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 is one of those easy meals that you’re already going to be planning out the next time you make it!
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!
I like to call this my lazy day crock pot lasagna. It’s great for family dinner and the perfect way to make homemade lasagna. No matter when I make it, it’s a crowd pleaser. Even though it’s a bit different than traditional lasagna, this easy crockpot lasagna is still a recipe that the whole family will love. Perfect for busy nights and certain to be a family favorite.
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).
See recipe card below this post for ingredient quantities and full instructions.
Ingredients:
- ground beef – crumbled and browned. To cut down on the fat content, you can use lean ground beef. You can also use ground turkey, too.
- onion – I like to use a sweet onion but any will do.
- garlic
- salt+pepper
- spaghetti sauce – jarred is just fine! You can use any pasta sauce that you’d like.
- 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. This is one of my favorite slow cooker recipes.
- 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 jalapeños as well for an extra kick!
This recipe is perfect for a busy college student or a great way to introduce the best slow-cooker lasagna recipe to all your family and friends. and the best part? There’s going to be some of this crockpot lasagna recipe leftover for later!
If you’re looking for more easy crock pot meals, try these next!
- Mississippi Roast
- Crock Pot Pulled Pork
- Taco Soup
- BBQ Chicken
- Crockpot Breakfast Casserole
- Slow Cooker Turkey and Stuffing Casserole
- Homemade Creamed Corn
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.
Video
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.
Do you think it would double well in a crockpot? Or should I put it in one crock pot?
I’ve made this several times now. It’s easy and delicious!!
I got in a hurry and didn’t really spread my mixture of cheese, I hope it melts and spreads out😳
This recipe was a hit and it was super simple to make. We prepped the recipe in the crock pot, put it on high, and when we got home from the gym (150mins later) it was ready. Will definitely make again and again!
My family (and I) despise Cottage & Ricotta cheeses, is there anything that I can substitute or use extra of in their places?
Just exactly where in the recipe is the 4 cups of mozarella cheese used?
In step 5 when you begin layering all the ingredients. Hope this helps!
My family (and I) despise Cottage & Ricotta cheeses, is there anything that I can substitute or use extra of in their places?
It is used between layers.
Delicious and easy! My family loved it! Side note: even on low, it was done in 3 hours. Will be making this again SOON!
When the lasagne is done cooking, you can’t see that there was any cottage cheese or ricotta cheese used in the recipe. It really is a great recipe.
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❤️
This crock pot lasagna is perfect for busy nights!