Using ravioli to make lasagna is the easiest meal ever, as the ravioli acts as the noodle and the ricotta layers! This slow cooker ravioli lasagna is my family’s favorite meal.
Easy casseroles are my favorite thing to make in the slow cooker. Also, try my chicken tater tot casserole, green chile chicken, and rice casserole.
I’ve tried using raw noodles (dried) in the slow cooker, and they always turn out chalky. There is something magical about how they make frozen ravioli noodles. Since frozen ravioli isn’t dried dough and instead has fresh dough, it cooks up perfectly in the slow cooker. No need to use uncooked lasagna noodles for this recipe.
You will love my version of lazy lasagna, and in fact, I know you’ll put this on your dinner menu often. This is a very comforting casserole! There is no need to add ricotta or cottage cheese to this dish; the ravioli has it covered in its cheese mixture filling.
Recipe Ingredients
- Frozen Ravioli – Frozen ravioli for crockpot lasagna works best. I use the store brand, 5-cheese variety. If desired, you can use any flavor, such as spinach or portabella mushroom ravioli.
- Marinara Sauce – I love Rao’s marinara for this recipe. It takes the recipe to the next level with authentic tasting sauce. It’s more expensive, though I can find it at Walmart for half the price of other stores.
- Ground beef – Use whatever kind of ground beef your family uses; this recipe is very forgiving!
- Seasonings – Raw onion, salt, pepper, garlic powder, and oregano are added while cooking the ground beef.
- Cheese – I use whole milk mozzarella cheese to top the ravioli casserole. You can add a sprinkle of parmesan if desired as well.
Step-by-Step Directions
Step One – First, you will need to brown a pound of ground beef in a skillet, adding freshly chopped onion, garlic powder, oregano, salt, and pepper.
Step Two – Don’t drain off all the liquid. Leave about 2-3 tablespoons of liquid in the meat mixture; this will help keep the ravioli lasagna moist.
Step Three – Add half of the jar of marinara to the bottom of your slow cooker.
Step Four – Top with half of the bag of frozen ravioli, spread them out into a single layer if possible, some overlapping is fine.
Step Five – Add the ground beef mixture.
Step Six – The remainder of the bag of frozen ravioli.
Step Seven – Pour over the remainder of the jar of marinara.
Step Eight – Sprinkle over the mozzarella cheese. Once you get the layering down the first time, you won’t even need to look at this recipe! It’s effortless!
What to serve with this recipe
Choose one or more of these ideas for a complete meal for your crockpot lasagna.
- Caesar salad – We love a homemade caesar salad with lasagna, or if I’ve had a long day, a caesar salad kit is lovely.
- Green Salad – A fresh green salad with tomato, red onion, and a creamy dressing like ranch or blue cheese.
- Garlic bread – Buy store-made garlic bread for an easy side dish! Start baking your garlic bread about 15-20 minutes before serving.
- French Bread – The easiest side ever is a store bought loaf of French bread, served with butter. If you have a bread maker, you can start the bread maker about the same time as this recipe.
Variations
- Alfredo lasagna – Use 24 ounces of jarred alfredo instead of spaghetti sauce for alfredo lasagna.
- Taco lasagna – Use 24 ounces of salsa instead of tomato sauce. Add taco seasoning to your meat and top with cheddar instead of mozzarella for an easy taco-inspired dish.
- Veggie-packed lasagna – Add layers of fresh spinach to this dish instead of meat sauce for vegetable lasagna.
Recipe FAQs
Ground sausage – Italian sausage or breakfast sausage such as Jimmy Dean.
Frozen meatballs – You can use a small bag of meatballs. These bags are usually about 20 ounces, and this will stretch your recipe to feed more.
Use soy crumbles instead of ground beef if desired in this slow cooker lasagna. Or you can omit the ground beef entirely. Alternatively, you can add thinly sliced zucchini to the middle layer for a meaty texture.
Do not thaw the ravioli. This recipe has been tested over and over with frozen ravioli and will work perfectly.
I recommend using frozen for this recipe if at all possible. If you can not find frozen, you can use the refrigerated style. You can cut down on the cooking time by an hour.
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Slow Cooker Ravioli Lasagna Recipe
Equipment Needed:
Ingredients:
- 25 oz. frozen ravioli – DO NOT THAW (I use 5 cheese)
- 1 lb. ground beef (can use mild sausage)
- 1 cup white onion diced
- 1/2 tsp. salt
- 1/4 tsp. pepper
- 1/4 tsp. garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp. dried leaf oregano (not ground)
- 24 oz. marinara sauce (I use Rao's)
- 8 oz. shredded mozzarella cheese (2 cups)
Instructions:
- In a medium-sized non-stick skillet set to medium-high heat, add the ground beef and diced onion. Add the salt, pepper, garlic powder, and oregano. Cook until the meat is browned. Don't drain all the liquid off the meat; keep a few tablespoons in the meat to keep it moist.
- Spray the slow cooker with non-stick spray.
- Add half of the marinara sauce to the bottom of the slow cooker.
- Add HALF of the bag of ravioli on top of that sauce.
- Add all of the ground beef mixture over the ravioli.
- Add the remaining ravioli over the meat.
- Pour over the remaining sauce.
- Sprinkle over the mozzarella cheese.
- Place the lid on the slow cooker. Cook on LOW for 4 hours.
- Serve and enjoy!
How to Video:
Recipe Notes:
- Do not thaw the ravioli.
- This recipe has been tested over and over with frozen ravioli and will work perfectly.
- I recommend using frozen for this recipe if at all possible.
- If you can not find frozen, you can use the refrigerated style. You can cut down on the cooking time by an hour.
- Use soy crumbles instead of ground beef if desired.
- Or you can omit the ground beef entirely.
- Alternatively, you can add thinly sliced zucchini to the middle layer for a meaty texture.
- Ground sausage – Italian style or breakfast sausage such as Jimmy Dean.
- Frozen meatballs – You can use a small bag of meatballs. These bags are usually about 20 ounces, and this will stretch your recipe to feed more.
- Alfredo lasagna – Use 24 ounces of jarred alfredo instead of spaghetti sauce for alfredo lasagna.
- Taco lasagna – Use 24 ounces of salsa instead of tomato sauce. Add taco seasoning to your meat and top with cheddar instead of mozzarella for an easy taco-inspired dish.
- Veggie-packed lasagna – Add layers of fresh spinach to this dish instead of meat sauce for vegetable lasagna.
Nutrition Information:
Nutrition info is auto-generated. This information is an estimate; if you are on a special diet, please use your own calculations.
More slow cooker pasta recipes:
- Slow Cooker Zucchini Bolognese
- Slow Cooker Lasagna
- Slow Cooker Jalapeno Mac and Cheese
- Slow Cooker Pizza Meatballs
- Slow Cooker Lasagna Soup
- Slow Cooker Creamy Tortellini Soup
- Slow Cooker Chicken Spinach Artichoke Pasta
- Slow Cooker Short Rib Ragu
- Slow Cooker Cajun Chicken Fettucine
- Slow Cooker Mac and Cheese
- Slow Cooker Baked Spaghetti
HOW LONG CAN IT SIT IN THE CROCK POT ONCE ITS DONE? I CAN PUT IN AT 12 BUT DONT GET HOME TIL 6?
I think that should be ok if it’s on warm for 2 hours. Though, I have not tried myself.
Can this be made without onion?
Yes, it will work fine without onion.
Excited to try this! If you use meatballs instead of the ground beef, do you need to cook the meatballs prior to putting in the crockpot – or do you just put them in the crock pot frozen (like you do with the frozen ravioli)?
Thanks!
I think frozen meatballs will work well.
Is it possible to use ground turkey or chicken instead of beef?
Yes, that would work well.
My family loved this recipe! However, both times it seems to come out dry. Followed everything exactly so not sure what could be wrong.
I tried this recipe and it had great flavor, and I will probably make it again. However, I followed the directions to the letter, and it got burned on the edges. The middle… was fabulous. Maybe next time I will give it a quick stir to keep it from burning. Thanks for sharing.
You may be able to cook it for a little less time.
Haven’t actually tried the recipe yet, but just put it all-in the crackpot.
I was just wondering if I could cook it for 2 hours on high instead of 4 on low?
I got a late start today, thought I had mozzarella cheese and didn’t.
Have made this twice so far….with variations and both tasted …err… TASTY!
Admit ,with both versions used 24 oz bags of frozen Italian mini meatballs .
Not only WAY easier , love the taste of those meatballs. 😉
That said…one version used cheese ravioli ,the other beef filled. both worked great .
Kudos on the spices , and IMHO ,using marinara sauce instead of pasta/ spaghetti sauce.
Few days back bought enough stuff 2 make it twice more , but gonna try mixing well, half meat/half cheese ravioli.
Best of both worlds…lol
Sarah ,
Thanks for a total keeper recipe .
Tracy-Lee
Great to hear Traci! Stay tuned in a week or two I’ll post my Lasagna recipe, it’s just as good as this!
UPDATE.
Weeks ago did the combo half cheese/ half beef ravioli…turned out great!
Gonna make it tomorrow , gonna try variations again. ….more sauce ,different cheese,and spices.
Sarah,
Yer original recipe definitely hit my favorite top 5 Crock-pot list ,so easy yet tastes great.
Just enjoy tweaking it each time I make it .
Thinking about making it a day early and warming up next day. How’s the flavor the second day? I’ll add more cheese to top when I reheat it.
Can you double in a slow cooker? We have a large group that I would need doubled.
I think it would be fine doubled, though the best part is getting some of the cheese on top. Could you use 2 slow cookers instead?
I was trying to get in an extra layer for guests and it was okay not as fabulous as original recipe. I would do two crockpots.
I appreciate your feedback.
My husband and I enjoyed this recipe. I would like to make it for the holiday’s so it will be doubled so it might be easier in the oven. Do you have any advice on the temperature and length of time?
I have not tested in the oven, so I can’t say. I apologize!
Aileen,
Here’s a recipe link for Ravioli-lasagna in the oven. I’ll share the link so you enjoy all her tips shared. Also take a look on Pinterest or Google for more very similar oven Ravioli-lasagna recipes. 🙂
Ravioli Lasagna (4 Ingredients)
https://www.nelliebellie.com/ravioli-lasagna/
13×9
350°
30-40 minutes
Nelliebellie.com
Sarah,
Thanks for sharing your Crockpot Ravioli-lasagna recipe, can’t wait to try! Sounds fabulous and the smell throughout the house will be amazing!! Excited to find your site!
Have a lovely day,
Lizzie
30mins at 375°F I used 2 bags 25oz frozen cheese ravioli, 2lbs beef, 2 jars of sauce, 1 small can petite diced tomatoes with the juice and mixed them with the beef and sauce to make my sauce mixture, a small container of cottage cheese in middle layer, and 16oz of mozzarella cheese on each layer and top added remaining mozzarella and about 4oz Parmesan, and made with the same seasonings. Enjoy!