Easy Crockpot Lasagna Recipe for Simple Weeknight Dinners
Easy Crockpot Lasagna is the ultimate comfort food, ready in just 4 hours with minimal effort. After making this for my family countless times, I’ve discovered the trick to preventing a watery sauce. Keep reading for my best tips, or jump straight to the recipe. If you love recipes like this, you’ll also enjoy Creamy Honey Lavender Ice Cream Recipe for Easy Dessert and Crispy Mexican Street Corn Fritters with Spicy Lime Sauce.
Why This Easy Crockpot Lasagna Recipe for Simple Weeknight Dinners Is Pure Comfort
- Melty cheese and tender pasta in every bite
- Rich, flavorful meat sauce made in the crockpot
- Easy cleanup with just one dish to wash
- Perfect for meal prepping and freezing
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
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 can (28 oz) crushed tomatoes
- 1 can (6 oz) tomato paste
- 1 cup water
- 1 tsp dried basil
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 9 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)
- Optional: fresh basil leaves
- Optional: grated Parmesan cheese
📝 Ingredient Notes
- ground beef: You can substitute ground turkey or Italian sausage if preferred.
- lasagna noodles: No-boil noodles can be used, but they may need to be soaked before using.
🛒 Tools & Equipment I Recommend
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- Meat thermometer — Ensures meat is cooked to a safe temperature → See on Amazon
How to Make Easy Crockpot Lasagna Recipe for Simple Weeknight Dinners
- Step 1: In a large skillet, brown ground beef and Italian sausage with onion and garlic until meat is cooked through. Drain excess fat.
- Step 2: Stir in crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, water, basil, oregano, salt, and pepper. Simmer for 10 minutes.
- Step 3: Spray the inside of your crockpot with cooking spray. Place a layer of meat sauce on the bottom, followed by a layer of lasagna noodles, breaking them to fit as needed.
- Step 4: Spread a layer of ricotta cheese over the noodles, followed by a layer of mozzarella cheese. Repeat layers, ending with a final layer of meat sauce and mozzarella cheese.
- Step 5: Cover crockpot and cook on low for 4-5 hours, or until noodles are tender and cheese is melted and bubbly.
- Step 6: Let lasagna rest for 10-15 minutes before serving. Top with fresh basil and additional Parmesan cheese if desired.
Cook's Tips for Perfect Easy Crockpot Lasagna Recipe for Simple Weeknight Dinners
- Common mistake and fix: Adding too much liquid can make the lasagna watery. To prevent this, make sure to drain excess fat from the meat and use no-boil noodles if possible.
- Time-saving tip: Prepare the lasagna the night before and refrigerate. In the morning, transfer to the crockpot and cook as directed.
- Nutrition tip: Use lean ground turkey instead of beef to reduce fat and calories.
- Presentation tip: Serve lasagna in individual serving dishes for a neat presentation.
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: Prepare lasagna up to 24 hours in advance. Store in the refrigerator 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 350°F oven for 15-20 minutes, or until heated through. Microwave: Reheat in the microwave for 2-3 minutes, or until heated through. Stir halfway through heating.
Recipe Notes
- Chef tip: For an even richer flavor, add a small amount of heavy cream to the meat sauce.
- Best substitution: Substitute spinach or zucchini for some of the meat to make a lighter version of this dish.
- Make-ahead: Prepare lasagna up to 24 hours in advance. Store in the refrigerator until ready to cook.
- Scaling: This recipe can be easily doubled or halved to suit your needs.
- Troubleshooting: If your lasagna is still watery after cooking, place it under the broiler for a few minutes to help evaporate some of the excess liquid.
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Easy Crockpot Lasagna Recipe for Simple Weeknight Dinners
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 lb Italian sausage
- 1 onion, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 can (28 oz) crushed tomatoes
- 1 can (6 oz) tomato paste
- 1 cup water
- 1 tsp dried basil
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 9 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)
Optional Toppings
- fresh basil leaves
- grated Parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Step 1: In a large skillet, brown ground beef and Italian sausage with onion and garlic until meat is cooked through. Drain excess fat.
- Step 2: Stir in crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, water, basil, oregano, salt, and pepper. Simmer for 10 minutes.
- Step 3: Spray the inside of your crockpot with cooking spray. Place a layer of meat sauce on the bottom, followed by a layer of lasagna noodles, breaking them to fit as needed.
- Step 4: Spread a layer of ricotta cheese over the noodles, followed by a layer of mozzarella cheese. Repeat layers, ending with a final layer of meat sauce and mozzarella cheese.
- Step 5: Cover crockpot and cook on low for 4-5 hours, or until noodles are tender and cheese is melted and bubbly.
- Step 6: Let lasagna rest for 10-15 minutes before serving. Top with fresh basil and additional Parmesan cheese if desired.
Notes
- Chef tip: For an even richer flavor, add a small amount of heavy cream to the meat sauce.
- Best substitution: Substitute spinach or zucchini for some of the meat to make a lighter version of this dish.
- Make-ahead: Prepare lasagna up to 24 hours in advance. Store in the refrigerator until ready to cook.
- Scaling: This recipe can be easily doubled or halved to suit your needs.
- Troubleshooting: If your lasagna is still watery after cooking, place it under the broiler for a few minutes to help evaporate some of the excess liquid.
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 350°F oven for 15-20 minutes, or until heated through.
- Microwave reheat: Reheat in the microwave for 2-3 minutes, or until heated through. Stir halfway through heating.
- Make ahead: Prepare lasagna up to 24 hours in advance. Store in the refrigerator until ready to cook.
Nutrition Per Serving
- Calories: 470
- Protein: 32g
- Fat: 22g
- Carbs: 38g
- Fiber: 3g
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 1200mg
- Cholesterol: 105mg
- Sat. Fat: 12g
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 prepare the lasagna up to 24 hours in advance. Store it in the refrigerator until ready to cook.
Adding too much liquid or not draining excess fat from the meat can cause the lasagna to be watery. To prevent this, make sure to drain excess fat and use no-boil noodles if possible.
Yes, you can freeze individual portions of lasagna for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.
Yes, you can bake this lasagna in a 9×13 inch baking dish at 375°F for 25-30 minutes, or until heated through and cheese is melted and bubbly.
Reheat leftover lasagna in a 350°F oven for 15-20 minutes, or until heated through. You can also reheat in the microwave for 2-3 minutes, stirring halfway through heating.
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!
