Easy Crockpot Lasagna Recipe
Crockpot Lasagna is cheesy, saucy, beefy and so juicy! An easy slow cooker lasagna that can be made ahead, and always gets rave reviews. Can be fully assembled and refrigerated overnight and slow cooked the next day per step #5.
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground beef ((80/20 fat content))
- 1 small onion (finely diced)
- 2 garlic cloves (pressed)
- 1/4 cup red wine (or beef broth)
- 32 oz marinara sauce
- 1/4 tsp dried thyme
- 1/2 tsp sea salt
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
- 1/2 tsp granulated sugar
- 4 Tbsp fresh parsley (chopped and divided)
- 15 oz reduced fat ricotta cheese
- 16 oz low-fat cottage cheese
- 1 large egg
- 1 lb mozzarella cheese ((4 cups shredded), divided)
- 9 lasagna noodles (uncooked, NOT "oven ready")
- 1/2 cup water
Directions
- 1
In a large deep pan over medium heat, combine ground beef and onion. Cook, breaking up meat with a spatula until no longer pink (5 min). Add garlic and sauté 1 to 2 mins. Add 1/4 cup red wine and simmer until nearly evaporated (5 min).
- 2
Add 3 cups marinara, 1/2 tsp salt, 1/4 tsp pepper, 1/4 tsp thyme, 1/2 tsp sugar and 2 Tbsp chopped parsley. Mix well, cover and simmer 5 min.:
- 3
Make the cheese sauce: In a medium bowl, combine: 15 oz ricotta, 16 oz cottage cheese, 1 large egg, 1 cup mozzarella cheese, and 2 Tbsp parsley. Mix well.
- 4
Lightly oil a 6 qt slow cooker. Spread 1 cup marinara sauce on the bottom then top with 3 noodles, breaking them to fit. Top with 1/3 of the Meat Sauce, sprinkle with 3/4 cup of your mozzarella cheese, then spread the top with 1/2 of your ricotta cheese mixture and repeat until you have 3 layers of noodles. Top the third layer of noodles with remaining meat sauce, 3/4 cup mozzarella and pour 1/2 cup water around the edges, allowing some of it to go down the side of the dish into lasagna.
- 5
Cover and cook on LOW 3 1/2 to 4 hours** then top with reserved mozzarella, cover and cook 10 mins or until cheese melts. Let the lasagna rest 15 mins for easier serving.