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Easy Cowboy Lasagna Recipe (Hearty & Delicious)

Easy Cowboy Lasagna Recipe (Hearty & Delicious)

A hearty casserole made with lasagna noodles, bacon, ground beef, ranch-style beans, barbecue sauce, ricotta or cottage cheese, cheddar, and mozzarella. This cowboy-style lasagna serves 8 and is ideal for family dinners, potlucks, and casual entertaining.
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Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Total Time 1 minute
Servings: 8 servings
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Lasagna and Meat Sauce
  • 12 noodles Lasagna noodles
  • 1 pound Lean ground beef
  • 6 slices Bacon, chopped
  • 1 medium Yellow onion, diced
  • 2 cloves Garlic, minced
  • 1 15-ounce can Ranch-style beans or baked beans
  • 1 14.5-ounce can Diced tomatoes, undrained
  • 1 8-ounce can Tomato sauce
  • 1/2 cup Barbecue sauce
  • 1 teaspoon Chili powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon Smoked paprika
  • 1/2 teaspoon Salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon Black pepper
Cheese Filling
  • 1 15-ounce container Ricotta cheese or cottage cheese
  • 1 egg Large egg
  • 2 cups, divided Shredded sharp cheddar cheese
  • 1 cup Shredded mozzarella cheese
Optional Garnish
  • 2 tablespoons Chopped green onions or sliced jalapenos

Method
 

Step-by-Step
  1. Heat the oven to 375°F and grease a 9 x 13-inch baking dish. Cook the lasagna noodles according to package directions until just tender, then drain and rinse briefly with cool water.
  2. Cook the chopped bacon in a large skillet over medium heat until crisp. Remove excess grease, leaving about 1 tablespoon in the skillet.
  3. Add the diced onion and cook for 3–4 minutes. Add the minced garlic and cook for 30 seconds, stirring so it does not burn.
  4. Add the ground beef and cook until browned, breaking it into small pieces. Drain any excess fat.
  5. Stir in the beans, undrained diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, barbecue sauce, chili powder, smoked paprika, salt, and black pepper. Simmer uncovered for 15–20 minutes, stirring occasionally, until slightly thickened.
  6. In a bowl, combine the ricotta or cottage cheese, egg, 1 cup of the cheddar, and the mozzarella.
  7. Spread a thin layer of beef mixture in the baking dish. Add noodles, one-third of the cheese mixture, and another layer of beef mixture. Repeat the layers two more times, finishing with the remaining meat sauce.
  8. Sprinkle the remaining 1 cup of cheddar over the top. Cover tightly with foil and bake for 25–30 minutes.
  9. Remove the foil and bake for another 10–15 minutes, until the cheese is melted and lightly browned. Rest for 10–15 minutes before slicing, then garnish with green onions or jalapenos if desired.

Notes

Do not overcook the noodles because they continue cooking in the oven. Ranch-style beans provide more seasoning, while baked beans create a sweeter version. Use sharp cheddar and smoky barbecue sauce for the strongest cowboy-style flavor.