuum View Window. The Easy View Vacuum Window ensures an air-tight seal and less bag waste*.
Then quick seal with the Vacuum and Seal Bar. While holding the bag push your hands against the Vacuum and Seal Bar until the vacuum and seal process begins. Multi-layer, BPA-free vacuum-seal bags are flexible enough to hug food and seal effectively without gaps making them best for long-term freezer storage, blocking out air and helping to prevent freezer burn.
When the red light turns off and the machine releases the sealed bag use a permanent marker to label and date before placing in the freezer.
*when compared to FoodSaver V4440 Models.
Taco Lasagna Recipe with Homemade Ground Beef Taco Filling
Use this ground beef taco filling as the base for so many meals! Make up a double or triple batch and enjoy stress free dinners all week long.. or a whole week of Taco Lasagna!
The homemade ground beef taco filling is seasoned with a blend of spices, but feel free to use taco seasoning if you have that mix instead.
Simply warm fresh made, frozen or leftover taco meat a can each of diced tomatoes and tomato sauce then layer with shredded cheddar cheese and no boil lasagna noodles.
No boil noodles are not only a great time saver, they give this lasagna a distinctive light bite and absorb the cumin spiced sauce perfectly. But to ensure that the noodles soften rather than get crispy fully push the entire mixture down to submerge in liquid. Then cover tightly with foil to steam.
When layering start with a small amount of sauce on the bottom then layer noodles, sauce and cheese. Alternate direction of the noodles on each layer for a sturdier lasagna.
Finish with a final generous pile of shredded cheddar cheese.
Bake and enjoy!
Or, build in a freezer and oven safe pan and slide the whole lasagna into a vacuum seal bag. Then seal and freeze for up to 3 months. Either defrost refrigerated at least 8 hours and bake as directed. Or, bake from frozen adding an additional 30 minutes to the bake time.
Ingredients
Taco Lasagna
- 1 pound ground beef taco filling
- 15 ounces canned tomato sauce
- 15 ounces canned diced tomatoes
- 8 ounce package no boil lasagna noodles 16 sheets
- 4 cups grated cheddar cheese
- 1/4 cup water
- scallions, sour cream, cilantro optional
Ground Beef Taco Filling
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 1 tablespoon oil
- 1 medium yellow onion minced
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 2 tablespoons chili powder
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon ground coriander
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/4 teaspoon cayenne optional
- salt to taste
Instructions
Taco Lasagna
- Preheat oven 375 degrees Fahrenheit. In medium saucepan add beef taco filling and warm over medium heat. Add canned tomatoes, tomato sauce and cumin. Add 1/4 cup water to empty tomato sauce cans and swish around then add to saucepan. Increase heat and bring to a simmer. Simmer until thickened, about 7 minutes and season with salt to taste.
- Lightly spread 1/2 cup sauce on the bottom of a oven-safe 9" x 13" baking dish. Roughly divide remaining sauce into 4 portions. Layer 4 noodles, overlapping slightly, on top of the sauce. Top with the first 1/4 of the sauce, 1 cup of grated cheese and the 2nd layer of noodles. Repeat 2nd layer of sauce, another cup of cheese, and the 3rd layer of noodles. Finish with the 3rd layer of sauce, 3rd cup of grated cheese, and final layer of noodles. Top with last of the sauce and an even layer of grated cheese.
- Seal tightly with aluminum foil and bake 35 minutes. Remove foil and bake uncovered until browned and bubbly, about 10 minutes. Let reset 15 minutes before slicing. Serve as desired with sour cream, olives, sliced scallions, cilantro and/or chopped white onion.
Ground Beef Taco Filling
- Heat oil in medium skillet over medium heat until shimmering. Add onion and cook until softened, about 5 minutes.
- Stir in garlic, spices and 1 teaspoon salt. Mix in ground beef, increase heat to medium high and break up with a spoon until browned, about 5 minutes.
- Stir in tomato paste and cook about 1 minute before adding water. Then increase heat and bring to a boil. Reduce and simmer until thickened, about 10 minutes. Serve or cool and store for later use.
Nutrition
This post created in partnership with FoodSaver® Thank you for supporting the brands that support me!
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ModernMindfulMom
5 stars! This was delicious! Love the aim on traditional lasagna!