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Our Slow Cooker Lasagna recipe is the ultimate set-it-and-forget-it comfort food! All the rich, cheesy, meaty layers of classic homemade lasagna made effortlessly right in your crockpot.
The Slow Cooker Lasagna That Practically Makes Itself
Using your crockpot/slow cooker is without a doubt the easiest way to make lasagna! You don't even need to pre-cook the noodles! Regular lasagna noodles cook right in the slow cooker as everything simmers together. Just layer them in (break the noodles to fit, as needed) and they turn out perfectly tender every time. I love a good classic homemade lasagna, but when I'm in a time crunch or don't want to turn on the oven, this crockpot lasagna saves me every time!
I whip up a quick homemade pasta sauce using canned tomatoes, since it's way less expensive (and tastes better) than a jar of spaghetti sauce. Cook the ground beef and sausage ahead of time to make this meal even quicker.
Try more of my Italian recipes, like Instant Pot Spaghetti, Pink Sauce Pasta, Meatball Subs, or One Pan Chicken Alfredo!
How to make Slow Cooker Lasagna:
Brown the Meat: Cook ground beef (or Italian sausage) with onion and garlic until browned. Drain, then stir in your favorite marinara sauce and set aside.
Cheese Mixture: In a mixing bowl, combine mozzarella, cottage cheese, and parmesan cheese.
Assemble: Spread a thin layer of meat sauce on the bottom of the slow cooker, then layer in uncooked lasagna noodles (broken to fit), meat sauce, and ricotta cheese mixture. Repeat the layers.
Cook and Serve: Cover and cook on low for 3-4 hours until noodles are tender. Add shredded mozzarella in the last 20 minutes, then serve this crockpot lasagna topped with fresh basil and parmesan. Make sure to try my Skillet Lasagna if you need something quicker.
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, (or ricotta)
- 1/2 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Brown Meat: In a large skillet over medium heat brown the ground beef, Italian sausage and onion.½ pound lean ground beef, ½ pound ground Italian sausage, 1 large onion
- Make Red Sauce: 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!)1 ½ teaspoons salt, ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, 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 ¼ cups water
- Assemble: 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).8 ounces lasagna noodles
- Add Cheese Mixture: Combine the mozzarella, cottage cheese and parmesan cheese; spoon a third of the mixture over noodles. Repeat layers twice.4 cups shredded mozzarella cheese, 1 ½ cups cottage cheese, ½ cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
- Finish Layers: 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, September 2023 and August 2026.
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.
Thanks for sharing Kacey! I’m so happy your family loves it!
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!
That is the best compliment I could get! Thanks so much for sharing!
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!!
I’m thrilled to hear that, thanks Krista! And thank you for your comment. I hope you get to try more of my recipes soon <3
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.
Thanks for your feedback Joanna! I’ve updated the prep time.
I’m new to slow cooking and that lasagna was absolutely beautiful. Thank you for such an amazing recipe.
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.
How wonderful! Thank you for sharing Janet–I’m so happy it was a great experience for you and your great niece.
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
I sure love to hear that! Thank you Laurie <3
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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!
That makes me so happy to hear! Thanks so much for sharing the recipe, and for your comment. <3
I LOVE this recipe. I especially love that I can use uncooked noodles. A keeper for sure!
Uncooked noodles really make this lasagna so fast and easy! Happy you liked it. Thanks!
Are you supposed to use uncooked noodles that are supposed to be boiled, or the noodles that are dried, but oven ready?
I use regular uncooked lasagna noodles (not the oven ready or “no boil” kind.)
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?
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!