Lasagna just got so much easier with this Slow Cooker Lasagna! Layer everything in the crockpot–even UN-COOKED noodles!
Want to hear something sad? My Dad and oldest brother don’t eat cheese! They wont touch it. No cheddar, no mozzarella, no parmesan…nothing! How can you live a life without cheese??!
That means that Lasagna, one of the most delicious meals of all time, was a rare specialty at our house. Whenever my mom would make it, (usually when Dad was out of town) the rest of us would be SO excited! It was gobbled up in minutes!
She’d typically make this Classic Italian Lasagna recipe. It’s a totally authentic lasagna that uses a simple béchamel white sauce instead of ricotta cheese or cottage cheese. It’s amazing, but takes a little bit of prep and work.
Now that I have a family of my own I’m always looking for ways easy meals or meals I can prep in advance or throw in my crock pot.
This slow cooker lasagna is a WINNER! All of the time consuming parts of lasagna–the many dishes and all the prep, are taken away.
I love that this recipe doesn’t even require you to cook the lasagna noodles before hand. You can use regular lasagna noodles, and then just layer the sauce, noodles and cheese. Lasagna takes about about 4-5 hours to cook on low. If you are really in a rush, you could could slow cooker lasagna on high and it would be done in about half the time!
Who knew you could make delicious homemade lasagna in the crock pot.
How to make Slow Cooker Lasagna:
Prepare the red sauce, first. I make my mom’s awesome homemade spaghetti sauce for the sauce, but you could use any bottled marinara sauce you like.
Add a little sauce to the bottom of the slow cooker.
Top with a layer of uncooked lasagna noodles. Break them if necessary, to make a single layer.
Spread some of the white cheese sauce mixture over the top.
Repeat for two more layers, ending with red sauce. Sprinkle more cheese all over the top.
Cover and cook on LOW in the slow cooker for 4-5 hours or until the noodles are tender.
TIP: Use slow cooker liners to make clean-up a breeze!
Consider serving this with:
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Lasagna just got so much easier with this Slow Cooker Lasagna! Layer everything in the crockpot--even UN-COOKED noodles!
- 1/2 pound ground beef
- 1/2 pound Italian sausage (I use hot)
- 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
- 1 large onion , chopped*
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 2 tablespoons parsley
- 2 teaspoons garlic powder
- 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
- 6 oz. can tomato paste
- 29 oz. can tomato sauce
- 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
- 1 1/4 cups water
- 8 oz. pkg regular lasagna noodles , uncooked
- 4 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1 1/2 cups cottage cheese
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
In a large skillet over medium heat brown the ground beef, Italian sausage and onion.
Add salt, pepper, Italian seasoning, parsley, garlic powder, Worcestershire sauce, tomato paste, tomato sauce, sugar, and water. Stir and simmer 15-20 minutes. (You could make the sauce in advance!)
Spread a fourth of the meat sauce into the bottom of your slow cooker. Arrange a third of the noodles over the sauce (break the noodles to fit, if necessary).
Combine the mozzarella, cottage cheese and parmesan cheese; spoon a third of the mixture over noodles. Repeat layers twice.
Top with remaining meat sauce and sprinkle with extra mozzarella cheese, if desired.
- Cover and cook on low for about 4-5 hours or until noodles are tender.
Serve with Homemade Olive Garden Breadsticks or a salad.
*You could substitute 1-2 Tbsp dried minced onion
UPDATE: 3/8/16: After comments that the lasagna was a little too runny I reduced the water to 1 1/4 cups in the recipe!
Have you tried this recipe?!
RATE and COMMENT below! I would love to hear your experience.
I first shared this recipe February 2015. Updated March 2018.
*This post contains affiliate links
Liz Williams says
Just found this recipe. It’s the closest to my old favorite that I’ve ever seen, in that you make your own sauce. I haven’t found my old favorite since I moved 20 years ago. The crock pot brings it up to date. Will be trying it soon. Multi – thank yous.
Lauren Allen says
Hi Liz,
I’m glad you found my site and I hope you enjoy it just as much as your old recipe! I would love to hear how it turns out! Thanks for commenting.
Dan Martin says
Tried this twice with perfect results each time. Using a crockpot liner makes clean up a snap. The only way I will make lasagna from now on.
Marje Gillies says
Scrolling on a lazy Saturday morning I came across this recipe to use in my ‘old’ West Bend Slow Cooker. We love Lasagna at this house and though love making it, it takes a lot of time. If it’s as easy as said I am going to try this method in the slow cooker. Let you know how it comes out 🙂 🙂 marje
Lucy says
This recipe is super easy to follow and really delicious!! Never making lasagna in the oven again. Thanks for sharing!
Angela says
Crockpot lasagna is a terrific idea. I prepared the sauce & ricotta the day before. Assembled it around noon the following day. Cooked it on high for 3 hours. Kept the warm cycle for 2 hours. The lasagna was easy to cut & pretty on the plate.
My husband & I enjoyed it. Looking forward to the left overs.
Lisa Langston says
This looks so good! I want to bake in the oven though. Would you say at 350*? How long do you think I should cook it? Thanks so much!!
Lauren Allen says
Thanks! I actually have an oven lasagna that is my favorite if you’d like to try that one (https://tastesbetterfromscratch.com/classic-italian-lasagna/) or you can use this recipe, but be sure to pre-boil the noodles or use no-boil noodles. Bake for about 30 minutes.
Connie says
What size crockpot?
Lauren Allen says
Hi Connie,
I use a 6 quart crock pot!
Kelly says
Hi, looks good and thinking about making this tomorrow while doing renos. But realized I like burnt cheese on top of my lasagna – any thoughts how to get that out of this? I thought about lining with tin foil and lifting it out but can see that ending in disaster!
Lauren Allen says
Hi Kelly, I would pull the removable crock pot insert out and place the entire lasagna under the broiler in my oven (without the lid on) for 2-3 minutes. (You may want to double check your owner manual to make sure your crock pot is safe at that temperature in the oven.) Hope you enjoy the lasagna!
Maureen says
Hello,
Can you please tell me what I can use instead of cottage cheese?
Lauren Allen says
Hi Maureen,
You could use a bechamel sauce like I use in this recipe. Or you could sub ricotta. I hope it turns out great!
H. Toomey says
Haven’t made the lasagna yet but made your sauce for a quick spaghetti dinner. Oh my, the sauce is so good! No more jar sauce for me! I’m sure the lasagna will also be very good. Thank you!
Lauren Allen says
Thanks so much–the sauce works so great with spaghetti! Thanks for commenting.
Dara says
This is exactly what I was looking for! Do you think it would be ok on low for 8-9 hours while I’m at work?
Lauren Allen says
Hi Dara, you can try it, but I’m afraid the noodles may be overcooked if they are cooked for that long. Best of luck!
Liz says
I LOVE this recipe. I especially love that I can use uncooked noodles. A keeper for sure!
Lauren Allen says
Uncooked noodles really make this lasagna so fast and easy! Happy you liked it. Thanks!
Belinda Flowers says
Not only have I tried it, but I have shared it with my family and 2 of them have already made it too! It is delicious and so easy! One of my daughter’s requested it for her birthday dinner tonight, making my sauce now. Thank you for sharing!
Lauren Allen says
That makes me so happy to hear! Thanks so much for sharing the recipe, and for your comment. <3
Laurie says
I have made this theee times now for different events and everyone just loves it!! They always ask for the recipe. I think making sauce from scratch is definitely the way to go for flavor! Thank you, family fav! Laurie
Lauren Allen says
I sure love to hear that! Thank you Laurie <3
Janet Rejkowski says
Made this last night! Actually my 12 year old great niece made the whole thing with me reading the directions. It was excellent! Your mom’s sauce was delicious. My g. Niece even learned how to make the sauce and different ways to use it.
Thank you for the wonderful meal and bonding time.
Lauren Allen says
How wonderful! Thank you for sharing Janet–I’m so happy it was a great experience for you and your great niece.
Lynn says
I’m new to slow cooking and that lasagna was absolutely beautiful. Thank you for such an amazing recipe.