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+ servings
Pastel Azteca

Pastel Azteca Recipe

4.80 from 25 votes
Pastel Azteca is similar to lasagna in its layered structure but features corn tortillas, shredded chicken, roasted poblanos (rajas), and cheese.
Prep Time: 25 minutes
Cook Time: 40 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 5 minutes

Ingredients

Poblano Salsa

  • 1 lb whole tomatillos
  • 3 jalapeño peppers 
  • 8 poblano peppers 
  • 1/2 bunch cilantro
  • 1 1/2 cups chicken broth, low-sodium

Chicken Filling

  • 2 tbsp avocado oil
  • 3 ears fresh corn
  • 1 white onion, diced
  • 4 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1/4 tsp ground cumin
  • 1 tsp dried Mexican oregano
  • 4 cups cooked chicken, shredded
  • To taste salt

Requesón Mixture

  • 1 1/2 cups Mexican cream
  • 2 cups requesón
  • 24 oz Oaxaca cheese, grated

Additional Ingredients

Instructions

Poblano Chicken Filling 

  • Poblano Salsa: Heat a comal or cast iron skillet over medium to medium-high heat. Roast the poblano peppers, jalapeños, and tomatillos until charred (blackened) all around. 
  • Transfer the peppers to a bowl, cover with plastic wrap, and let them sweat for 10-15 minutes. Allow the tomatillos to cool on a dish.
  • Once the skin of the peppers has loosened, peel it off and cut the peppers open to remove the seeds and stems.
  • Slice six poblanos into strips (rajas) and set aside. Blend the remaining two poblanos with the jalapeños, tomatillos, cilantro, and broth until smooth. Set aside until needed.
  • Chicken Filling: Remove the corn kernels from the cob. In a medium saucepan over medium heat, pour in the oil and sauté the corn until slightly softened. Add the onion and sauté until softened. 
  • Stir in the garlic, cumin, and oregano, and cook for one minute. Pour in the green salsa, bring to a boil, then reduce to a gentle simmer and cook until slightly thickened, about 8 minutes. Mix in the salt and chicken, then turn off the heat and set aside to cool slightly.

Prep

  • Heat avocado oil. Lightly pan fry each tortilla until pliable, just a few seconds per side. Transfer to a dish and continue frying the rest.
  • In a medium bowl, combine requesón cheese and Mexican cream. Use a spatula to stir and fold them together, leaving a few lumps.
  • Preheat the oven to 350°F.

Assemble the Pastel Azteca 

  • Grab a 10x13 baking dish (handles not included) and spray the bottom with non-stick baking spray. 
  • While assembling your Pastel Azteca, spread each layer evenly to cover the one below. Repeat this process three times for a total of three layers.
  • First, pat dry excess oil from the tortillas with a paper towel. Arrange 8-9 of them to cover the bottom of the dish. Spread the requesón mixture, followed by the chicken filling and sliced poblanos. Finally, sprinkle with Oaxaca cheese. Repeat for the remaining two layers.
  • Bake for 20 minutes until the cheese is melted, then switch to broil to achieve a golden top. Allow it to rest for 15 minutes before slicing and serving. 

Nutrition

Serving: 1servingCalories: 581kcalCarbohydrates: 45gProtein: 35gFat: 30gSaturated Fat: 14gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 4gTrans Fat: 0.002gCholesterol: 78mgSodium: 918mgPotassium: 636mgFiber: 7gSugar: 8gVitamin A: 729IUVitamin C: 95mgCalcium: 184mgIron: 2mg
Nutrition information is automatically calculated and intended as an approximation only.
Course: Main
Cuisine: Mexican
Keyword: Mexican Casserole, Mexican Food, Mexican Lasagna, Pastel Azteca