Lasagna is quite an accomplishment. The moment when you reach your biggest spatula down through the layers to reveal the masterpiece of stacked cheese, meat, and noodles within is one of glory and pride. Lasagna layers do take some time to prep, but this easy recipe streamlines them wherever possible.
The meat layer is made with spaghetti sauce to keep it easy.The slow cooker means all of the work happens earlier in the day, giving you more flexibility before dinner.No boiling of the noodles is required, hooray! Just layer them right into the slow cooker.
For a slow cooker pasta with even less prep time, check out my Crock Pot Pasta, which doesn’t require assembling layers. Or for a no-noodle version, you’ll love this Crock Pot Low Carb Lasagna, which uses eggplant and zucchini noodles.
How to Make Crockpot Lasagna
To pack in the max amount of nutrition, I used protein-packed cottage cheese, convenient frozen spinach, and lean ground beef. Feel free to try a different ground protein, make your crockpot lasagna with ricotta, or add more sautéed vegetables like the ones you’ll find in Vegetable Lasagna.
The Ingredients
Ground Beef. Lean ground beef is healthy, hearty, and flavorful, making it perfect for our easy crockpot lasagna recipe. Oregano. Adds an earthy, herby flavor to the meat. Balsamic Vinegar. Helps give the meat layer a note of needed acidity. Red Pepper Flakes. For a touch of spice. Marinara. I chose to use jarred pasta sauce for this lasagna, as it’s quick and easy. Make sure to use something good quality that you enjoy. Low-Fat Cottage Cheese. Low-fat cottage cheese helps us create a lighter lasagna while still ensuring it’s rich and flavorful.
Frozen Spinach. Using frozen spinach in this lasagna is an easy way to sneak in extra nutrition. Spinach is packed with fiber and vitamins. Egg. Egg helps bind the cheese layer together, ensuring it won’t run out during cooking and serving. Parmesan. Adds nuttiness and saltiness to the cheese mixture. Basil. Tastes fantastic in the cheese layer. Lasagna Noodles. Lasagna noodles are thick and hearty, making them ideal for the slow cooker. The tasty sauce, meat, and cheese layers all cling to them. Mozzarella. A delicious, gooey lid of mozzarella cheese is a hallmark of any good lasagna. I used part-skim mozzarella to keep things light. Water. Adding water to the lasagna helps create steam in the slow cooker. The moisture keeps the ingredients from drying out and kick-starts the cooking process.
The Directions
Storage Tips
To Store. Refrigerate lasagna in an airtight container for up to 4 days. To Reheat. Rewarm leftovers in a baking dish in the oven at 350 degrees F or in the microwave. To Freeze. Freeze leftovers in an airtight, freezer-safe storage container for up to 3 months. Let thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.
Recommended Tools to Make this Recipe
Slow Cooker. Ideal for making slow cooker lasagna on repeat. Large Saute Pan. A deep, large skillet like this one is perfect for cooking the beef. Cheese Grater. Grate your cheese at home using a box grater or a microplane grater.
Make this tonight and get ready for the oooohs and ahhhhs!
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