Cowboy Chili + Lasagna
At first glance at the title, this recipe may sound strange. Yet think about… Stewed meat and beans with hearty spices, noodles, and cheese. Just because it’s not traditional Italian lasagna, doesn’t mean it’s not a win. My kids’ favorite chili recipe is our Slow Cooker Chili Mac & Cheese. They love the blend of rustic chili flavors mingled with macaroni noodles, and a generous amount of cheddar cheese, to make the chili base ultra-rich and silky. We entered their favorite chili recipe in a local chili cook-off and won! So today I thought I’d share a fun spin on both our “award-winning” Chili Mac & Cheese, and on our favorite classic lasagna recipe.
A Cowboy Lasagna Recipe For Everyone… Yeehaw!
Some people don’t like classic Italian-American lasagna because they think the tomato sauce is too sweet… I don’t know any of these people personally, and probably could not be friends with them if I did, but I’ve heard of this strange anti-lasagna phenomenon. If you fit into the lasagna hating sub-culture, I forgive you. Just kidding, that’s going too far. No need for forgiveness. Yet, I do believe I’ve got a recipe to convert you… Cowboy Chili Lasagna. You see, rustic cowboy chili is chunky, spicy, and meaty. Sweetness is not a factor at all. So when you combine it with two kinds of hot molten cheese, and three carby layers of noodles, you’ve got a baked pasta casserole everyone can appreciate.
Cowboy Lasagna Recipe Ingredients
Most of the listed ingredients go in the chili. It’s important to make a fabulous chili recipe, in order to make a killer chili lasagna. However, you don’t actually have to cook the chili very long, because it will continue to cook as it bakes!
Lean ground beef – The base of the meat sauce. Mexican chorizo – The ground kind, not Spanish-cured sausage links. Red onion – Use sweet onions if you can’t find red onions. Red bell pepper – For color and tang. Garlic – Because garlic makes everything better! Red kidney beans – Use canned beans to speed up the cook time. Crushed tomatoes – Canned. Or fired-roasted tomatoes. Chopped green chiles – Mild, medium, or hot. Go with mild if you are feeding a crowd. Ancho chile – Or use chili powder. Cumin – For smoky flavor. Cilantro – This adds a pop of freshness. No-boil lasagna noodles – Some brands call this “oven-ready” lasagna. The noodles vary in size, so you will need 3-4 noodles per layer. 9 to 12 total. Cream cheese – Use this instead of ricotta cheese or cottage cheese. Cheddar cheese – Because it pairs perfectly with chili.
No-Boil Lasagna Noodles
One key element that makes this recipe so easy to bake it using no-boil or oven-ready lasagna. This is dried pasta that is meant to soften in the oven, without boiling before hand, like classic dried lasagna. You can find no-boil lasagna noodles at most major grocery chains. However, if you can’t find it at your store (and don’t want to order it online) you can make this recipe with traditional lasagna. I’ve included instructions in the recipe card below!
Cowboy Chili Recipe Swaps
Not a fan of cheddar cheese? You shredded mozzarella cheese, or Mexican blend cheese instead! Skip the ground beef and add ground pork, ground turkey, or ground chicken. Use any kind of canned beans you like. Pintos, black beans, and white beans are all good options. Want to skip the noodles and use tater tots? We have a fabulous Tater Tot Cowboy Casserole Recipe as well!
More Dazzling Lasagna Recipes You’ve Got To Try
Homemade Classic Lasagna with Sausage Cheesy Southwest Chicken Lasagna Rolls White Vegetables Lasagna Cool Ranch Taco Lasagna Supreme Pizza Lasagna Slow Cooker Chicken Broccoli Lasagna The Best Paleo Lasagna Keto Chicken Lasagna Cups
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