Ranch Burritos, v.4.0 – Lasagna Style 
RANCH BURRITOS, v.4.0 - Lasagna Style
This recipe can be fashioned to suit anyone, as you may have figured out by all the versions posted here.
3-4 cups cooked ground beef
(See 'Time Saver Recipe-Ground Beef)
1 tablespoon chili powder
1 teaspoon cumin
3/4 teaspoon garlic powder
2 tablespoons water
1 can green chilies, optional
1 package of 10-12 flour tortillas (fajitas/soft taco size)
1 large can ranch style beans
3/4- 1 cup water
2 cups grated cheddar/jack cheese
Preheat oven to 350oF.
Mix cooked meat, chili powder, cumin, garlic powder and water in microwave dish, cover but allow for steam to escape dish. Microwave on MED HIGH until to hot and water has mostly evaporated. Remove from heat and add green chilies, if you have'em.
Drain ranch beans and RESERVE red sauce. Mash beans until you get a refried bean texture, you can add a little water to loosen beans. Add 1/2 cup water to red sauce reserve and pour a little on the bottom of greased casserole dish.
Cut up tortillas in 2 1/2 inch wide strips or not. Build layers: tortillas, meat mixture, tortillas, beans, cheese, tortilla, meat, etc. finish with meat & cheese on top. Pour leftover red sauce reserve around edges of dish. Cover with foil and bake at 350oF for 30-40 minutes. Can be prepared earlier that day and left in refrigerator until ready to cook.
Serve with salsa, sour cream, and tortilla chips.
Kid Friendly Tip
Leave out the green chilies in the meat mixture, or leave out the meat mixture all together. Fill half the casserole dish with bean and cheese layers. Be sure to mark the bean filled side of the dish by toping it only with cheese, do not top with meat mixture.
Involve the Kids
Young cooks can make this whole recipe, they just need adult help cooking with the microwave and getting the casserole in and out of the oven.
Look for other versions of this recipe: kid-friendly, lasagna style, and vegetarian.
Come back and tell us how this recipe worked for you. What did you do different that made it better?
