QuiltE

Here's an easy way to make lasagna ... and delicious!
While it doesn't slice into squares, it has all the flavours and goodies that you'd want.
Bonus ... leftovers freeze well!

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Lasagna – in the Crockpot !!!
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1 pound uncooked lean ground beef
1 large onion, chopped or sliced
1 clove garlic clove, minced
28 oz. canned, crushed tomatoes
15 oz. canned tomato sauce
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. dried oregano
1/2 tsp. dried basil
1/4 gm. crushed red pepper flakes, or to taste (I used chili powder, just sprinkled in some)
1 cup ricotta cheese (I’m sure cottage cheese would work fine)
1-1/2 cups mozzarella cheese, shredded -- divided into 1 cup and ½ cup, for separate uses
6 dry lasagna noodles, uncooked
1/2 cup shredded parmesan cheese, strong-flavoured like Romano or Parmigiano Reggiano

Brown beef with onions and garlic, breaking up meat with a wooden spoon as it cooks, about 5 to 7 minutes. Stir in crushed tomatoes, tomato sauce, salt, oregano, basil and crushed red pepper flakes. Simmer 5 minutes to allow flavours to blend.

Meanwhile, in a medium bowl, stir together ricotta cheese and 1 cup of mozzarella cheese.
Separately combine parmesan with remaining 1/2 cup mozzarella.

Put some of the beef mixture into bottom of 5-quart slow cooker.
Then layer 1/2 the lasagna (break as needed to fit into the crock),
Then cheese mixture.
Then beef mixture.
Repeat … lasagna, cheese and beef. I topped with another layer of noodles and rest of beef mixture. (You don’t need to worry about keeping the layers too much, as it’s not going to stay in the layers like a traditional lasagna would.)

Cover slow cooker and cook on low setting for 4 to 6 hours. (I cooked it on high and it was done in about 3 hours … would depend on the size of your crock and it’s power!)

Remove cover; turn off heat and top with pre-mixed mozzarella and Parmesan cheese. Cover til cheese melts and lasagna firms up, about 10 minutes.

Notes:
* You can bulk up the recipe, with more veggies when browning the beef … mushrooms, onions, celery, zucchini, etc. Spinach could be added at the end of the browning for a few seconds, or add as extra layers.\

* It was delicious freshly made. I freeze the leftovers in single portion sizes and then zap in the microwave for a quick meal!

Yield: 6 large servings
Cooking Time: 4 to 6 hours

girlsfour

Thanks - I am going to try it. Your post looked so nice - the typeset and the blue print looked so nice!

ranger

Thank you.

I'm always on the lookout for crockpot and freezable recipes.
Will definitely be trying this one.

Love to quilt Linda

Thanks so much, I will give it a try this weekend!

lillybeck

I am going to try this one. It is a favorite but mine never turns out right.

Tartan

Sounds yummy! I will be looking for hot and hearty recipes for the cold weather.

TacoMama

Sounds good! I love crock pot recipes. Put it in the crock pot and in a few hours a delicious meal!

QuiltE

That's the way I was ... would try making it but just never the right flavours in the end.
I'd pretty much given up on the making concept ... and opted for frozen prepared .... or order it when in a restaurant.

Alas! this one gave me what I wanted ... so when I make it, I make my own single portion freezer meals with the leftovers.




Hope everyone ENJOYS ... and lets me know what they think!

Kat Sews

Love your recipe. This has been basically how I have made it for years, biggest difference is that I use bow tie pasta instead of the lasagna noodles, easier to layer in the crock pot.

mimiknoxtaylor

Can't wait to try this! Thanks