Crockpot lasagna is the easiest way to cook everyone’s favorite comfort meal! The smell of a saucy, meaty, cheesy filling layered between tender pasta noodles is exactly what you want to come home to after a busy day. Just make sure to end your Italian-inspired dinner with a big slice of homemade tiramisu! This recipe for slow cooker lasagna is one of my favorite cozy comfort meals. It ranks right up there with my marry me chicken and cheesy chicken fajita casserole as well as my creamy lemon chicken pasta because you can never go wrong with an effortlessly delicious and satisfying meal! It’s really a low-fuss, budget-friendly way to serve my family, and homemade lasagna is a meal we always enjoy. Layers of melty cheese, deliciously seasoned meat sauce, and easy oven-ready noodles can be made with just 20 minutes of prep time. Then, it’s basically hands-off for the next few hours! The aromas in the kitchen are enough to make your mouth water, and having slow cooker lasagna waiting for you at the end of the day is delicious and convenient. Slow cooker recipes are great to have on hand all year because a hot meal is always welcome during the cooler months, and when the weather is warm, it means no heating up your kitchen with the oven. Definitely a win-win! Any leftovers can be saved for lunch the next day or packed away in the freezer for an easy crockpot dinner later! Enjoy this restaurant-style dinner with a side of Caesar salad and a basket of fresh garlic bread or breadsticks for a complete Italian-inspired meal.
Why Make This Easy Crockpot Lasagna recipe
Ingredients for Crock pot Lasagna
Complete list of ingredients and amounts can be found in the recipe card below.
For the meat
Ground beef: I use lean ground beef, but you can use ground turkey or a combination of ground beef and ground pork. Ground pork Italian sausage: You can use all beef sausages. Keep in mind, hot sausages will add a little kick to your pasta sauce. Onion and garlic are aromatics that give everything an incredible depth of flavor. They are a common ingredient duo in all kinds of recipes. Italian seasoning is a blend of herbs traditionally made with basil, rosemary, thyme, and oregano. The remaining ingredients can vary depending on where you get yours. I have an excellent recipe for Italian Seasoning that you could use!
For the sauce
Tomato sauce: A can of your favorite spaghetti sauce or marinara sauce will work. Since we’re adding granulated sugar as an added ingredient, using a sauce with no added sugar is something to keep in mind. Tomato paste: This is used to thicken up the sauce as well as give it a more intense tomato flavor. Granulated sugar: Needed to cut through the acidity in the sauce. It serves a purpose without adding any noticeable sweet flavor. Water: Used to thin out the sauce just a bit. It makes it easier to spread out the layer of sauce.
For the Cheese
Ricotta cheese: A mild, very soft cheese and a common ingredient in lasagna. Can be substituted with cottage cheese which has a bit more texture and is lower in calories, but also has a similar mild flavor so it can be used interchangeably in many recipes. Parmesan cheese: Grated parmesan gives the cheese mixture a sharpness which is a nice counterbalance to the creamy ricotta and mild mozzarella. Mozzarella cheese: Using a block and grating it yourself is recommended! Egg: Used to bind the cheeses so it holds its structure while it cooks. Uncooked lasagna noodles: I like to use oven-ready, no-boil noodles. It’s a total time-saver!
How to Make Lasagna in The Slow Cooker
Slice and serve. Once you’re ready to eat, slice it up into as big or little pieces as you’d like and serve with your favorite sides. My family loves a side Caesar and a basket of garlic bread or breadsticks.
Tips and Tricks
Extra tips for making the easiest lasagna recipe a success!
Cover noodles in sauce. Make sure to cover all of the noodles with the sauce. Since they are uncooked, it needs the liquid to cook them while the lasagna is cooking. If there is not enough liquid the noodles will be dry and possibly burnt towards the edges. Variations. You can swap the ground beef for ground turkey, ground chicken, or a blend of beef and pork. Lasagna with cottage cheese sometimes comes out a little more moist when made in the slow cooker. It’s also lower in calories, which is a bonus if you’re looking for something a little lighter. Season the sauce to your liking and, of course, use more or less cheese depending on your family’s preference. Make it meatless. Looking for a vegetarian meal? Feel free to leave out the meat completely for vegetarian lasagna. You can leave it as is or replace it with diced veggies such as mushrooms, bell peppers, eggplant, spinach, or zucchini. Use the oven. If you’re looking for a more traditional way to make a lasagna (or you don’t have a slow cooker) you can easily make this recipe in the oven instead. Assemble lasagna in a baking dish, cover with foil, and cook for 40 minutes. Uncover and continue cooking for another 10 minutes, until the cheese is golden. For accurate times, follow the directions on your noodle package.
Why should I use uncooked lasagna noodles?
The neat thing about these time-saving noodles is that they use the liquid from the sauce to cook them. If the lasagna noodles were pre-cooked, the sauce would have nowhere to go after hours in the slow cooker which would result in runny lasagna. This way, the liquid gets absorbed as the noodles cook, yielding the perfect consistency.
How long does crockpot lasagna last in the fridge?
Once completely cooled, place in an airtight container and keep in the fridge for up to 5 days. If you’ve got lots of leftovers, it’s great for meal prep throughout the week. Store in smaller portions and reheat only what you need. Lunch and dinner for the week!
Can I freeze lasagna?
Lasagna is very freezer-friendly. It can be kept frozen for up to 3 months. Whether you’re storing leftovers or an entire lasagna, keep it wrapped tightly in plastic wrap and transfer to a Ziploc or freezer-friendly container.
How to reheat lasagna?
If you’re just reheating a piece or two at a time, popping it in the microwave for 1-minute intervals is best. If you’re heating up more than that, use the oven to heat it through. Now that you’ve learned to make the easiest lasagna that serves any hungry crowd, don’t forget to pin it so more people can enjoy it too. © Little Sunny Kitchen
title: “Crockpot Lasagna” ShowToc: true date: “2024-09-29” author: “Joseph Flagg”
What to Serve with Crockpot Lasagna
Parmesan Roasted BroccoliMediterranean SaladCaesar Salad
I can’t wait for you to enjoy this cozy crockpot lasagna with your family. Please leave a comment below with questions or comments on this or any of my other recipes. Enjoy! This Crockpot Lasagna is everything you love about a traditional lasagna without boiling noodles or the need to be home while it cooks. Our slow cooker lasagna comes together while you are busy dealing with other things, and is perfect to come home to. Your family will love this amazing and delicious recipe. Please note that we are using regular lasagna sheets. This recipe has not been tested with the no boil sheets. The reason I always make a point of saying this is because it really can make a huge difference in a recipe. Pre shredded cheese does not melt as well as block cheese you shred at home. It is covered in preservatives that help it keep its shredded form, but also keeps it from melting well. I firmly believe you won’t be as satisfied with the results if you use pre-shredded cheese. Please take the extra five minutes to do this, it is well worth it. Salt can make or break a recipe. Start by adding just a little bit more, tasting, and adding a tiny bit more (I’m talking less than 1/8 teaspoon) until you get the taste you like.
First, many a reader have told me that this is even better when it is made the day before. I can’t verify this, but given how many have told me, I’m thinking there is something to it.Second, other readers have told me that this freezes very well. They recommend cutting it into slices, flash freezing it in single layers for eight hours, and then storing it in an airtight container.
Leftovers should be eaten within four days. Frozen lasagna can be stored for up to three months. Please use your best discretion when it comes to leftovers.
