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!
Mary says
February 24, 2016 at 6:47 pmLove 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.
Kerry says
February 24, 2016 at 6:58 pmNo water is needed?
Rosie says
February 24, 2016 at 7:56 pmNo. the sauce is enough
India says
February 25, 2016 at 10:35 amOH MY DAM! Yup, making this!
ReSjohn says
March 6, 2016 at 7:40 pmHi Rosie. I am a new follower and love your recipes. What size crock pot do you use for your recipes?
Rosie says
March 6, 2016 at 10:31 pmHi there! I used a 6 quart slow cooker
Lisa says
July 21, 2016 at 2:56 pmHi 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.
Rosie says
July 23, 2016 at 8:48 amI don’t recommend cooking it on high. If you’re in a rush, you may want to try my baked lasagna recipe.
Andrea says
October 31, 2016 at 7:52 amCan you use ground turkey with the same result? Thanks much – LOVE your recipes!
Rosie says
October 31, 2016 at 5:08 pmSure. You can use ground turkey.
Dakota says
December 11, 2016 at 6:00 pmThis looks well done and tasty. I will try this with my family next week. Thank you.
Ashley says
April 18, 2017 at 3:03 pmHi Rosie! Can I use ricotta cheese instead of the cottage cheese?
Ashley says
April 18, 2017 at 3:07 pmNever mind. I didn’t read it will ! Thanks!
Rosie says
April 19, 2017 at 2:23 pmHi Ashley. Absolutely.
Lauren says
April 14, 2019 at 2:16 pmI’ll never make regular lasagna again! This is just as good and so easy.