I Made Trisha Yearwood’s Cowboy Lasagna and This Recipe Will Be Your New Sunday Night Go-To

Cowboy lasagna is more than just a clever name. It’s a lasagna packed with pizza flavor. And though it takes a bit of time to put together and bake, you’ll have lots of fans once it comes out of the oven (and hopefully some leftovers to boot).

If this sounds tasty, try more of Trisha Yearwood’s favorite foods.

What is cowboy lasagna?

Far from authentic Italian cooking, cowboy lasagna is a mashup between pizza and lasagna made to satisfy even the hungriest of cowboys (or cowgirls!) after a long day of hard work.

While most of the ingredients are familiar staples of lasagna (lasagna noodles, ricotta, tomatoes), the addition of new ingredients (like pepperoni) turn this dish into the cleverly-named cowboy lasagna.

Trisha Yearwood’s Cowboy Lasagna Recipe

GETTY IMAGES, JENNIFER SCHWARZKOPF FOR TASTE OF HOME

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 pound lean ground beef chuck
• 1 pound sage-flavored sausage, bulk or removed from casings
• 1 pound sliced pepperoni
• 2 cups water
• 1 (16-ounce) can diced fire-roasted tomatoes
• 1 (12-ounce) can tomato paste
• 1 tablespoon dried oregano
• Pinch of kosher salt, plus more to taste
• Pinch of freshly ground black pepper
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 medium white or yellow onion, finely chopped
• 1 (16-ounce) package lasagna noodles
• 1 (16-ounce) package ricotta cheese
• 16 ounces shredded mozzarella cheese
• 1 cup grated parmesan cheese

Directions

Step 1: Brown the meat

Jennifer Schwarzkopf for Taste of Home

Heat the oil in a large, deep skillet over medium heat. Add the ground beef and sausage. Stir frequently to ensure even browning.

Step 2: Bring ingredients to a simmer

Jennifer Schwarzkopf for Taste of Home

Add the pepperoni. In a large bowl, combine the water, diced tomatoes and tomato paste. Add the mixture to the pan along with the oregano, salt, pepper, garlic and onion. Bring to a simmer and cook uncovered for 30 minutes, stirring frequently.

Step 3: Cook the noodles

In the meantime, preheat the oven to 350°F. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the lasagna noodles according to the package directions. Drain and set aside.

Step 4: Layer the ingredients

Jennifer Schwarzkopf for Taste of Home

When the mixture is ready, spray a deep 13×9-inch baking dish with cooking spray. Spread one third of the sauce in an even layer over the bottom of the dish. Top with lasagna noodles, then one third of each of the ricotta, mozzarella and parmesan.

Repeat these steps again, making sure you are portioning out accordingly so you have enough for each set of layers. Top with one additional layer of sauce, noodles and cheeses.

Step 5: Bake the lasagna

Jennifer Schwarzkopf for Taste of Home

Bake in the center of the oven, uncovered, for approximately 40 to 45 minutes. Allow the cowboy lasagna to rest for 10 to 15 minutes before serving.

Tips for Making Cowboy Lasagna

Don’t boil extra noodles

You’ll only need about nine lasagna noodles, so boil no more than 12 to reduce waste. (The extra noodles are backup in case there are any mishaps with the noodles while preparing them.)

Use parchment paper to keep noodles from sticking

After you drain the lasagna noodles, place them in single layers between sheets of sprayed parchment paper to keep them from sticking together. (Check out other uses for parchment paper.)

Bake the lasagna over a sheet pan

Put a sheet pan on the rack below your lasagna while baking, in case it bubbles over.

Finish under the broiler

If the top has not browned by the end of the recommended cooking time, feel free to broil for 3 to 5 minutes to get a gorgeous golden lasagna. Just keep an eye on it!

While lasagna is always a hit when it’s fresh out of the oven, it can be just as good when heated up for leftovers. Here’s how to reheat leftovers without ruining it.