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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
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
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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I first shared this recipe February 2015. Updated March 2018 and September 2023.
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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!
Thanks so much–the sauce works so great with spaghetti! Thanks for commenting.
Hello,
Can you please tell me what I can use instead of cottage cheese?
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!
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!
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!
Put a tea-towel/drying cloth under the lid so that it’s hanging down over the sides of the slow cooker. It soaks up the moisture and somehow allows the cheese to brown.
Where can I find this cloth?
What size crockpot?
Hi Connie,
I use a 6 quart crock pot!
The bigger, the better. More leftovers!!!!
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!!
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.
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.
This recipe is super easy to follow and really delicious!! Never making lasagna in the oven again. Thanks for sharing!
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
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.
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.
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.