Easy Crockpot Lasagna Recipe for Simple Weeknight Dinners
Easy crockpot lasagna is the ultimate comfort food for busy weeknights. After making this many times, I’ve discovered the trick to keeping it from sticking is to lightly grease the slow cooker. The result? A cozy, hearty lasagna that’s better than takeout and ready in just 4 hours. Jump to the recipe card or keep reading for my best tips. If you love recipes like this, you’ll also enjoy Fresh Thai Mango Green Papaya Salad with Chili Lime Dressing and Korean BBQ Steak Rice Bowls with Spicy Cream Sauce.
Why This Easy Crockpot Lasagna Recipe for Simple Weeknight Dinners Is Pure Comfort
- Creamy, cheesy layers of pasta, meat, and sauce
- Set it and forget it in the crockpot
- Perfect for meal prepping or feeding a crowd
- Better than takeout and freezer-friendly
What You'll Need for Easy Crockpot Lasagna Recipe for Simple Weeknight Dinners
Choosing the right ingredients makes a big difference, but this recipe is forgiving enough to work with what you have.
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 lb Italian sausage
- 1 onion, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 cans (28 oz each) crushed tomatoes
- 2 jars (6 oz each) tomato paste
- 1 cup water
- 1 tsp dried basil
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 12 lasagna noodles
- 1 container (15 oz) ricotta cheese
- 3 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- dried basil
- dried oregano
- salt
- black pepper
- garlic powder
- onion powder
- red pepper flakes
- Optional: fresh basil
- Optional: grated Parmesan cheese
- Optional: garlic bread
đź“ť Ingredient Notes
- ground beef: You can substitute ground turkey or Italian sausage if preferred.
- lasagna noodles: No-boil noodles work best in this recipe.
đź›’ Tools & Equipment I Recommend
- Crockpot — Cooks food evenly and keeps it warm until ready to serve. → See on Amazon
- Meat thermometer — Ensures meat is cooked to a safe temperature, preventing foodborne illnesses. → See on Amazon
How to Make Easy Crockpot Lasagna Recipe for Simple Weeknight Dinners
- Step 1: In a large skillet, cook ground beef and Italian sausage over medium heat until browned. Drain fat and set aside.
- Step 2: In the same skillet, sauté onion and garlic until softened. Add crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, water, basil, oregano, salt, and pepper. Simmer for 10 minutes.
- Step 3: Lightly grease the crockpot. Spread a thin layer of meat sauce on the bottom. Arrange a layer of lasagna noodles, overlapping slightly. Spread 1/3 of the ricotta cheese over the noodles, followed by 1/3 of the mozzarella cheese and 1/4 of the Parmesan cheese. Repeat layers twice more, ending with a final layer of meat sauce and cheeses.
- Step 4: Cover and cook on low for 4-5 hours or on high for 2-3 hours, until noodles are tender and cheese is melted and bubbly.
Cook's Tips for Perfect Easy Crockpot Lasagna Recipe for Simple Weeknight Dinners
- Pro Tip: For a healthier version, use lean ground turkey instead of beef and add spinach or zucchini to the meat sauce.
- Common mistake and fix: If your lasagna is sticking to the crockpot, try lining it with aluminum foil or using a slow cooker liner before adding the grease and ingredients.
- Pro Tip: To make this recipe ahead, assemble the lasagna in the crockpot, refrigerate, and cook when ready to serve.
- Pro Tip: For extra flavor, brown the meat and sauté the onions and garlic before adding them to the crockpot.
Storing & Reheating Easy Crockpot Lasagna Recipe for Simple Weeknight Dinners
Short-Term Storage
Store in an airtight container in the fridge. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Make-ahead tip: Assemble the lasagna in the crockpot up to 24 hours ahead. Refrigerate until ready to cook.
Freezing Easy Crockpot Lasagna Recipe for Simple Weeknight Dinners
Freeze individual portions for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.
How to Reheat Without Drying It Out
Oven: Reheat in a preheated 350°F oven for 20-25 minutes or until heated through. Microwave: Reheat in the microwave for 2-3 minutes or until heated through. Stir halfway through.
Recipe Notes
- Chef tip: For a vegetarian version, omit the meat and add diced vegetables like zucchini, bell peppers, and mushrooms to the sauce.
- Best substitution: You can substitute the ricotta cheese with cottage cheese or sour cream for a slightly different flavor.
- Make-ahead: Assemble the lasagna in the crockpot, refrigerate, and cook when ready to serve.
- Scaling: This recipe can be easily doubled or halved to suit your needs.
- Troubleshooting: If your lasagna is too watery, try draining some of the liquid from the meat sauce before layering it in the crockpot.
Want to level up this recipe?
Crockpot liner — Makes cleanup a breeze and prevents sticking. → Check price on Amazon
Easy Crockpot Lasagna Recipe for Simple Weeknight Dinners
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 lb Italian sausage
- 1 onion, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 cans (28 oz each) crushed tomatoes
- 2 jars (6 oz each) tomato paste
- 1 cup water
- 1 tsp dried basil
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 12 lasagna noodles
- 1 container (15 oz) ricotta cheese
- 3 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
Seasonings
- dried basil
- dried oregano
- salt
- black pepper
- garlic powder
- onion powder
- red pepper flakes
Optional Toppings
- fresh basil
- grated Parmesan cheese
- garlic bread
Instructions
- Step 1: In a large skillet, cook ground beef and Italian sausage over medium heat until browned. Drain fat and set aside.
- Step 2: In the same skillet, sauté onion and garlic until softened. Add crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, water, basil, oregano, salt, and pepper. Simmer for 10 minutes.
- Step 3: Lightly grease the crockpot. Spread a thin layer of meat sauce on the bottom. Arrange a layer of lasagna noodles, overlapping slightly. Spread 1/3 of the ricotta cheese over the noodles, followed by 1/3 of the mozzarella cheese and 1/4 of the Parmesan cheese. Repeat layers twice more, ending with a final layer of meat sauce and cheeses.
- Step 4: Cover and cook on low for 4-5 hours or on high for 2-3 hours, until noodles are tender and cheese is melted and bubbly.
Notes
- Chef tip: For a vegetarian version, omit the meat and add diced vegetables like zucchini, bell peppers, and mushrooms to the sauce.
- Best substitution: You can substitute the ricotta cheese with cottage cheese or sour cream for a slightly different flavor.
- Make-ahead: Assemble the lasagna in the crockpot, refrigerate, and cook when ready to serve.
- Scaling: This recipe can be easily doubled or halved to suit your needs.
- Troubleshooting: If your lasagna is too watery, try draining some of the liquid from the meat sauce before layering it in the crockpot.
Storage
- Fridge: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
- Freezer: Freeze individual portions for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.
- Oven reheat: Reheat in a preheated 350°F oven for 20-25 minutes or until heated through.
- Microwave reheat: Reheat in the microwave for 2-3 minutes or until heated through. Stir halfway through.
- Make ahead: Assemble the lasagna in the crockpot up to 24 hours ahead. Refrigerate until ready to cook.
Nutrition Per Serving
- Calories: 470
- Protein: 30g
- Fat: 21g
- Carbs: 42g
- Fiber: 3g
- Sugar: 8g
- Sodium: 1200mg
- Cholesterol: 95mg
- Sat. Fat: 11g
Nutritional values are estimates only. Actual values may vary by brand and portion size.
Easy Crockpot Lasagna Recipe for Simple Weeknight Dinners FAQs
Yes, you can assemble the lasagna in the crockpot up to 24 hours ahead. Refrigerate until ready to cook.
If your lasagna is dry, it's likely that the noodles absorbed too much liquid. Try using less water in the meat sauce or adding more liquid to the crockpot.
Yes, you can bake lasagna in the oven at 375°F for 25-30 minutes or until the cheese is melted and bubbly and the noodles are tender.
Yes, you can freeze individual portions of crockpot lasagna for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.
You can substitute ricotta cheese with cottage cheese or sour cream for a slightly different flavor.
A Warm Final Note
I can’t wait for you to try Easy Crockpot Lasagna Recipe for Simple Weeknight Dinners and see how effortlessly it comes together. When you make it, pop back here and leave a rating or share how it turned out — I love hearing from you!
