How to make easy beef lasagna in the slow cooker without layering, and minimal ingredients!
I seem to get a lot of request for pasta recipes, and lasagna is one of them. I actually uploaded a recipe for lasagna a few months ago, but I’ve been asked if it was possible to make it in the slow cooker. Well my friends it is possible! I actually PREFER making lasagna in my slow cooker because it’s easier. When I make it in my slow cooker, I can do other things such as wash dishes, pick my son up from school, help him with homework. Once I’m done doing all of my mommy & wife duties – Dinner is done! I absolutely love it.
Another thing that I LOVE about this lasagna recipe is that there is no layering. If there’s anything that I hate about lasagna, it would have to be the layering process. The pasta, the meat sauce, the cheese… It can be a pain in the ahhhh- never mind! Any way – I simply place everything in the slow cooker, and top it off with cheese!
I should mention, that I cook the meat, and cheese sauce before I place it in the slow cooker. This takes about 10 minutes tops. I use cottage cheese for this recipe instead of ricotta for several reason. Reason number one is it’s less expensive. Reason number to is I simply like cottage cheese more than ricotta. If you’re not a cottage cheese fan, you can certainly use ricotta.
The pasta sauce that I used was my homemade vegetable marinara. It’s amazing, I highly recommend that you give it a try. However, if you want to use a store bought sauce you can.
Check out how I make lasagna in my slow cooker!
(Oh darn! I forget to mention that I added 1 tbsp of Italian seasoning in the video. Directions are down below)
Best Slow Cooker Beef Lasagna Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1/2 lb lasagna pasta
- 4 cups of my homemade vegetable marinara sauce OR 1 jar of pasta sauce
- 1 1/4 cup cottage cheese
- 1 1/2 cup Italian cheese blend
- 1 tbsp Italian seasoning
- salt & pepper for taste optional
- parsley flakes optional
Instructions
-
Brown the ground beef over medium heat, and drain all of the fat.
-
Pour in the marinara sauce, and sprinkle in the Italian seasoning ( not show in video).
-
Add in 1 cup cottage cheese, and 1/2 cup Italian blend cheese.
-
Stir until everything is well combined, turn of the stove, and remove the pan from the heat.
-
Break the lasagna pasta in halves ( or smaller), and toss into the slow cooker.
-
Pour in the meat & cheese sauce.
-
Fold the ingredients.
-
Top off with the remaining 1/4 cottage cheese, and 1 cup of the Italian cheese blend.
-
Sprinkle the parsley flakes on top, then top the slow cooker with the lid.
-
Cook on low for 3 hours.
-
Turn the slow cooker off.
-
Serve & enjoy!
Love using my crockpot, and this will definitely be made soon. I will use ricotta cheese….. cause I have a picky husband! Will also be using your marinara sauce. Pinned. Thanks for a great recipe. As always your video was terrific.
No water is needed?
No. the sauce is enough
OH MY DAM! Yup, making this!
Hi Rosie. I am a new follower and love your recipes. What size crock pot do you use for your recipes?
Hi there! I used a 6 quart slow cooker
Hi Rosie~ I know this is a slow cooker recipe which I sincerely appreciate. Do you recommend cooking this on high? If so, how long?
Keep up the great work
P.S. Folks, if you haven’t tried Rosie’s Low Country Smoked Neck Bones ….OMG! You MUST.
I don’t recommend cooking it on high. If you’re in a rush, you may want to try my baked lasagna recipe.
Can you use ground turkey with the same result? Thanks much – LOVE your recipes!
Sure. You can use ground turkey.
This looks well done and tasty. I will try this with my family next week. Thank you.
Hi Rosie! Can I use ricotta cheese instead of the cottage cheese?
Never mind. I didn’t read it will ! Thanks!
Hi Ashley. Absolutely.