Pastel Azteca Recipe: Easy Mexican Layered Casserole 2026

Pastel Azteca is a comforting Mexican layered casserole often described as Mexican lasagna. It stacks soft corn tortillas with a savory shredded chicken and tomato filling, creamy sour cream, and plenty of melted cheese for a dish that is as satisfying as it is simple.

This home-style favorite is believed to have started as a clever way to use up leftover corn tortillas and stews, layering them into something new and delicious. It comes together in just 50 minutes and serves six, making it perfect for family dinners, parties, and gatherings.

Serve it with guacamole or pico de gallo for a fresh contrast, and adjust the heat to your liking by using red chiles or a milder red bell pepper. The result is a warm, creamy, crowd-pleasing main dish.

Ingredients for Pastel Azteca

For 6 servings

• 1 chicken breast
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 onion, finely chopped
• 2 red chiles, chopped, or 1 small red bell pepper, chopped
• 100 g tomato sauce
• Salt to taste
• Ground black pepper to taste
• 6 corn tortillas
• 100 g sour cream or crème fraîche
• 80 g shredded cheese

How to Make Pastel Azteca Step by Step

1. Cook and Shred the Chicken

Start by cooking 1 chicken breast in boiling water for 20-25 minutes, until fully cooked. Remove the breast from the cooking water and let it cool for a few minutes until you can handle it with your hands. Shred it and set aside.

2. Sauté the Onion and Chiles

Heat a skillet over medium heat with 2 tablespoons of olive oil and sauté 1 finely chopped onion and 2 red chiles or 1 small chopped red bell pepper. Add salt and ground black pepper to taste.

3. Add the Tomato Sauce

When the onion and chiles are golden, add 100 grams of tomato sauce and mix well.

4. Mix in the Shredded Chicken

Add the shredded chicken and mix it with the sauce, then set aside. Preheat the oven to 180 °C with top and bottom heat.

5. Build the First Layers

On a serving platter, place 2 corn tortillas and, on top, half of the chicken stew.

6. Add the Sour Cream

Over the chicken, add half of the 100 grams of sour cream or crème fraîche and spread it well.

7. Finish the Layers and Add Cheese

Place another 2 corn tortillas and add the rest of the chicken stew, then cover again with the remaining sour cream or crème fraîche. Place the remaining 2 corn tortillas on top and add 80 grams of shredded cheese over them.

8. Bake Until the Cheese Melts

Put the Pastel Azteca in the oven for a few minutes, just until the cheese is melted to your liking.

9. Serve the Pastel Azteca

Remove the Pastel Azteca from the oven, let it cool slightly, and serve.

Tips for the Best Pastel Azteca

Use Leftover Tortillas and Fillings

Pastel Azteca is a great way to use up day-old corn tortillas and leftover stews. Layering them gives new life to leftovers and makes a more attractive presentation.

Adjust the Spice Level

For a spicy kick, add chopped red chiles. If you prefer a milder dish, substitute them with red bell pepper, which still adds a delicious touch.

Serve with Fresh Sides

This layered dish is ideal for sharing and pairs wonderfully with guacamole or pico de gallo for a fresh contrast that balances the creamy, cheesy flavors.

30 Home-Cooked Recipes I Keep Coming Back To

If you're anything like me, your kitchen rotation probably includes a little bit of everything — cozy comfort plates, tried-and-true dishes from around the globe, and sweets that make a crowd happy.

When a rich, indulgent treat is calling my name, I reach for this La Viña Molten Cheesecake recipe, this refined Original French Crème Brûlée recipe, or a luxurious Chocolate Mousse Cake recipe. And on days when only something fruity and soothing will do, this timeless French Tarte Tatin recipe is my go-to.

Mornings and lighter plates call for these airy Oatmeal and Banana Pancakes recipe, a hearty Stuffed Sweet Potato recipe, or these bright Eggs Stuffed with Avocado and Salmon recipe. And for a gluten-free staple I can keep on hand, this no-fuss Gluten-Free Rice Flour recipe does the trick.

Tapas and Mediterranean flavors are a constant craving, so I switch between this punchy Basque Tuna with Tomato recipe, golden Patatas Bravas Air Fryer recipe, silky Tirokafteri Greek Dip Sauce recipe, and a cool Burrata Salad with Tomato and Pesto recipe. And when the occasion begs for something a touch fancier, this elegant Italian Vitello Tonnato recipe is what I serve.

Come lunch or dinnertime, these are the dishes I hand out to friends most often: a soul-warming Meatballs in Spanish Sauce recipe, a time-honored Meatballs in Almond Sauce recipe, a deeply savory Italian Bolognese Sauce recipe, and velvety Chicken Croquettes in Thermomix recipe. For something more substantial, out comes this oven-baked Greek Pastitsio Pie recipe, a homey Potatoes and Squid Stew recipe, or the deeply comforting French Boeuf Bourguignon recipe.

Street-food cravings and party spreads usually mean this succulent Homemade Chicken Doner Kebab recipe, crispy Salchipapas recipe, boldly seasoned Mexican Pork Carnitas recipe, or these crisp Korean Hobak Jeon recipe. These simple Air Fryer Zucchini Rings recipe also make an effortless appetizer or snack.

And when I'm hosting and mixing drinks alongside a full menu, dinner often gets paired with a cool Original Cuban Mojito recipe, a strong Long Island Iced Tea recipe, or a pitcher of this fruity Bleeding Spanish Sangria recipe. To fill out the spread, I like setting out this zesty French Remoulade Sauce recipe on the side, or finishing the table with this eye-catching Mediterranean Black Rice with Squid recipe.

Even More Tasty Recipes to Cook for the Family

After years of cooking, testing, and tweaking in my own kitchen, I've come to believe the greatest dishes are built on three things: simplicity, techniques you can trust, and flavor that really pops.

Every recipe gathered here is one I genuinely cook over and over — whether it's a fast solo meal or a spread I'm putting together for the people I love.

On the sweet side, the rich, silky Orange Chocolate Mousse Recipe is a favorite of mine when I want something that feels fancy yet comes together without fuss. Another dessert I adore is the caramelized Trdelnik Slavic Pastry Recipe, modeled after the celebrated Central European chimney cake. If baking is your thing, knowing how to make syrup for better dessert texture pays off, and my Inverted Sugar Recipe walks through exactly how I do it at home.

When something light and unfussy sounds right, I tend to go with the timeless Italian Caprese Salad Recipe or a flawlessly cooked Simple Poached Egg Recipe. And for cozier, heartier fare, I'm quick to suggest the filling Meatball Sandwich Recipe, the velvety Russian Stroganoff Beef Recipe, and the fast weeknight winner One Pot Pasta Recipe.

Sharing dishes from across the globe is another joy of mine — among them the genuine Sorropotún de Bonito Fish Stew Recipe, golden Chilean Pumpkin Sopaipillas Recipe, and the traditional Spanish Cochifrito Segovian Fried Pig Recipe.

Air fryer cooking is another category I turn to often, since it delivers great texture while saving time. The ones I make most are Air Fryer Pork Ribs Recipe, Air Fryer Chicken Thighs Recipe, Air Fryer Sweet Potatoes Recipe, Air Fryer Baked Potatoes Recipe, Air Fryer Peppers Recipe, Air Fryer Mixed Sandwich Recipe, Air Fryer Toasted Bread Recipe, and Air Fryer Hard-Boiled Eggs Recipe.

And for anyone steering clear of wheat, my cozy Gluten-Free Lasagna Recipe shows that a classic baked pasta can still be rich, cheesy, and completely gratifying without any gluten.

Gluten free Empanada Dough Recipe 🍕 Fluffy Apple Cake Recipe 🍔 Langos Hungarian Fried Bread Recipe 🌭 Gluten Free French Brioche Recipe 🍟 Madeira British Sponge Cake Recipe 🌮 Chocolate Argentinian Cookies Alfajores Recipe 🌯 Barmbrack Irish Sweet Bread Recipe 🥙 Gluten free Cookies Recipe 🥗 Homemade cream Maruxas Galician Biscuit Recipe 🍝 Japanese Dumplings Gyoza Dough Recipe

American Gluten Free Cookies Recipe 🍜 Gluten Free King Cake Recipe 🍲 Gluten Free Chocolate Cake Recipe 🍛 Extremadura Style Chard Recipe 🍣 Keto Sliced Sandwich Bread Recipe 🍱 Gluten Free Waffles Recipe 🍤 Low Carb Keto Pizza Recipe 🍗 Gluten Free Bread Rolls Recipe 🍖 Flourless Gluten Free Bread Buns Recipe 🥓 Protein Ice Cream Recipe 🥞 Chia Pudding Dessert with Seeds Recipe

Fluffy Cloud Bread Pan Nube Recipe 🧇 Quinoa Bread Recipe 🍞 Schiacciata Tuscan Focaccia Flat Bread Recipe 🥐 Shokupan Japanese Milk Bread Recipe 🥨 Potato Sandwich Bread Recipe 🧀 Homemade Breadsticks Recipe 🍳 Stollen German Dried Fruits Cake Recipe 🥚 French Gingerbread Spiced Cake Recipe 🍰 Gluten Free Pancakes Recipe

🥔 Potato-omelet-in-Thermomix 🍓 Smores-Sandwich-Dessert 🍰 Womens-Day-Mimosa-cake ☕ Coffee-Sorbet 🍆 Eggplant-pizza 🍋 Ciambella-Italian-Lemon-Cake 🥖 Zapiekanka-Polish-Snack 🌰 Dukkah-Egyptian-Nuts-Mix 🧆 Best-Hummus 🥑 Best-Avocado

Best Products We’ve Tested and Rated

Our testing team has hands-on reviews of glute resistance bands, resistance band set door anchor, smart jump rope, heart rate monitor armband, and ems machine. Every option below was compared across price, build quality, and real-world performance, with honest pros and cons. We update these guides regularly as new models arrive, so the recommendations stay current.

Our testing team has hands-on reviews of tens unit, olympic weight plate set, olympic barbell, speed bag boxing, and plyometric box set. Every option below was compared across price, build quality, and real-world performance, with honest pros and cons. We update these guides regularly as new models arrive, so the recommendations stay current.