Description
Hearty lasagna becomes a hands-off marvel with this crockpot lasagna recipe that simplifies classic Italian comfort. Layers of rich meat sauce, tender noodles, and melted cheese merge into a satisfying one-pot wonder you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat:
- 1 pound ground beef
Vegetables:
- 1 sweet onion, minced
- 5 cloves garlic, minced
Dairy and Cheese:
- 15 ounces ricotta cheese
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella
- 1 cup shredded Parmesan
Sauces and Seasonings:
- 24 ounces marinara
- 6 ounces tomato paste
- 1 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon salt
Pasta:
- 12 ounces lasagna noodles
Herbs:
- 1/4 cup fresh chopped parsley
Instructions
- Sauté ground beef with onions and garlic in a skillet until meat browns and releases its rich flavors.
- Incorporate marinara sauce, tomato paste, Italian seasoning, and salt into the meat mixture, creating a robust and aromatic sauce.
- Prepare cheese blend by mixing ricotta, mozzarella, Parmesan, parsley, and remaining garlic in a separate mixing bowl until thoroughly combined.
- Create initial layer in crockpot with uncooked lasagna noodles, ensuring even coverage of the bottom surface.
- Spread a generous portion of meat sauce over noodles, covering them completely to ensure uniform flavor distribution.
- Dollop cheese mixture atop meat sauce, ensuring even spreading across the entire layer.
- Repeat layering process of noodles, meat sauce, and cheese mixture until ingredients are utilized.
- Sprinkle remaining mozzarella cheese over the final layer for a golden, melted topping.
- Set crockpot to low temperature and cook for 4-5 hours, allowing flavors to meld and noodles to become tender.
- Once cooking completes, let lasagna rest for 10-15 minutes to stabilize layers before serving.
- Garnish with fresh parsley and serve hot, allowing guests to enjoy the rich, comforting layers.
Notes
- Prevent Dry Meat by browning ground beef over medium-high heat, ensuring it’s not overcooked and remains juicy and flavorful.
- Swap Meats easily by replacing ground beef with ground turkey, chicken, or plant-based crumbles for different dietary preferences.
- Enhance Cheese Texture by using room temperature cheeses, which blend more smoothly and create a creamier lasagna filling.
- Manage Moisture carefully by avoiding excess liquid in the marinara sauce, which can make the lasagna soggy during slow cooking.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 5 hours
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 455 kcal
- Sugar: 7 g
- Sodium: 620 mg
- Fat: 22 g
- Saturated Fat: 11 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 38 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 32 g
- Cholesterol: 95 mg