By Becky Hardin
Published Jan 8, 2025
I’m always looking for new recipes to make in my crockpot, and this crockpot lasagna recipe has become one of my go-to weekday recipes. I love to quickly whip up some meat sauce on the stovetop and layer everything in my slow cooker for a deliciously layered lasagna with tender noodles, creamy sauce, and lots of cheese. This slow cooker lasagna is quick, easy, and delicious! I may never go back to making it in my oven again.
I love this crockpot lasagna recipe because I can have homemade lasagna in the summertime without having to heat up my kitchen to have it. I can spend my summer days playing in the yard with my kids while this lasagna cooks itself in the slow cooker– so easy!
What’s in This Crockpot Lasagna Recipe?
- Ground Beef: I prefer to use lean ground beef for this recipe. If using beef that is lower than 85% lean, you may want to drain off any excess grease before adding the marinara sauce.
- Onion + Garlic: Create a savory base of flavor for the meat sauce.
- Italian Seasoning : Adds classic Italian flavor to the sauce.
- Marinara Sauce : Using a jar of your favorite store-bought sauce saves time! I often use leftover homemade sauce as well when I have it on hand.
- Cheese: A combination of ricotta , mozzarella, and Parmesan cheeses makes this lasagna gooey, creamy, and cheesy. You can substitute the ricotta for small curd cottage cheese if you prefer.
- Egg: Helps bind the filling.
- Basil: Dried basil adds flavor to the filling and fresh basil makes a beautiful (and flavorful!) garnish.
- Noodles: Always use the no-boil lasagna noodles. They won’t get soggy and will absorb extra liquid. The uncooked noodles go straight into the crockpot, so you don’t even have to boil them first. Just let the crockpot do the work.
Tips for Success
- Use a 5-6 quart oval slow cooker for best results.
- You want to layer your lasagna in a way that cooks the lasagna noodles most effectively. Because the noodles need water to soften, you want to make sure the lasagna noodles are always placed on top of the meat sauce.
- Let the lasagna cool completely before serving. This will thicken the sauce and prevent the layers from falling apart. Let it rest for about 20 minutes.
How to Store and Reheat
You can place any leftover lasagna in an airtight container and store it in the refrigerator. Properly stored lasagna will last for 4 days in the fridge. Additionally, you can wrap the lasagna in heavy-duty aluminum foil or freezer wrap and store it in the freezer for up to 3 months. Let thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating in a 350°F oven for 30-45 minutes, or until warmed through.
Serving Suggestions
This crockpot lasagna is the perfect all-in-one meal solution. I like to serve it with my favorite copycat Olive Garden salad and some easy cheesy garlic bread .
Ingredients1x2x3x
- ▢ 1 pound ground beef
- ▢ ½ cup diced onion
- ▢ 4 cloves garlic minced
- ▢ 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- ▢ ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ▢ 24 ounces marinara sauce (1 jar)
- ▢ ½ cup water
- ▢ 15 ounces ricotta cheese drained
- ▢ 2½ cups freshly shredded mozzarella cheese divided
- ▢ ½ cup freshly shredded Parmesan cheese
- ▢ 1 large egg lightly beaten
- ▢ 1 teaspoon dried basil
- ▢ ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
- ▢ 9-12 no-boil lasagna noodles
- ▢ Fresh basil optional, for garnish
Video
Instructions
- Spray the crock of a slow cooker with nonstick cooking spray.
- In a skillet set over medium-high heat, brown the ground beef, onion, garlic, Italian seasoning, and salt for 5 minutes, or until onions are softened. 1 pound ground beef, ½ cup diced onion, 4 cloves garlic, 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning, ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- Stir in the marinara sauce and ½ cup of water, then simmer for 5 minutes. 24 ounces marinara sauce, ½ cup water
- Meanwhile, in a large bowl, combine the ricotta cheese, 1 cup of mozzarella cheese, all of the Parmesan cheese, egg, basil, and pepper. 15 ounces ricotta cheese, 2½ cups freshly shredded mozzarella cheese, ½ cup freshly shredded Parmesan cheese, 1 large egg, 1 teaspoon dried basil, ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
- Evenly spread 1 cup of the meat sauce on the bottom of the crock, then top with 3 noodles, breaking them to fit. Gently spread a third of the cheese mixture on top of the noodles. 9-12 no-boil lasagna noodles
- Repeat two more times, beginning with sauce and ending with cheese, creating 3 layers. Sprinkle the remaining mozzarella cheese on top.
- Cover and cook on low for 4 hours, until noodles are tender. Top with fresh basil, if desired. Fresh basil
Equipment
- Crockpot
Becky’s Tips
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
How to Make Crockpot Lasagna Step by Step
Brown the Beef: Spray the crock of a slow cooker with nonstick cooking spray. In a skillet set over medium-high heat, brown 1 pound of ground beef, ½ cup of diced onion, 4 minced cloves of garlic, 1 teaspoon of Italian seasoning, and ½ teaspoon of kosher salt for 5 minutes, or until onions are softened.
Simmer the Sauce: Stir in 24 ounces (1 jar) of marinara sauce and ½ cup of water, then simmer for 5 minutes.
Mix the Filling: Meanwhile, in a large bowl, combine 15 ounces of drained ricotta cheese, 1 cup of shredded mozzarella cheese, ½ cup of shredded Parmesan cheese, 1 large egg, 1 teaspoon of dried basil, and ½ teaspoon of ground black pepper.
Layer the Lasagna: Evenly spread 1 cup of the meat sauce on the bottom of the crock, then top with 3 dry lasagna noodles, breaking them to fit. Gently spread a third of the cheese mixture on top of the noodles.
Repeat the Layers: Repeat two more times, beginning with sauce and ending with cheese, creating 3 layers. Sprinkle the remaining 1½ cups of mozzarella cheese on top.
Cook the Lasagna: Cover and cook on low for 4 hours, until noodles are tender. Top with fresh basil, if desired.
More Lasagna Recipes to Try!
Seafood Lasagna
Dutch Oven Lasagna
Weight Watchers Lasagna (only 8 WW Points!) – Healthy Lasagna Recipe
Chicken Mexican Lasagna
Crockpot Lasagna Recipe
Equipment
- Crockpot
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef
- ½ cup diced onion
- 4 cloves garlic minced
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- 24 ounces marinara sauce (1 jar)
- ½ cup water
- 15 ounces ricotta cheese drained
- 2½ cups freshly shredded mozzarella cheese divided
- ½ cup freshly shredded Parmesan cheese
- 1 large egg lightly beaten
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
- 9-12 no-boil lasagna noodles
- Fresh basil optional, for garnish
Instructions
- Spray the crock of a slow cooker with nonstick cooking spray.
- In a skillet set over medium-high heat, brown the ground beef, onion, garlic, Italian seasoning, and salt for 5 minutes, or until onions are softened. 1 pound ground beef, ½ cup diced onion, 4 cloves garlic, 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning, ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- Stir in the marinara sauce and ½ cup of water, then simmer for 5 minutes. 24 ounces marinara sauce, ½ cup water
- Meanwhile, in a large bowl, combine the ricotta cheese, 1 cup of mozzarella cheese, all of the Parmesan cheese, egg, basil, and pepper. 15 ounces ricotta cheese, 2½ cups freshly shredded mozzarella cheese, ½ cup freshly shredded Parmesan cheese, 1 large egg, 1 teaspoon dried basil, ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
- Evenly spread 1 cup of the meat sauce on the bottom of the crock, then top with 3 noodles, breaking them to fit. Gently spread a third of the cheese mixture on top of the noodles. 9-12 no-boil lasagna noodles
- Repeat two more times, beginning with sauce and ending with cheese, creating 3 layers. Sprinkle the remaining mozzarella cheese on top.
- Cover and cook on low for 4 hours, until noodles are tender. Top with fresh basil, if desired. Fresh basil
Video
Notes
Nutrition
By Becky Hardin
Published Jul 12, 2017
This Essential Grocery List is an absolute life saver for my family on the busy weeks. When I started this journey to learn how to cook, I quickly realized that the first step in cooking is having staple ingredients on hand. I want to avoid having to run out to the grocery store every single time I prepare a new recipe. Having a well-stocked pantry has made my life in the kitchen so much simpler, because when it’s time to cook, I have what I need.
Essential Grocery List
It’s so helpful to have a basic grocery list to help me remember which foods to buy at the store. This food shopping list is my go-to!
It’s better to stock up on things like grains, seasonings and spices, baking essentials, oils, condiments, canned and frozen foods, etc. so I can just grab them when I need them. These things have a long shelf life , so I keep them in my kitchen for convenience.
However, I do have to go to the supermarket sometimes, and there’s a way to make that trip easy and hassle-free: I keep a grocery list! If I go in blindly, I’ll leave with things I don’t need, and nothing that actually helps me prepare a good meal.
In the list below, I’ve compiled everything I always have on my stock-up grocery list.
I’ve got you covered! I created an easy grocery list filled with all of the essentials. Plus there’s a free printable version that you can take with you to the grocery store. It has everything you need to stock your pantry, your freezer, and your refrigerator.
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List
What to Buy at the Grocery Store
This is the perfect grocery list filled with all the basics and essentials. It should help get you going if you’re new to cooking, or if you’re just left staring helplessly at an empty pantry and don’t know how to fill it.
When I first started cooking, things could seem overwhelming. I quickly realized that they more prepared I could be, the more confident I felt. If you already have the basics in your kitchen, then you can shop stress-free.
So print out our easy grocery list, stock up your pantry and fridge, and you’ll be cooking in no time!
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List for the perfectly stocked pantry and freezer!
Fresh Produce
- Apples
- Bananas
- Strawberries
- Avocados
- Bell Peppers
- Carrots
- Broccoli
- Garlic
- Lemons/Limes
- Onion
- Parsley
- Cilantro
- Basil
- Potatoes
- Spinach
- Tomatoes
GRAINS
- Breadcrumbs
- Pasta
- Quinoa
- Rice
- Sandwich Bread
- Tortillas
MEAT/PROTEIN
- Chicken
- Eggs
- Ground Beef
- Sliced Turkey
- Lunch Meat
DAIRY
- Butter
- Sliced Cheese
- Shredded Cheese
- Milk
- Sour Cream
- Greek Yogurt
BAKING GOODS
- Baking powder
- Baking Soda
- Granulated Sugar
- Brown Sugar
- Flour
- Honey
- Vanilla Extract
- Dry Yeast
- Chocolate Chips
- Cocoa Powder
- Powdered Sugar
FREEZER
- Fruit and Berries
- Frozen Veggies (Corn, Peas, Broccoli, etc)
- Juice Concentrate
- Pizza or Other Convenience Meals
- Pie Crust
- Cookie Dough
CANNED/DRIED GOODS
- Chicken stock/broth
- Salsa
- Diced Tomatoes
- Jam/Jelly
- Peanut Butter
- Pasta Sauce
- Beans (Black Beans, Chickpeas, Baked Beans, etc)
- Soups
- Tuna
- Green Chiles
- Canned Veggies
- Coffee or Tea
Get more details on the best non-perishable and pantry foods
CONDIMENTS/SPICES
- Black Pepper
- Chili Powder
- Cinnamon
- Crushed Red Pepper
- Cumin
- Garlic Powder
- Ketchup
- Mustard
- Mayo
- Nutmeg
- Paprika
- Salt (Course Sea Salt and Kosher Salt)
- Soy Sauce
- Steak Sauce
- Hot Sauce/ Buffalo Sauce
- Salad Dressings
OILS/VINEGARS
- Apple cider vinegar
- Balsamic vinegar
- Coconut Oil
- Olive Oil
- Vegetable/Canola Oil
- Red Wine Vinegar
- White Vinegar
- Cooking Wine
- White Wine Vinegar
SNACKS
- Crackers
- Nuts
- Quick Oats
- Popcorn
- Tortilla Chips
- Cereal
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List for the perfectly stocked pantry and freezer!
Click ☝🏻 for my FREE Grocery List Printable!
I hope this essential grocery list can help you buy what you need and make your home cooking so much easier!
Stock Your Kitchen
Find more ideas for your grocery list, stock up your kitchen, and print more cooking guides and charts to keep handy!
Non-Perishable Foods to Stock Up On
Frozen Vegetables to Stock Up On (and Recipes to Make)
Ultimate List of Cooking Herbs for Your Kitchen
Ultimate List of Cooking Spices for Your Kitchen
Cooking Oil 101: Types of Cooking Oils to Use
26 Types of Pasta and When to Use Them
What Fruits and Vegetables are in Season?
Meat Temperature Chart (Free Printable)
How to Meal Prep (Guide for Beginners)
Basic Cooking Measurements & Kitchen Conversion Chart
