Description

This Crockpot Lasagna is a comforting and easy-to-make meal perfect for busy days. Using a slow cooker, this recipe layers uncooked lasagna noodles with seasoned ground beef, rich cheeses, and tangy spaghetti sauce, allowing the flavors to meld together over four hours of slow cooking. The result is a classic, cheesy lasagna with tender noodles, without the need to pre-boil noodles or use an oven.

Ingredients

Scale

Meat

1 lb ground beef

Pasta and Sauce

Lasagna noodles (uncooked)
1 jar (24 oz) spaghetti sauce

Cheeses

1½ cups cottage cheese
1½ cups grated mozzarella cheese
2 tbsp grated Parmesan cheese

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Instructions

Brown the Beef: In a skillet over medium heat, cook the ground beef until browned, breaking it up as it cooks. Drain any excess fat thoroughly to avoid greasiness in the final dish.
Prepare the Slow Cooker: Pour 1 cup of the spaghetti sauce into the bottom of a 4-quart slow cooker, spreading it evenly to create a base layer that prevents sticking.
Layer the Lasagna: Place 2 uncooked lasagna noodles over the sauce, breaking them as needed to fit. Spread one-third of the browned beef over the noodles, then spoon ¾ cup of cottage cheese on top followed by ½ cup of grated mozzarella cheese. Repeat this layering process two more times, each time layering noodles, beef, cottage cheese, and mozzarella cheese.
Finish the Top Layer: For the final layer, add the last set of noodles, the remaining browned beef mixture, then sprinkle the remaining mozzarella cheese and grated Parmesan cheese evenly over the top.
Cook in the Slow Cooker: Cover the slow cooker with its lid and cook on low heat for about 4 hours, or until the noodles are tender and the cheese is melted and bubbly, with the lasagna heated through.
Serve: Once cooked, allow the lasagna to rest briefly before serving hot. This allows the layers to set for cleaner slices and enhances flavors.

Notes

Do not boil the noodles beforehand; they cook perfectly in the slow cooker’s moisture.
If your slow cooker runs hot, keep an eye after 3.5 hours to avoid overcooking and drying out the lasagna.
Feel free to substitute ground beef with ground turkey or a plant-based crumble for a lighter or vegetarian option (adjust cheese choices accordingly).
To add extra flavor, consider mixing Italian seasoning or minced garlic into the ground beef when browning.