Description
This Crockpot Lasagna is a comforting and easy-to-make dish that layers hearty meat sauce, creamy cheese fillings, and tender lasagna noodles all cooked slowly in a crockpot. Perfect for busy days, this recipe offers rich Italian flavors with minimal effort and a deliciously cheesy finish topped with Parmesan and fresh basil.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat Sauce
- 1/2 pound ground beef
- 1/2 pound ground Italian sausage
- 1 cup onion, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 (32-ounce) jar spaghetti sauce
Cheese Filling
- 2 cups cottage cheese
- 1 (8 ounce) cream cheese, softened
- 3 cups mozzarella cheese, shredded, divided
- Fresh basil, chopped
Others
- 9-10 lasagna noodles, uncooked
- Parmesan cheese, freshly grated, for topping
- Non-stick cooking spray
Instructions
- Brown the Meat and Vegetables: Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat, add ground beef, Italian sausage, and diced onion. Break up the meat with a wooden spoon and cook until browned. Drain any excess grease.
- Cook Garlic: Add minced garlic to the skillet and cook just until fragrant, about 30 seconds to 1 minute.
- Add Spaghetti Sauce: Pour in the jar of spaghetti sauce, stir to combine with the meat mixture. Remove from heat and set aside.
- Prepare Cheese Mixture: In a large bowl, combine cottage cheese, softened cream cheese, 2 cups of shredded mozzarella, and chopped fresh basil. Mix until smooth and evenly blended.
- Prepare the Crockpot: Spray the crockpot insert with non-stick cooking spray to prevent sticking.
- Layer Ingredients – First Layer: Spread one-third of the meat sauce evenly on the bottom of the crockpot.
- Add Noodles: Place 3 uncooked lasagna noodles over the sauce, breaking them if needed to fit the crockpot shape.
- Spread Cheese Filling: Spoon and spread half of the cheese mixture over the noodles.
- Second Layer: Add another one-third of the meat sauce over the cheese, then place 3 more uncooked noodles on top.
- Spread Remaining Cheese Filling: Spread the remaining half of the cheese mixture evenly over the noodles.
- Final Layer: Add remaining noodles followed by the last third of the meat sauce, then sprinkle with the remaining 1 cup of shredded mozzarella cheese.
- Cook Lasagna: Cover and cook on low heat for 4 to 5 hours, or on high for 2 to 3 hours until noodles are tender and cheese is melted.
- Garnish and Serve: Before serving, sprinkle fresh grated Parmesan cheese and additional chopped basil over the top.
Notes
- Uncooked lasagna noodles will cook thoroughly in the crockpot during the long cooking time.
- You can substitute ground turkey or chicken for a lighter option.
- For extra flavor, add a pinch of red pepper flakes to the meat sauce during cooking.
- Let the lasagna rest for 10-15 minutes after cooking to set before serving.
- Make sure to spray the crockpot well to prevent sticking and make cleanup easier.
