chilaquiles.

We came home exhausted and starving after an evening workout, and the last thing I wanted to do was brainstorm something inventive, healthy and delicious to cook for dinner.  Since I’m only a weekend gourmet, J’s talents are limited to the grill, and our take-out rotation has gotten stale, it was up to my wifely powers to get us through the crisis.

Luckily, Chilaquiles, a long favorite brunch item, also makes for a quick and easy dinner solution. What could be better than a simple yet flavorful Mexican dish that can basically be made with anything you have in your fridge?  Go investigate what's in your kitchen, and if you find a half-empty, crumpled bag of tortilla chips, you're golden:

Cover the bottom of a casserole dish with broken tortilla chips 
Layer on any/all of the following:
Shredded chicken, beef, or pork (leftovers are perfect)
Black beans (I’ve used refried beans, and even black bean soup!)
Fresh spinach, tomatoes, peppers, onions, corn
Top with a few more chips, salsa and finish with a layer of cheese

Bake for 15-20 minutes on 350 degrees

 

I like to serve it with a fried egg on top, but that’s up to you!

Works perfectly without the meat if you are a vegetarian, or skip the cheese and go dairy-free.

My recipe above is a free-for-all, but there are thousands of respectable ones online.

If you're looking for the real deal, try this one.

Enjoy!