Description
A cozy, hands-off family favorite featuring layers of bubbling cheese, rich tomato sauce, and tender pasta, perfect for fuss-free meals.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound ground beef or Italian sausage (or 16 ounces mushrooms for a vegetarian swap)
- 3 cups marinara sauce
- 1 onion, finely chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 15 ounces ricotta cheese
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella, plus extra for topping
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan
- 2 large eggs
- 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- 9 no-boil lasagna noodles
- Fresh basil or parsley for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Prepare the sauce: In a skillet over medium heat, sauté the chopped onion until translucent, about 5 minutes. Add garlic and cook 30 seconds until fragrant. Add ground beef or sausage and cook until browned, breaking it up as you go. Drain excess fat and stir in marinara sauce, Italian seasoning, and a pinch of salt and pepper. Let simmer briefly to marry flavors.
- Mix the cheese filling: In a bowl, combine ricotta, eggs, 1 cup mozzarella, Parmesan, a pinch of salt, and some black pepper. Stir until smooth and set aside.
- Layer the slow cooker: Spread a thin layer of sauce on the bottom of a 6-quart slow cooker to prevent sticking. Place three lasagna noodles on top (break to fit if needed), then spoon one-third of the sauce, followed by one-third of the ricotta mixture. Repeat: noodles, sauce, cheese layer. Finish with a final layer of noodles, remaining sauce, and top with the remaining 1 cup mozzarella.
- Cook: Cover and cook on low for 180 to 240 minutes, or on high for 120 to 150 minutes. You’ll notice the sauce bubbling around the edges and the cheese melting into a golden blanket.
- Rest and serve: Turn off the slow cooker and let the lasagna rest for 10 to 15 minutes before slicing—this helps it set and makes serving clean slices easier. Garnish with fresh basil or parsley.
Notes
For a healthier option, use lean ground turkey, low-fat ricotta, and whole-wheat noodles. Can also be made gluten-free with certified gluten-free lasagna noodles.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 210 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 600mg
- Fat: 22g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 40g
- Fiber: 4g
- Protein: 28g
- Cholesterol: 80mg
Keywords: slow cooker, lasagna, comfort food, family meals