Description
Crockpot Lasagna is a hands-off, comforting classic made easy with layers of tender noodles, rich meat sauce, creamy ricotta, and gooey melted cheese—all slow-cooked to perfection. This no-boil, family-friendly meal is ideal for busy days and delivers all the flavor of traditional lasagna with minimal effort.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat Sauce
- 1 lb ground beef or Italian sausage
- 1 small onion, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 jar (24 oz) marinara or pasta sauce
- 1 can (15 oz) crushed tomatoes
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp pepper
Cheese Mixture
- 1 1/2 cups ricotta cheese
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 egg (optional, for ricotta mixture)
Additional Ingredients
- 9–12 lasagna noodles, uncooked
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- Fresh parsley or basil for garnish
Instructions
- Cook the Meat Sauce: In a skillet over medium heat, cook ground beef and diced onion until browned, about 6–8 minutes. Add minced garlic and sauté for 1 minute more. Drain excess fat, then stir in marinara sauce, crushed tomatoes, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper to combine the meat sauce.
- Prepare the Cheese Mixture: In a small bowl, mix the ricotta cheese, grated Parmesan, and egg if using, creating a creamy cheese layer for the lasagna.
- Assemble the Lasagna: Spread a thin layer of the meat sauce on the bottom of the crockpot to prevent sticking. Add a layer of uncooked lasagna noodles, breaking them to fit as needed. Spread a portion of the ricotta cheese mixture over the noodles, followed by a layer of shredded mozzarella cheese. Repeat these layers—meat sauce, noodles, ricotta mixture, mozzarella—until all ingredients are used, finishing with a top layer of meat sauce and mozzarella cheese.
- Slow Cook: Cover the crockpot and cook on low heat for 4–5 hours, or until the noodles are tender and the cheese is melted and bubbly.
- Rest and Serve: Turn off the heat and let the lasagna sit, covered, for 15 minutes before slicing. Garnish with fresh parsley or basil and serve warm.
Notes
- You can add spinach or mushrooms for extra veggies to enhance flavor and nutrition.
- Using oven-ready noodles can slightly reduce cooking time, but regular uncooked noodles cook well in the crockpot.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 5 hours
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: Italian-American
