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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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It’s in the crockpot right now, looks like it’s going to be good.
Thanks Donna. I would love to hear how it turns out!
I make this regularly with gf noodles and it’s the BEST! Leftovers are even good, too! Keep bringing the good crockpot recipes!!
Fondly,
A working mom in NJ
Thanks so much for sharing! Hopefully it’s made your life a little easier 🙂
Great recipe! It was very salty, so next time I will only add 1 tsp, maybe less the 3rd try…we’ll see. Mine had to be gluten free and it was fine, I also used ricotta – couldn’t get my head around cottage cheese for this. I did cut down on the water as recommended but maybe a little too much. Everyone devoured it! Thanks for the recipe!!!
This was delicious! My husband, 27-month old, and myself loved it! (The 4 1/2 year old didn’t, but he’s in that “love-it-one-day, won’t-touch-it-the-next-day” phase.) The only reason I’m giving it 4 stars is because it did take awhile to prep. It tasted spectacular, though, and I will definitely make it again. Thank you so much for sharing! Oh, I made it exactly as is, but used a little onion powder instead of actual onions, and it turned out great.
Well I ran across this recipe last week and decided to give it a try. It absolutely turned out perfect as described. My only problem is that i’ve been crowned the best lasagna maker now in the family and have to make it everytime it is requested(lol).
I am going to make this for a work Christmas party but I have a coworker who requested it with just mozzarella cheese (no ricotta or cottage cheese). Is there anything additional I should do to make it work?
I was also planning on using store bought sauce (don’t have too much time), will that work the same as your (I’m sure much more delicious) homemade sauce?
Thank you!
Hi Laura, store-bought sauce will work great. For the sauce, instead of the cottage cheese, I would use a can of cream of chicken soup. Combine it with the mozzarella cheese and the parmesan cheese to make that white layer (step 4). That should work great! Hope everyone loves it!
Yes, hard to believe that people don’t like cheese, especially combined with italian dishes. I never done lasagna with slow cooker, will try it this weekend!
Tried it tonight and it was delicious. This is definitely a keeper. Only difference is that i’m lazy and used store bought marinara sauce
Thanks for taking the time to comment–I’m so happy to hear you liked it!
What size slow cooker did you use?
This looks like the best recipe on the web!
Thanks!
Hi Lianna, I use a 6-quart slow cooker. I hope they turned out great for you!
So you can use regular uncooked noodles? Not the oven ready noodles?
Yes! Regular lasagna noodles 🙂