Crockpot lasagna recipe is one of the most satisfying and delicious recipes in my arsenal. I love all the cheesy goodness layered between sauce and noodles. This slow cooking crockpot recipe infuses all the complex savory flavors deep into one of the tastiest and easiest lasagna recipes of all time!
Making this crock pot pasta means that the yummy aroma of this lasagna will slowly fill every nook and cranny in the kitchen as it permeates the house and draws hungry tummies into the kitchen. Yeah – it’s that good! Add this recipe to your favorite pasta recipes!
C’mon, let me show you how easy to make crockpot lasagna recipe!
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What I Love About Crockpot Lasagna Recipe
I love that this crockpot lasagna recipe is so ridiculously easy to make! Making lasagna is usually such a Herculean task but not with this recipe. I know I can throw it together in just over half an hour and walk away.
At the end of the day, I’ll have a wholesome nutritious meal that will make the family giddy with excitement and my kitchen will smell amazing! Here are some other delightful reasons to love this crockpot lasagna.
- Ridiculously simple to make
- Hearty and satisfying
- Amazingly delicious
- Wholesome and nutritious
- Flexible recipe
- Feeds a crowd
Recipe Notes
Making this scrumptious crockpot lasagna recipe is so easy and I enjoy assembling it because it doesn’t need to be perfect. That’s one of the best things about this recipe! The crockpot will infuse all the savory cheesy goodness and perfect the recipe all by itself. -My trustee sidekick!
Speaking of crockpots, I use my large oval crockpot for this recipe. If you don’t have one, that’s okay. You can make delicious crockpot lasagna recipe in any crockpot as long as it is large enough to accommodate all the ingredients. It should also have a low and a high setting because you’ll need to cook this lasagna on low for a few hours.
Once the lasagna has finished cooking, you’ll want to turn the crockpot off and let it cool for thirty minutes before serving. This is an important step so don’t skip it. I know it will be difficult when you are immersed in those wonderfully delicious aromas and growling tummies, but it really makes a big difference.
Letting the lasagna sit without cooking allows time for the sauce to thicken while the meat and noodles soak up all the savory flavors and juices. -Trust me on this one! Besides, it’s the perfect time to prepare salads and bake garlic bread.
Ingredient Notes
Sauce: Keeping this recipe super simple boils down to using a store-bought pasta sauce. Of course, you can spend the day making your own pasta sauce but that kind of defeats the purpose! Bertolli Tomato and Basil sauce is my favorite jarred sauce.
The thing is that you want to find a sauce that you really like straight out of the jar. If you don’t care for the way it tastes in the jar, then you won’t love it in the crockpot lasagna.
Pasta: Another convenient quality about this recipe is that it calls for no-cook noodles which saves time and messy clean-up. Simply choose your preferred brand of noodles and they go straight into the crockpot. Using my oval crockpot, I lay out the first noodles lengthwise and then break some up to fill in the gaps around the edges. Easy peesy!
Basil: It is also important to use fresh basil in this recipe. If you’re in a pinch, you can use dried basil, but I don’t recommend it because it will compromise the flavor of the finished product. This crockpot lasagna recipe calls for a generous amount of fresh basil.
Fresh herbs perform fabulous in sauces, but they do have a delicate flavor so more of them are required. This recipe is worth the additional basil though because it does most of the work!
Meat: This recipe uses sausage instead of just ground beef—and believe me, you can taste how much better sausage is for this dish. Ground beef just doesn’t have enough of its own flavor to compete with the flavorful sauce and filling.
Storing Tips
Storing this crockpot lasagna is simple! Depending on how much you have left, you could toss the entire crockpot into the fridge lid and all. Using the lid is important because you have to protect your leftovers from the air.
Of course, you can store your crockpot lasagna in an airtight container with a secure lid. Tupperware is a great option. Divvy it up into single-serve portions for weekday lunches or store it in larger portions for a ready-made dinner later in the week.
Can You Freeze This?
Oh yes, you can freeze your crockpot lasagna. Just ensure that it is sealed in plastic wrap to protect it from air and freezer burn. If I know it’s going to be in the freezer for a bit, then I’ll vacuum seal mine.
You can freeze the entire thing for a dinner that is ready to go when you are or make single-serve lasagnas for lunches and snacks. It is so convenient to just pull a piece or two out of the freezer and make a piece of garlic toast. You’ve got a wholesome nutritious ready-made meal that tastes fantastic!
Lasagna Sauce Make Ahead Tips
Making the lasagna sauce ahead of time is a common practice and it only makes your crockpot lasagna that much better. Letting the savory meat sit in that sauce for a day gives all the exquisite flavors time to mingle and blend.
If you’ll be making your crockpot lasagna in the next day or so, you can cook the meat sauce and store it in the fridge overnight. If you are looking out a little further ahead, then you’ll want to store it in the freezer. When you get ready to make your lasagna, just pull out your sauce and slow thaw it in the fridge overnight.
How Long Can You Keep This In The Fridge?
If you store your crockpot lasagna properly, then it will keep for 3 or 4 days, according to the USDA. Leftovers should be kept at or below 40-degrees Fahrenheit and securely protected from air. It’s also a good idea to observe the 2-hour rule for serving at get-togethers and potlucks. Here is a good article on storing food safely from the USDA.
Recipe Variations
This is crockpot lasagna so there are lots of different things you can do to tweak this recipe. Changing up the different types of cheeses will give you a subtle flavor variation.
If you want more veggies, you can add some spinach or cubed zucchini to your sauce. It’s a great way to get more veggies into the kiddos. My vegetarian friends simply replace the meat in the sauce with more veggies for a vegetarian lasagna that is out of this world!
If you’re trying to save some calories, try substituting the sausage in the meat sauce for ground turkey or chicken. There are so many options with this crockpot lasagna you can easily adapt it to suit your family’s preferences and dietary needs.
Can I Make This Into Casserole?
Sure! If you are in the mood for lasagna casserole, then put away your crockpot. Turn on your oven and pull out your casserole dish. Layer your ingredients in a casserole dish to make a savory lasagna that will have your family begging for more.
Incorporate some variety into your menu and make lasagna roll ups. This decadent dish has plenty of everything we love about lasagna, it’s just constructed a little differently. It’s one of my family’s favorite dinners.
Can I Use Chicken Instead of Italian Sausage?
Making chicken lasagna is a great way to save some fat and calories while still enjoying one of America’s favorite meals. All you have to do is substitute chicken for the sausage in your crockpot lasagna. You can also use ground turkey if that works better for you.
You can also make buffalo chicken lasagna for a meal with an extra flavor kick! This is a nice new twist on an old classic and its sure to become a favorite.
What Veggies Can I Add In This Recipe?
It’s easy to increase the veggies in this recipe and make it super-nutritious. Make eggplant lasagna or spinach lasagna that will knock your socks off. The way those succulent veggies combine with that savory pasta sauce just screams for cheese and lasagna answers that call!
You can also chop in a little kale or zucchini and throw it into the mix. I love putting mushrooms in my crockpot lasagna when the mood strikes me. Veggies give you so many delicious and nutritious options.
Can I Use Other Types of Pasta?
Well, the magic of lasagna is in the layers so it may be difficult to use different pasta. If you want a really hearty and satisfying Italian dish, try making crock pot spaghetti. It’s a mouthwatering combination of meat sauce and spaghetti pasta that is addictingly delicious.
Ravioli lasagna is another option. Combining the fun of ravioli with the decadence of lasagna gives you delicious meal the family will find irresistible. I very rarely have leftovers of this one.
Can I Add A Mexican Twist In This Recipe?
Ariba! Mexican lasagna is fun and flavorful. You won’t believe how scrumptious this dish is. You get the flavor of Mexican food along with the comfort of a hearty lasagna. You can also take things in another direction and make a Taco Lasagna. It’s a hearty and refreshing dish fit for a king!
Crockpot Lasagna
Ingredients
- 1 pound sweet Italian sausage casing removed
- 1 yellow onion finely chopped
- 4-6 garlic cloves minced
- 2 (24-ounce) jar marinara sauce
- 16 ounces no-boil noodles uncooked
- 2 teaspoons dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- 32 ounces ricotta cheese
- 2 cups grated parmesan cheese divided
- 4 cups (1 lb) mozzarella shredded and divided
- 1 cup fresh basil chopped
- salt
- black pepper
- 1 large egg
Instructions
- Spray a 6 quart Crock-Pot with nonstick cooking spray. Set aside.
- Cook the sausage in a large skillet, over medium heat, breaking it up into small pieces with a spoon, until sausage is cooked through. Remove cooked sausage to a paper towel-lined plate and set aside. Remove all but 2 Tablespoons of the fat from the sausage and discard. Over medium heat, add onion and chopped garlic to the remaining fat in the skillet. Cook until veggies are softened, about 5-8 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in cooked sausage. Set aside.
- In a mixing bowl, mix together ricotta, 1 cup of Parmesan, 2 cups mozzarella, fresh basil, 1 teaspoon salt, 1 teaspoon black pepper, and egg.
- Spread 1 cup of prepared marinara sauce in the bottom of the crockpot. Layer 4 uncooked pasta noodles, breaking them up as needed to fit, evenly over bottom of the crockpot on top of the sauce. Spread 1/3 of the ricotta mixture, 1/3 of the sausage and onion mixture, 1 cup of sauce. Repeat layers 2 more times.
- For the final top layer, arrange 4 more noodles, 1 cup of sauce and the remaining 1 cup Parmesan and 2 cups mozzarella cheese. Cover and cook until on low until lasagna is heated through, about 4 hours.
- Turn off heat and let the lasagna cool for 20-30 minutes and serve.
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More Crock Pot Pasta Recipes
Crockpot lasagna recipe is everything you want in a hearty dinner. It’s easy to make, wholesome and nutritious. The best part is that it is convenient and there is virtually no cleanup!
I absolutely love savory crockpot meals. They allow you to feed your family the most delectable mouthwatering dinners and still accomplish everything you need to in a day.
Plus, there are so many scrumptious recipes you’re never eating the same thing! Here are some of my favorite crockpot pasta recipes.
- Crockpot Goulash
- Crockpot Spaghetti Sauce
- Crockpot Chicken Noodle Soup
- Crockpot Chicken and Noodles
- Crock Pot Mac and Cheese
Conclusion
If you love lasagna and the convenience of crockpot meals, then this crockpot lasagna is for you. It’s savory, saucy, cheesy and everything a good Italian dish should be, but you don’t have to dirty every pot in the kitchen.
Just toss everything in the crockpot, set the table and when the time is right to pull out the bibs! It doesn’t get much better than that!
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Yummmmmy!!!