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Slow Cooker Lasagna

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Lasagna just got so much easier with this Slow Cooker Lasagna! Layer everything in the crockpot–even UN-COOKED noodles!

Slow Cooker Lasagna is the BEST and easiest way to make delicious homemade lasagna!

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.

Process for making slow cooker lasagna including layering uncooked noodles, pasta sauce and white sauce into 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.

A slice of slow cooker lasagna being lifted from the crock pot.

 

TIP: Use slow cooker liners to make clean-up a breeze!

 

 Consider serving this with:

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4.82 from 38 votes
A slice of slow cooker lasagna being lifted from the crock pot.
Slow Cooker Lasagna
Print Recipe
Prep Time
25 mins
Cook Time
4 hrs
Total Time
4 hrs 10 mins
 

Lasagna just got so much easier with this Slow Cooker Lasagna! Layer everything in the crockpot--even UN-COOKED noodles! 

Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American, Italian
Keyword: easy crockpot lasagna
Unit: cup, large, ounce, ounce can, pound, Tablespoon, teaspoon
Servings: 7
Calories: 662 kcal
Author: Lauren Allen
Ingredients
  • 1/2 pound ground beef
  • 1/2 pound ground Italian sausage (I use hot)
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • 1 large onion , chopped*
  • 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
  • 2 Tablespoons dried parsley flakes
  • 2 teaspoons garlic powder
  • 2 Tablespoons Worcestershire sauces
  • 6 ounce can tomato paste
  • 29 ounces tomato sauce
  • 2 Tablespoons granulated sugar
  • 1 1/4 cups water
  • 8 ounces lasagna noodles , uncooked
  • 4 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
  • 1 1/2 cups cottage cheese
  • 1/2 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
Instructions

  1. In a large skillet over medium heat brown the ground beef, Italian sausage and onion. 

  2. 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!)

  3. 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). 

  4. Combine the mozzarella, cottage cheese and parmesan cheese; spoon a third of the mixture over noodles. Repeat layers twice. 

  5. Top with remaining meat sauce and sprinkle with extra mozzarella cheese, if desired.

  6. Cover and cook on low for about 4-5 hours or until noodles are tender.

  7. Serve with Homemade Olive Garden Breadsticks or a salad.

Recipe Video

Recipe Notes

*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

Lasagna just got soo much easier with this Slow Cooker Lasagna! Layer everything in the crockpot--even UN-COOKED noodles! | tastesbetterfromscratch.com #lasagna #slowcooker #crockpot #pasta #kidfriendly #easy
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Comments

  1. 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.

    Reply

  2. 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.

    Reply

  3. 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

    Reply

  5. 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.

    Reply

  8. 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!

    Reply

    • 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!

      Reply

  10. 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!

    Reply

  13. 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!

    Reply

  14. 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

    Reply

  15. 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.

    Reply

  16. I’m new to slow cooking and that lasagna was absolutely beautiful. Thank you for such an amazing recipe.

    Reply

  17. I am make ng this tonight. It looks great. Several friends have recommended this site.

    However, there is no way prep time is ten minutes. From start to finish this took me 25 minutes to prepare. Browning the meat and simmering sauce is 15 minutes alone.

    Time is underestimated! I would much rather up front know how long it’s going to realistically take.

    Reply

  18. This is quite honestly the best lasagna I’ve ever had!! Will be printing the recipe to make again for many years to come! Thank you for sharing this perfection!!

    Reply

  19. I have made this lasagna like, 10 times now! It’s a favorite in my house! And I’ve never really cared for lasagna, but we crave this recipe regularly, and make it at least once a week… my daughter requested it on her birthday, and any special occasion we have, this is what is requested! Thank you for sharing such an awesome recipe, and for showing me how delicious (and easy) lasagna can be!

    Reply

  20. This is the best lasagna I’ve ever had! I make it for family members and they all say the same thing. It’s so easy and so quick. One of my favorite recipes. Ever.

    Reply

  21. I made this recipe for lasagna in my crock pot yesterday!! This is a very good recipe, easy to put together and so tasty… When the lasagna was done and we were ready to eat, the lasagna came out of the crock pot in nice pieces….Very pleased with this recipe and will make it again. It would be a nice recipe for a get together or a summer picnic too.. Very Good!

    Reply

  23. Just found this recipe today and plan on making it. Just wanted to know if it cooks 5 1/2 to 6 hours if it would be too long for the noodles?

    Reply

  26. This was so good! I made it for the first time today and it came out perfect. Everyone at work loved it and there was absolutely nothing left! It was so easy and that is coming from someone who you typically will not find in the kitchen! Thank you for an easy, yet great recipe. I will definitely be making this again!

    Reply

  27. Made this for the first time today since my plan for traditional lasagna failed. I just picked this one at random and it was terrific!! 3 hrs 45 min total, and it was cooked perfectly. Got rave reviews from the Man and Children. Will definitely make it again. I am no longer afraid of crockpot noodles! haha!

    Reply

  28. This is going to be long, so I apologize.

    This recipe is wonderful, and going to be in our regular rotation. I live in South Texas, and 11.5 months out of the year, it’s BLAZING hot! We are a family of 5; mom, 3 birth children, and the 38 year old man child I adopted from my mother in law. Oh and not to mention they all have the appetites and metabolisms of a cheetah…or whatever animal has the best metabolism. But my apologies, I digress.

    So living in South Texas, aka the swamps of hell, I never ever want to run the oven if I can help it. But…my children’s favorite meal???….lasagna!!!

    This week has been hectic, and I’ve been working ot and a lot of it. Spoiled man child has had to cook. He doesn’t mind and is great at it, but it’s not mom’s according to the boys. So, loving mom comes home today during my lunch break and whips this together. What’s the worst that could happen? Nothing I tell you, absolutely NOTHING. This recipe is great as it is. However, I’m THAT mom, and even though my kids are not picky eaters, I always sneak veggies into my carb laden one pot meals. So her is what I did…oh mighty recipe creator I apologize in advance for the changes.

    First off, we live on huge helpings and leftovers so I doubled the batch (except the noodles, i only used one box of those).
    1lb of burger
    1lb Italian sausage (my store only had brats so I cut them out of the casings)
    1 box lasagna noodles
    2 large containers of cottage cheese
    ADDED1lb frozen whole spinach
    ADDED8oz container sliced mushrooms
    2 20something oz cans tomato sauce
    2 6oz cans tomato paste
    ADDED 2 14.5oz cans of fire roasted tomatoes with garlic
    SUBBED brown sugar
    Cooked down in the pan as directed with the additions and subs.

    Used an 8qt Crock-Pot with a Reynolds liner. Layered as follows. Sauce-two ladles, noodles(4 broken each time), 1 container cottage cheese, noodles, sauce(1/2-3/4″ layer across), mozzarella, noodles, other container of cottage cheese, noodles, sauce, cheese, noodles, sauce, cheese. Set on low. Came home at 6 to dinner ready.

    Fan-friggin-tastic!

    Even had sauce leftover that I Jarred and froze for another meal later on. Thanks so much almighty recipe creator, you have save me in the delighted eyes of my children.

    Reply

  29. I cooked mine for 4 1/2 hours on low. It was very saucy and the noodles were very, very mushy soft….did not hold together at all but slid around.

    Reply

  31. Reading the comments while the sauce simmers and I realize I only have oven-ready lasagna noodles. Should I bake it instead? So looking forward to trying this!

    Reply

  32. Can I use oven ready lasagna noodles in this? Should I cook it less time? If I cooked on high with oven ready noodles how long would you say? Recipe looks great.

    Reply

  33. Made this today and tweaked it a bit, adding spinach, ricotta and herb and spices. Extremely scrumptious!! Layering the lasagna noodles was a little tricky, kinda like a jigsaw puzzle. 😂
    I will be making it often, freeing up my oven for other meals and desserts.

    Reply

  38. Have made this several times and it’s excellent. I plan to make this for my sister’s holiday lunch at work. She gets to work about 8 and the drive to work is about an hour (so it would be moving toward room temperature by the time she gets there). Should I precook it and have her warm it up on “warm” setting? Or should I pre-assemble it, put it in the fridge then have her cook it at work? I use a rectangular slow cooker so I think it cooks a little faster than the oval version. I’m just worried the noodles will turn to mush if I choose the wrong strategy.

    Reply

    • Hi Mary, I would pre-assemble it and put it in your fridge (use regular lasagna noodles and NOT the no-boil ones). Then have her cook it at work, and be sure not to overcook it 🙂 I’m happy you like this recipe!

      Reply

  39. I used Ricotta. Its been on high for 2 1/2 noodles are soft, tad mushy but not too bad. That’s fine with me, I tasted it and OMG it is delicious!!!!!!!! Faster to make than a regular lasagna.

    Reply

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