I got this from a community cookbook that I bought years ago, when I still lived in Arkansas.

Original recipe:
2 pounds ground beef
2 Tbsp oil
4 tbsp onion, chopped
3 cups water
2 tsp salt
1 tsp sugar
2 cloves garlic
1 (12 oz) can tomato paste
1 1/2 lb Jack cheese, grated (note: for more fire,substitute hot pepper Jack)
1 (7 oz) can whole green chilies
1 1/2 lb Longhorn or Cheddar cheese
1 tsp oregano
1 tsp cumin (optional)
1/4 tsp cayenne (optional)
2 pkg. lasagna noodles (8 oz)

Brown meat in oil with onion and garlic. Drain off excess oil. Add tomato paste, water, salt, sugar and other spices. Simmer for 30 minutes or longer. cook lasagna noodles as directed. Layer noodles, sauce, green chili strips and the two cheeses into a 10 x 15-inch pan or casserole dish. Bake 30 to 40 minutes at 350°. Let set 10 minutes. Serves 8 or more.
Note: For a smaller serving, cut recipe in half and cook in a 9 x 13-inch. dish. For a lower fat content, reduce amount of cheese.

Since I was the only one who would be eating this, and didn't think I would want more than a week's worth of lasagna, I cut the recipe in half and did the 9x13 dish, except I didn't cut the amount of cayenne in half and I did substitute pepper jack for the jack cheese. In my household, cayenne is not optional, it's mandatory. I would also think that the oil is not necessary, as the ground beef is going to cook out fat/grease that the onions and garlic can cook in.

The finished product:

• RE: OTCC: Southwest Lasagna,frodis, 11:12 AM, 01-14-11
  • RE: OTCC: Southwest Lasagna,qwertypie, 11:42 AM, 01-14-11
    • RE: OTCC: Southwest Lasagna,frodis, 11:58 AM, 01-14-11
      • RE: OTCC: Southwest Lasagna,frodis, 02:31 PM, 01-14-11
        • RE: OTCC: Southwest Lasagna,samboohoo, 11:51 AM, 01-17-11
• oooh!,weltek, 12:12 PM, 01-14-11
• RE: OTCC: Southwest Lasagna,Tummy, 12:15 PM, 01-14-11
• RE: OTCC: Southwest Lasagna,Molaholic, 02:11 PM, 01-14-11
• In the oven now.,qwertypie, 08:31 PM, 01-16-11
  • RE: In the oven now.,qwertypie, 00:48 AM, 01-17-11
    • RE: In the oven now.,arkiegrl, 09:33 PM, 01-17-11
      • RE: In the oven now.,qwertypie, 02:27 AM, 01-18-11
• RE: OTCC: Southwest Lasagna,VisionQuest, 11:27 PM, 01-16-11
  • RE: OTCC: Southwest Lasagna,VisionQuest, 07:32 AM, 01-18-11
• RE: OTCC: Southwest Lasagna,batts, 11:57 PM, 01-16-11
  • RE: OTCC: Southwest Lasagna,qwertypie, 00:35 AM, 01-17-11
    • RE: OTCC: Southwest Lasagna,batts, 00:59 AM, 01-17-11
• RE: OTCC: Southwest Lasagna,Seana, 01:58 PM, 01-17-11
  • RE: OTCC: Southwest Lasagna,qwertypie, 06:39 PM, 01-17-11
• RE: OTCC: Southwest Lasagna,Tummy, 06:25 PM, 01-20-11
  • RE: OTCC: Southwest Lasagna,Tummy, 09:24 PM, 01-20-11

YUM! I love any recipe that uses green chiles.

I may try this for football this weekend.

And can't wait to see what substitutions you will use

I know this recipe will be a big hit with the family.

I know. I've gotten myself quite the reputation, haven't I.

I'm already thinking of using ground turkey instead of ground beef.

(Somebody stop me before I substitute again!)

I was thinking about chicken.

Samboobree, brought to life by Arkie

Great recipe-looking forward to making it!

-A Tribetastic Creation

I love OTCC. I love trying the harder, more intricate recipes, recipes I would have never tried without it being a featured dish. I also love when a OTCC meal comes along that I think will become a standard in this house like this one. Rob's going to be a happy man.

LAST EDITED ON 01-14-11 AT 02:11 PM (EST)

Ya know, you may have sompin here...

15 minutes to go and it looks and smells absolutely wonderful.

OOOH -cheesy goodness. Any changes I would make are because I didn't follow the recipe as written

Next time I would sub at least half the jack with the spicy jack.
We were a little skimpy on the sauce (but that was our fault, we only had 1.5 pounds of beef instead of two)
I chickened out and didn't use the whole can of chilies. Bad Qwerty!
We were short on jack cheese (because Mr. Qwerty does the grocery shopping and I didn't specify the amounts I needed)so I used more cheddar. This cut down on the heat -- but on the plus side the kids absolutely loved it.

Next time, I am tempted to throw in some corn and/or peppers with the meat

Not that I'm complaining -- the lasagna was terrific and everyone absolutely loved it, it just wasn't as southwestern as Arkie intended.

Thanks Arkie!

I'm glad you liked it!

Even better the second day

This is tomorrow's dinner. I can't wait to try it. I have it made and in the fridge ready to cook. I will report back tomorrow. I am so excited for this.

This was a hit with the family. I used turkey instead of beef, but it was still wonderful. Next time I make it, I am going to try it with some pepperjack cheese too. Yummy and very easy to make.

Another great Lasagna recipe. Thanks arkie.

I wanted to add a tip, just for those ricotta lovers.

An easy way to add a layer of ricotta to lasagna is to spoon some out of the container into between 2 small sheets of wax paper, meshing the ricotta cheese into a thin layer, then applying that layer on the top of a meat layer within the lasagna.

Oh, arkie, you and me on the cayenne. MMMMMmmmmm.
I put cayenne on most things I cook.

Thanks for the tip!

YW Several peeps have asked how I get the ricotta finely layered in there.

I intend to make a just-for-me version of this some time in the next week or so. I love spicy recipes!

I gotta start doing that

Making this now. I've already changed up one thing - I toasted my cumin seeds in a dry pan before adding the oil, onion and garlic. It's all simmering now and the house seems yummylicious!

I love this dish!

The one thing I'll do different next time I fix it, and there will be a next time, is that I'll switch the lasagne noodles for either layers of crushed Doritoes or slice up some corn tortillas for the layers.

I toyed with adding some corn but decided not too. I still think some corn in it will be good. I topped with a little sour cream and cilantro which was great. I thought I had some black olives but didn't, otherwise I would have sprinkled some black olives over it.

I made it in a square deep dish as I like lots of layers. Can't wait for left-overs tomorrow!

Thank. You!