Description
This Easiest Ever Crockpot Lasagna Recipe is a hands-off, simple way to enjoy a classic Italian comfort dish with minimal effort. Layers of ground beef, tomato sauce, ricotta, mozzarella, and uncooked lasagna noodles are slow-cooked to perfection, making it perfect for busy days or meal prepping. The recipe is flavorful, hearty, and freezes well for easy future meals.
Ingredients
Units
Scale
Meat Sauce
- 1 lb extra-lean ground beef
- 1 yellow onion, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 2 (650 mL) jars tomato sauce (sweet basil marinara sauce recommended)
Lasagna Layers
- 1 lb lasagna noodles (uncooked, oven-ready or regular)
- 1 (475 g) tub ricotta cheese
- 2 cups mozzarella cheese
- 1/2 cup water
Garnish
- Chopped fresh basil or parsley
Other
- Cooking spray
Instructions
- Brown the Beef: In a large frying pan over medium-high heat, brown the ground beef until almost cooked through. Then add diced onions, minced garlic, salt, pepper, and one jar of tomato sauce. Stir everything together and simmer briefly until fragrant and combined.
- Prepare the Slow Cooker: Spray the inside of your slow cooker with cooking spray to prevent sticking.
- Layer the Lasagna: Begin by spreading a bit of the meat sauce on the bottom of the slow cooker. Add a layer of uncooked lasagna noodles, breaking some to fit if needed. Then spread ricotta cheese followed by mozzarella cheese, and spoon more meat sauce on top. Repeat layering this way until the slow cooker is full, typically about three layers in total.
- Add Final Sauce and Cheese: Pour the second jar of tomato sauce evenly over the top layer of lasagna, sprinkle with remaining mozzarella cheese, and pour 1/2 cup of water around the sides to help in cooking the noodles.
- Cook the Lasagna: Cover and cook on high for 3 hours or on low for 6 hours until noodles are tender and cheese is melted and bubbly.
- Garnish and Serve: Once cooked, garnish with chopped fresh basil or parsley. Cut into portions and serve warm. Enjoy your easy crockpot lasagna!
Notes
- This recipe is very hands-off and ideal for busy days—just assemble and cook.
- You can use either standard or no-boil lasagna noodles depending on availability.
- Breaking noodles into pieces helps them fit better in the slow cooker.
- The lasagna freezes well; store leftovers in airtight containers for future meals.
- Use fresh herbs for garnish to add brightness and color.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 470 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 264 mg
- Fat: 17 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 46 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 32 g
- Cholesterol: 84 mg
