Lasagna – in the Crockpot !!!
 

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

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

Thank you.

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

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

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

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

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.

Can't wait to try this! Thanks

Oh, thank you, thank you! I use my crock pots (I have 5) for everything from main dishes to deserts and am always looking for new recipes. This sounds wonderful.

I make this also, it is really good I got the recipe at Weight Watchers can't remember how many points maybe six.
anyway the whole family raves about it.
Also use crockpot liners made by Reynolds.

This was outstanding! Thanks for the recipe.

thanks for the recipe, sounds yummy

Is there anything to use instead of ricotta or cottage cheese? I have children that won't eat it then, but I really like to crockpot idea.

I just made this yesterday, it is very delicious. A friend gave me this recipe last year and the label said it was a Weight Watcher's recipe, though I can not verify it. I like pork in my lasagna so I add some Italian sausage to the recipe but plain ole hamburger works very well. We love this recipe.

I made this two days ago and it was fabulous. I used half ground buffalo and half beef with more basil and oregano.I also loaded it up with two zucchini and 8 oz fresh mushrooms sauteed in a cast iron skillet and when they browned up, I tossed in 6 ounces of fresh spinach to wilt. It was easy and a big hit!

You have me drooling ... and it's only 8:35 am! :)
I always "beef" mine up with lots of add-ins too ... your zucchini and mushrooms ... plus celery and more onions than called for.


Would the kids know, if you didn't tell them? and if they didn't see the containers?
Sometimes you need to be a little sneaky!!! :)

Might need to make this for my Thanksgiving Eve dinner tonight!
Thanks!
Sandy

It is in the crockpot for tonight! I used Italian sausage instead of ground beef. Cant wait to have dinner....red wine and garlic bread will top it off!

Sandy

I still don't have a crockpot :eek: and my freezer is too small for all the leftovers!

Thanks so much!

*gasp* ... a quilter without a crockpot? :D

I don't always make a full batch ... half is good, and not a huge leftover issue then!