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This easy Crockpot Lasagna recipe has all the flavor of a traditional homemade lasagna but without the mess and prep! It's perfect for a busy weeknight and a meal everyone enjoys!
Want more slow cooker recipes? Try Hawaiian Meatballs, Pork Carnitas, Beef Gyros, or Chicken Tortilla Soup!
Why I love this meal:
- Quick – This recipe skips all the time consuming parts of homemade lasagna and is practically mess-free, especially with these slow cooker liners.
- Uncooked Noodles – No need to boil the noodles beforehand, making this recipe even faster.
- Crowd Pleaser – I have never heard a complaint on lasagna night! Serve with easy homemade breadsticks or garlic knots and a wedge salad.
How to make Slow Cooker Lasagna:
Make Red Sauce: In a large skillet over medium heat, brown the ground beef, Italian sausage and onion. Remove some of the grease. Add salt, pepper, Italian seasoning, parsley, garlic powder, Worcestershire sauce, tomato paste, tomato sauce, sugar, and water. Stir and simmer 15-20 minutes.
Combine Cheese: Mix the mozzarella, cottage cheese and parmesan cheese together.
Layer Lasagna: 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). Spoon a third of the cheese mixture over noodles. Repeat layers twice. Top with remaining meat sauce and sprinkle with extra mozzarella cheese, if desired.
Serve: Cover and cook on low for about 4-5 hours or until noodles are tender. Serve the best crockpot lasagna with easy homemade breadsticks or garlic knots and a wedge salad.
Make Ahead and Freezing Instructions:
To Make Ahead: The meat sauce can be prepared in advance and stored in the fridge up to a few days ahead, until ready to assemble the easy slow cooker lasagna recipe.
To Freeze: The meat sauce can be frozen in advance in a freezer safe bag or container for up to 4 months. Let thaw then assemble the lasagna.
Serve With:
- Homemade Breadsticks
- Best Homemade Rolls
- Classic Wedge Salad
- Garlic Knots
- Beet Salad
- Broccoli Salad
- Brussels Sprout Salad
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Recipe
Slow Cooker Lasagna
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1/2 pound lean ground beef
- 1/2 pound ground Italian sausage or pork sausage
- 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 sauce
- 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
- 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.
Notes
Nutrition
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I first shared this recipe February 2015. Updated March 2018 and September 2023.
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Can this recipe be cooked in the oven or do I need to reduce the water?
Hi Julie, this recipe was really built for the slow cooker–you would need to adjust the liquid for the oven. I would high suggest this oven lasagna recipe instead (you can read the great reviews for yourself 🙂 ) https://tastesbetterfromscratch.com/2016/02/classic-italian-lasagna.html
I just finished loading everything into the slow cooker – Hubby isn’t a huge fam of pasta and likes a ton of sauce so I added a can of diced tomatoes with the juice, and added 1 cup instead of 1.25 cups of water…. If it turns out to be a soup, I wont be disappointed lol. Will update the results later 🙂
Can you use oven ready lasagna noodles in your crock pot lasagna recipe?
Hi Christie, that should work fine!
I hate ricotta cheese and cottage cheese, is there a different substitute I could use?! Thanks!
Hi Kristi, You could make the easy white bechamel sauce from this recipe as a substitute: https://tastesbetterfromscratch.com/2016/02/classic-italian-lasagna.html
Great way to make lasagna! It was delicious! I used gluten free lasagna noodles and it turned out great. The one change I made: even before I added the water to the meat sauce, I felt that it was plenty watery enough. I saw other comments complaining about how it made lasagna soup, so I only added 1 cup of water, and it turned out perfect. Definitely wouldn’t have added any more than that!
My first time making it in the crockpot and I won’t go back! Delish! Just like in the oven.
Can I use traditional pasta sauce in place of tomato sauce? Started cooking and realized it’s in my fiance car 🙁
Sure, that would work fine!
I was so excited to find this recipe. My daughter is lactose intolerant and my son hates ricotta. Unfortunely.. The noodles kind of dissolved and it was very soupy. I’ll try again. We all loved the Flavors.
They have lactose free Cottage Cheese for anyone reading this in 2018!
Do I need to cook the noodles befor I put it in the slow cooker?
Hi Natalie, No, you add the noodles uncooked! Thats the beauty of doing it in the slow cooker :-)!
Unbelievable taste. Will make it again. The mix of beef and sausage made the difference.