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COWBOY LASAGNA

This Cowboy Lasagna post was originally sponsored by Ragu through Linquia and published on May 14, 2016

Cowboys MUST eat pepperonis, Italian sausage and ground beef and that THREE MEAT thing must mean COWBOYS? Right? !

PERFECT, meaty and filling! This Cowboy Lasagna is the EXACT thing you’ll want to fill bellies and satisfy tastebuds! 

Spatula scooping out a melty cheese piece of lasagna with pepperonis falling out.

COWBOY LASAGNA

Why This Recipe Works…

  • Hamburger, Sausage and Pepperonis are a FANTASTIC combination
  • Melty Cheese and Cheese Pulls!
  • Filling and Saves well!
  • Easy Assemble and Bake Recipe!

Here’s How It’s Done…

STEP 1.  

Use standard, precooked or even No Cook Lasagna noodles and begin layering Sauce, Noodles, meats, cheeses in 9×13 Baking Dish

9x13 baking dish layered with cowboy lasagna ingredients

Layering the ingredients for Cowboy Lasagna

STEP 2. 

Top with extra cheese and Parmesan

Parmesan Cheese being sprinkled on top of the 9x13 pan full of ingredients.

Add that parmesan last!

STEP 3. 

Bake and Serve! 

A photo of the crispy browned edges of Cowboy Lasagna with basil leaf and tomatoes

Cowboy Lasagna

 

Important Thing You Need to Know About Cowboy Lasagna

***This makes about 10 lbs of lasagna ***  

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ’s)

Can I Just Make 1/2 of This Recipe?

Yes! make it in a 8×8 or 9×9 pan. The problem is the lasagna noodles are designed for a 9×13 pan and you’ll need to cut them.

Can I FREEZE this Lasagna? 

Certainly!  It freezes GREAT

Either cover and wrap the entire pan in freezer safe plastic or paper OR package individual slices in freezer bags. Here’s some great info about food storage from the CDC. 

How Do I Reheat This Lasagna? 

  • Place the entire pan in the oven on 350 and heat for 20 minutes or until heated through. 
  • If reheating a single slice, it’s best to do that in a microwave in a microwave safe container, covered with plastic wrap and a few drops of water in the bowl. 
  • On high for 1 minute, check and go in 30 second intervals after that. 

TIPS and TRICKS For Cowboy Lasagna

  • Prepare everything ahead before you try to assemble. Just makes it easier.
  • You can brown the ground beef over medium high heat with the Italian sausage and just add as one ingredient if you want and that will taste the same.
  • If you can’t find Italian sausage in a bulk form then just use the links and squeeze the meat from the casings and discard the casings.
  • If you want some super melty and tasty lasagna, use the fresh mozzarella and WOW! Wonderful! I used the pre-shredded type for the video because I know that is what most American’s use – but if you use the fresh, you won’t be disappointed.

PRO TIP:  To make this as quickly as possible, use the no boil lasagna noodles, jarred tomato sauce and preshredded cheeses. That only leaves you with browning the meats before hand. 

FOR TASTY LASAGNA…

  • If you want some super duper tasty lasagna, use the REAL parmesan cheese! You REALLY won’t be disappointed! It is so super flavorful!
  • In lots of recipes, you find me doctoring sauces with lots of herbs. Not needed in this recipe!
  • Always start a lasagna with some of the sauce in the bottom of the baking dish – it helps prevent sticking!
  • After cooking the noodles, I always lay mine out on a cookie sheet and coat with a little spray of non stick spray.  
  • Noodles like to stick to one another and this helps keep things unsticky.
  • Red Pepper sprinkled over the top adds a LOT of BANG! 
  • Fresh Basil as a garnish is tasty and beautiful! 

LEFT OVERS…

  • This dish is WONDERFUL warmed over , which is good because it makes a TON! Invite friends over for this dish!
  • You CAN freeze this dish for later and it heats back up beautifully!
A photo of the crispy browned edges of Cowboy Lasagna, tomatoes, garlic and napkin in background

Cowboy Lasagna

HOW TO MAKE COWBOY LASAGNA IN THE CROCKPOT

Precook your noodles as indicated in the recipe below. Then layer the ingredients as indicated for oven baking. Repeat layers until complete.

Set the crockpot on low and allow to cook for 4 hours.

HOW TO MAKE COWBOY LASAGNA IN THE TOASTER OVEN

Precook the noodles as indicated. Layer into the baking dish. 

Set the toaster oven on 350 and bake for an hour.

COWBOY LASAGNA WITH TATERTOTS

There are a lot of ways to make this recipe your own but one of my favorites is to substitute the lasagna noodles with tater tots! Give it a try!

WHAT GOES WITH COWBOY LASAGNA?

Lots of recipe will go with this Cowboy Lasagna but at my house, we love a simple salad, garlic toast and a yummy pecan pie! You might also try….

HOW TO COOK CANNED PEAS

Cooking CANNED GREEN BEANS

HOW TO COOK CANNED PEAS AND CARROTS.

Italian Summer Soup!

 

A photo of the lasagna being scooped out with the empty sauce jar in the background Cowboy Lasagna www.loavesanddishes.net

Cowboy Lasagna

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cowboy lasagna

COWBOY LASAGNA

This MEATY and HARDY dish serves a crowd.  The leftovers are wonderful too.  Freezes well.  All the hallmarks of a perfect dinner! 
4.84 from 73 votes
Print Pin Rate
Course: main
Cuisine: American
Keyword: Cowboy Lasagna, lasagna
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 55 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
Servings: 12 servings
Calories: 656kcal
Author: Loaves and Dishes

Ingredients

  • 1 lb browned ground beef
  • 1 lb browned italian sausage
  • 2 jars tomato based Pasta Sauce
  • 12 Lasagna noodles cooked per package instruction
  • 12 oz pepperonis two packages
  • 4 Cups Shredded Mozzarella Cheese
  • 8 oz Ricotta Cheese
  • 4 oz Grated Parmesan Cheese

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 350. 
  • While the oven is preheating, brown the ground beef and the Italian sausage over medium heat in a frying pan. When browned, remove each from the heat and reserve. Cook the Lasagna noodles according to package instructions and reserve.
  • In a 9x13 baking dish Spoon several spoonfuls of the pasta sauce into the baking dish. 
  • Begin layering the ingredients as follows: 3 lasagna noodles, 1/3 of the pasta sauce, ⅓ of the browned ground beef, ⅓ of the Italian sausage, ⅓ of the pepperonis, ⅓ of the Mozzarella Cheese, ⅓ of the Ricotta Cheese, ⅓ of the parmesan. End with the cheeses on top.
  • Place the 9x13 pan on a baking sheet and place on the middle rack of the oven. Bake for 45-55 mins until heated through and bubbly. Cheese will be melted throughout and the edges will be browned. If you like yours less browned, lightly cover with aluminum foil for the last 15 minutes.
  • Remove from the oven and serve hot. Great with garlic bread and a salad!

Notes

  • Prepare everything ahead before you try to assemble.  Just makes it easier.
  • You can brown the ground beef and Italian sausage together and just add as one ingredient if you want and that will taste the same.
  • If you can’t find Italian sausage in a bulk form then just use the links and squeeze the meat from the casings and discard the casings.  
  • If you want some super melty and tasty lasagna, use the fresh mozzarella and WOW!  Wonderful!  I used the pre-shredded type for the video because I know that is what most American’s use - but if you use the fresh, you won’t be disappointed.

FOR TASTY LASAGNA...

  • If you want some super duper tasty lasagna, use the REAL parmesan cheese!  You REALLY won’t be disappointed!  It is so super flavorful!
  • In lots of recipes, you find me doctoring sauces with lots of herbs.  Not needed in this recipe!   
  • Always start a lasagna with some of the sauce in the bottom of the baking dish - it helps prevent sticking!
  • After cooking the noodles, I always lay mine out on a cookie sheet and coat with a little spray of non stick spray.  Noodles like to stick to one another and this helps keep things unsticky.  

LEFT OVERS...

  • This dish is WONDERFUL warmed over , which is good because it makes a TON!  Invite friends over for this dish!
  • You CAN freeze this dish for later and it heats back up beautifully!
PRO TIP:  To make this as quickly as possible, use the no boil lasagna noodles, jarred tomato sauce and preshredded cheeses.  That only leaves you with browning the meats before hand. 

Nutrition

Nutrition Facts
COWBOY LASAGNA
Amount Per Serving
Calories 656 Calories from Fat 405
% Daily Value*
Fat 45g69%
Saturated Fat 19g95%
Cholesterol 132mg44%
Sodium 1197mg50%
Potassium 399mg11%
Carbohydrates 22g7%
Sugar 1g1%
Protein 35g70%
Vitamin A 420IU8%
Vitamin C 1mg1%
Calcium 358mg36%
Iron 2.3mg13%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Tried this recipe?Mention @loavesanddishes or tag #loavesanddishes!

***This recipe first appeared on this website on May 14, 2016 and has been updated with step by step process photos, FAQ’s, complete nutrition information, directions rewritten for clarity and why this recipe works***

A VERSE TO SHARE

My dad made so many memorable recipes like grape jelly omelets and Medlin’s Egg Muffins and Dad’s famous WHOOPY  hamburgers (what you say when you eat one). Grape Jelly Omelet – not my fav.

Anyway, I know this is a recipe is one he would have loved especially for the mystery of the name (why is it called a Cowboy Lasagna anyway?). He would have made lots and lots of jokes about pepperoni eating cowboys.

AND THAT is what I love about recipes like this.

Ecclesiastes 10:19

A feast is made for laughter, wine makes life merry, and money is the answer for everything.

 

 

Recipe Rating




John

Thursday 2nd of February 2023

Instructions very unclear. Terribly written.

S Thornburg

Wednesday 3rd of August 2022

YUUUMMMMM! Going to add diced onion, mushrooms, and black olives! I LOVE Meat Lovers Pizza and Lasagna so this is AWESOME!

Wendi Spraker

Wednesday 3rd of August 2022

I think you are going to enjoy your additions very much!

J. Miles

Wednesday 16th of February 2022

This looks like it will become a regular item on our menus. Can't wait to try it.

Wendi Spraker

Thursday 17th of February 2022

I hope you love it!

Elise

Thursday 16th of December 2021

Hi Wendy, I’m just wondering if you use 12 lasagna noodles as the recipe calls for as I’m thinking that would be 4 layers in the pan and I don’t think that would all fit. I have a bigger pan so may use that. The recipe looks great, thank you for sharing!

Wendi Spraker

Friday 17th of December 2021

Hi Elise, It's really going to depend on your dish. For mine, yes, I use that number, but I have another same size pan that holds less (shallower sides). So, you may have to eyeball it a bit. Just as long as you get all the stuff on each of the layers, you should be good (and then end with the sauce and cheese so the top looks right!). lol.

RLSCM

Monday 27th of September 2021

My son loves this lasagna so much. It's one of his favorite dishes. He has requested that I make it for his 16th birthday this Saturday.

Wendi Spraker

Tuesday 28th of September 2021

Awwww, that is just the best! Wishing him the happiest and best birthday of all! Go get 'em Cowboy!

15585

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