Slow Cooker Lasagna
29 Comments Dec 28, 2022
Updated Apr 16, 2025
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This Slow Cooker Lasagna is the perfect recipe to try when you’re looking to make a homemade lasagna your whole family will enjoy. Traditional ingredients are layered in the crock pot and cooked in just a few hours, making this an excellent choice for dinner tonight.
Table of Contents
With this easy crockpot lasagna recipe, you can prepare, cover, and cook without turning on the oven and heating up your kitchen. You’ll end up with evenly cooked noodles, a delicious cheese filling, and perfectly melted cheese on top. I have tested this recipe until I reached perfection and I know your family will enjoy!
Crockpot Lasagna Video
Ingredients for Crockpot Lasagna
Here is what you need to make this easy homemade meal. For recipe amounts, see the recipe card below the images.
- Ground Beef: I recommend using beef with the lowest fat content (96/4 or 93/7 are two of the best you can get at a local grocery store).
- Lasagna Noodles: I use the Barilla brand; these are not no-boil lasagna noodles. These are regular lasagna noodles. You will be using these noodles uncooked. I usually don’t recommend adding uncooked noodles to the slow cooker, but for lasagna, they cook up perfectly – it’s magic!
- Meat Mixture Ingredients: In addition to the beef, onion, Rao’s marinara sauce, salt, pepper, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, and water are mixed to make the tasty meat mixture.
- Cheese Mixture: Ricotta cheese, shredded mozzarella cheese, parmesan cheese, eggs, salt, parsley, and garlic powder, combined to make the cheese filling.
Variations
Tempted to make changes to the recipe? Be careful to make changes for this recipe has been tested and has the perfect amount of liquid to cook the noodles properly. Here are some approved changes that won’t affect the overall outcome.
- Cottage cheese can be used in place of ricotta. Using cottage cheese instead of ricotta can be more budget friendly. The lasagna will be even moister if you use cottage cheese.
- Instead of using ground beef, you can make it a vegetarian lasagna by including diced tomatoes, mushrooms, fresh basil, zucchini, squash, and other veggies of your choice.
- You can add additional vegetables to the meat sauce, mushrooms and a handful of fresh spinach can add so much to the flavor.
- If you are used to more beef in your lasagna, you can use two pounds of ground beef instead of one. (Or use one pound of Italian sausage and one pound beef!).
- You can easily substitute marinara for homemade pasta sauce or your favorite jarred spaghetti or pasta sauces.
How to Make Crockpot Lasagna
Step One – Brown the ground beef over medium heat with diced onion and season it with salt, pepper, Italian seasoning, and garlic powder.
Step Two – Add sauce to the ground beef onion mix.
Step Three – Stir the sauce and the cooked and seasoned ground beef together.
Step Four – Add the ricotta cheese, mozzarella cheese, and parmesan cheese in a medium bowl. Also, add the salt, parsley, garlic powder, and two eggs whisked. Stir everything together until well combined.
Step Five – Pour a cup and a half of the meat mixture into a cooking spray-prepped crock pot.
Step Six – Add a 1/4 of the box of uncooked lasagna noodles on top (broken in half).
Step Seven – Add another layer of the meat sauce mixture, followed by a third of the cheese filling. Repeat this layering 3 more times, then finish off with the remaining sauce.
Step Eight – Top with remaining mozzarella cheese. Cover and cook on LOW for 4 hours without opening the lid during the cooking time. Serve and enjoy! (See the full instructions in the recipe card for EXACT measurements).
What to serve with Lasagna
Here are my favorite ways to serve this meal:
- Pull out the authentic Italian flavor of this crockpot lasagna by serving it with butter-brushed garlic breadsticks (or slices of garlic bread).
- Add a fresh take on the meal by adding a tomato and feta side salad for fresh greens.
- Roasted veggies make a fantastic side addition to this slow cooker lasagna, especially these Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Carrots.
- Sprinkle the lasagna with grated parmesan, red pepper flakes, and parsley for a nice garnish.
Recipe FAQs
Yes. Make the lasagna in a freezer container and store it for up to 3 months.
Add any leftovers to an airtight container and store them in the fridge for up to 4 days.
More Lasagna Style Recipes
- This Slow Cooker Ravioli Lasagna is a shortcut version of the classic, using frozen ravioli for a cheesy, layered dinner with minimal prep.
- Creamy and comforting, Slow Cooker White Lasagna Soup is a cozy twist on lasagna with tender noodles, chicken, and a rich, cheesy broth.
- Slow Cooker Million Dollar Spaghetti combines hearty pasta, meat sauce, and creamy cheese layers for a decadent, family-style casserole.
- Slow Cooker Lasagna Soup has all the classic flavors of lasagna in a warm, spoonable form, perfect for busy weeknights.
Reader Reviews ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“Made the lasagna today and it tasted so good. I cooked it on high for 2 hours instead of the stated 4 and it came out perfect. My husband was impressed.” – Nancy
“Worked out great! My family was thrilled to have lasagna on a week night and I was thrilled with how easy it was to make.” – Julie M.
“Delicious! The whole family loved it. Easy to follow and came out perfect!’ – Kristen
Slow Cooker Lasagna Recipe
How to Video
Ingredients
- non-stick cooking spray
- 16 oz. lasagna noodles, (uncooked) I use Barilla brand – Regular lasagna noodles, not no boil noodles.
Meat Mixture
- 1 lb. lean ground beef
- 1 white onion, diced
- 1 tsp. salt
- ½ tsp. ground pepper
- 2 tsp. Italian seasoning
- ½ tsp. garlic powder
- 48 oz. Rao's Marinara Sauce, (two 24-oz. jars)
- 1 cup water
Cheese Mixture
- 2 large eggs
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella
- 15 oz. whole milk ricotta
- 1 cup shredded parmesan
- ½ tsp. salt
- 1 tsp. dried parsley, or dried oregano or Italian seasoning
- ½ tsp. garlic powder
Topping
- 2 cups mozzarella cheese
- dried parsley for garnish , (optional)
Instructions
- In a large skillet brown the meat with the onion. Season the meat with the salt, pepper, Italian seasoning, and garlic powder. Cook your beef until no longer pink. You shouldn't have to drain your meat unless you use very fatty beef.
- Pour the marinara sauce in, along with the water. Stir and set aside.
- In a medium sized bowl. Whisk the 2 eggs with a fork. Now add the ricotta cheese, mozzarella cheese and parmesan cheese. Add the salt, parsley and garlic powder, stir.
- Before you start layering. Separate the lasagna noodles into 4 evenish piles. Every box varies. I usually do 4-5 noodles per layer depending on how many noodles are in the box each time I make it.
- Spray slow cooker with non stick spray. Now it's time to layer. The exact layers are listed below:
- 1.5 cups meat sauce mixture (bottom layer) 4-5 lasagna noodles, can be broken up and can be stacked (1/4 of the box)1.5 cups meat sauce1/3 of the cheese mixture (dollop it on, then spread it out)4-5 lasagna noodles (1/4 of the box)1.5 cups meat sauce1/3 of the cheese mixture4-5 lasagna noodles (1/4 of the box)1.5 cups meat sauce1/3 cup cheese mixture4-5 Lasagna noodles (1/4 of the box)Remaining meat sauce – This will be a little over 2 cups; use it all.2 cups mozzarella – Sprinkle evenly on top.
- Cook on LOW for 4 hours without opening the lid during the cooking time.
- Serve and enjoy! Sprinkle with parsley if desired for garnish.
Sarah’s Notes
- If your layers get out of order, don’t fret. It will still turn out great!
- Rao’s sauce can be spendy. I find it drastically cheaper at Walmart compared to other stores and be sure to stock up if you ever see it on sale. The flavor of it can’t be beat.
- Tempted to make changes to the recipe? Be careful to make changes for this recipe has been tested and has the perfect amount of liquid to cook the noodles properly.
- If you want a lasagna just like grandma made, use cottage cheese instead of ricotta!
- Instead of using ground beef, you can make it a vegetarian lasagna by including diced tomatoes, mushrooms, fresh basil, zucchini, squash, and other veggies of your choice.
- You can add additional vegetables to the meat sauce, mushrooms and a handful of fresh spinach can add so much to the flavor.
- If you are used to more beef in your lasagna, you can use two pounds of ground beef instead of one. (Or use one pound of Italian sausage and one pound beef!).
Nutrition
Nutrition info is auto-generated. This information is an estimate; if you are on a special diet, please use your own calculations.
If I substitute cottage cheese for ricotta, di I use the same amount of cottage cheese?
Yes!
Followed recipe exactly. Worked out great. Will use again without the expensive Rao’s sauce.
I recently made this recipe with exact ingredients and cook time. It was delicious and I froze the remaining portions. It freezes very well.
What kind of cottage cheese do I use??
I would use small curd.
Absolutely delicious! I halfed the recipe and put it in my casserole crock pot. I used half ground beef half ground turkey, low fat cottage cheese, added chopped zucchini and chopped mushrooms trying to be a little healthier. Everything else was pretty much following the recipe. Timing was spot on and came out saucy and perfectly seasoned and cooked.
That’s great to hear. Glad you enjoyed it.
What is a serving size?
I do not measure that, I apologize!