Crock Pot Lasagna means no need for an oven! Lasagna noodles, meat sauce, and cheese made all in the slow cooker. A classic pasta dish ready anytime!
This crock pot recipe for lasagna is one of the best comfort food recipes! Each bite has the perfect balance of meat, sauce, and pasta!
An Easy One-Pot Slow Cooker Meal
One-pot meals in a crockpot are always a winner, no matter the time of year or day of the week. However, soups and stews can get boring and it seems that most recipes for slow cookers revolve around them. Not anymore!
You can make a classic, hearty lasagna in a crock-pot that’s just a good as a baked one.
Ingredients
All the ingredients needed for making lasagna in a slow cooker 
are the same as making it in the oven. You do not need to purchase the oven ready noodles or boil them prior to cooking. You don’t even have to make spaghetti sauce from scratch (prepackaged marinara sauce works just fine).
The full printable recipe is below:
Ingredients:
- ground beef – crumbled and browned
- onion – I like to use a sweet onion but any will do.
- garlic
- salt+pepper
- spaghetti sauce – jarred is just fine!
- lasagna noodles -regular, oven-ready is best
- cottage cheese
- ricotta cheese
- egg
- parmesan cheese
- mozzarella cheese – or any other type of shredded cheese will work as well
How to Make Crock Pot Lasagna
1. Brown the Meat
In a large skillet over medium heat cook the ground beef, onion, and garlic until brown. Add salt and pepper and stir until well incorporated. Drain excess grease and return to skillet.
2. Mix the sauce
3. Add the Cheese
4. Prepare the Crock Pot
5. Layer the noodles
6. Cook in the crock pot
Tips for Making Lasagna in a Crock Pot
Although making this lazy lasagna in a crock pot is a cinch, here are some tips to help make it easy to remove and turn out great.
- Spray the crock prior to adding the ingredients. This will make it easier to remove the dish when it comes time for serving and make clean up less stressful.
- Don’t bother with “oven-ready” noodles. The regular lasagna noodles hold up better to longer cooking. These noodles go in dry and will be the perfect al dente texture when you are ready to eat it.
- Don’t worry if the noodles do not completely cover the sauce, meat, and cheese. They will expand as they cook.
- Reserve extra sauce for the top and bottom of the lasagna. You will be adding the meat and vegetable mixture to the sauce, but save about a cup of plain sauce to line the bottom of the crock and to add to the final layer for added moisture.
- Let the lasagna rest for 30 minutes before serving. It will make cutting and removing the casserole way easier.
- If you are in a hurry, you can cook this on high for three hours.
For tips on using your slow cooker –> SLOW COOKER TIPS AND TRICKS
FAQS
What do you serve with Crock Pot Lasagna?
There are so many great side dishes that pair perfectly with slow cooker lasagna! The following recipes are just a few of my favorite side dishes:
How do you store leftover lasagna?
All you have to do is store this cooked lasagna recipe in a container with a lid. Store it in the fridge until you are ready to eat it the next day.
What toppings go well with Slow Cooker Lasagna?
I love to add on all the parmesan cheese but you can easily add in some fresh cilantro, chives, or even top with hot sauce and diced jalapenos as well for an extra kick!
If you’re looking for more easy crock pot meals, try these next!
Crock Pot Lasagna
Ingredients
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 1 onion chopped
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 3 1/2 cups spaghetti sauce
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon pepper
- 1 12 ounce package lasagna noodles
- 1 cup cottage cheese
- 1 cup ricotta cheese
- 1 egg
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 4 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
Instructions
- In a large skillet over medium heat cook the ground beef, onion, and garlic until brown. Add salt and pepper and stir until well incorporated. Drain excess grease and return to skillet.
- Add in spaghetti sauce and mix well - cooking for 2 minutes more then remove from heat.
- In a large bowl mix together the cottage cheese, ricotta cheese, and grated Parmesan cheese along with the egg.
- Spray your crock pot with no-stick cooking spray and add a little bit of the spaghetti sauce to the bottom of the crock.
- Begin layering your ingredients starting with lasagna noodles, meat mixture, and cheese. Repeat until all of your ingredients are gone - ending with meat sauce and cheese on top.
- Add the lid on and cook on low for 4-5 hours.
Notes
- Spray the crock prior to adding the ingredients. This will make it easier to remove the dish when it comes time for serving and make clean up less stressful.
- Don't bother with "oven-ready" noodles. The regular lasagna noodles hold up better to longer cooking. These noodles go in dry and will be the perfect al dente texture when you are ready to eat it.
- Don't worry if the noodles do not completely cover the sauce, meat, and cheese. They will expand as they cook.
- Reserve extra sauce for the top and bottom of the lasagna. You will be adding the meat and vegetable mixture to the sauce, but save about a cup of plain sauce to line the bottom of the crock and to add to the final layer for added moisture.
- Let the lasagna rest for 30 minutes before serving. It will make cutting and removing the casserole way easier.
- If you are in a hurry, you can cook this on high for three hours.
Carla Spolyar
Just exactly where in the recipe is the 4 cups of mozarella cheese used?
Michelle Debbie
In step 5 when you begin layering all the ingredients. Hope this helps!
Rachel
My family love this recipe and tore into it! I loved the fact that it took half the time to prepare than a regular lasagna can’t wait to do it again❤️
Kasey
This crock pot lasagna is perfect for busy nights!