• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Sweetly Splendid
menu icon
go to homepage
  • About
  • Recipes
  • Collaborate
  • eBook
  • Contact
    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • About
    • Recipes
    • Collaborate
    • eBook
    • Contact
    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
  • ×

    Home » Food

    Easy Crockpot Lasagna Recipe

    25 shares
    • share
    • tweet
    • save
    Jump to Recipe
    crockpot lasagna topped with fresh basil

    Slow Cooker Lasagna is the same classic lasagna recipe you love, but made entirely in the crockpot. It's easy to make and delicious!

    crockpot lasagna topped with fresh basil

    This post may contain affiliate links. This means if you decide to purchase through my link, I may earn a very small commission at no additional cost to you.

    The Best Crock Pot Lasagna Recipe

    Do you ever want to avoid using your oven? Sometimes it's too hot outside or the thought of assembling lasagna and waiting around while it cooks for hours seems daunting when you're trying to feed your kids and family.

    If you want to spend more time with your family and less time waiting around the oven, this Crockpot Lasagna will help you do just that.

    The lasagna is assembled in the crockpot without having to precook noodles. You layer it in, set it and come back to a fully cooked lasagna in your slow cooker just like it would have been in the oven.

    Instead of planning your schedule to be there to put the lasagna in the oven, it'll already be cooking away while you run your errands or spend time with your family.

    Crock-pot Lasagna Ingredients

    • Italian sausage (or ground beef)
    • spaghetti sauce
    • cottage cheese
    • grated parmesan cheese
    • egg
    • Italian seasoning
    • mozzarella cheese
    • lasagna noodles

    Is lasagna better with ricotta or cottage cheese?

    I recommend using cottage cheese. Ricotta cheese tends to dry out when cooking crockpot lasagna. I find that cottage cheese does not have the same drying effect.

    Crockpot Lasagna Recipe Substitutions

    • Italian Sausage - I like to use turkey Italian sausage, but pork Italian sausage and ground beef both work well. If you use ground beef, be sure to season it well.
    • Cottage Cheese - While you could technically substitute the cottage cheese with ricotta cheese, there's a high likelihood that it will dry out before it's done cooking. Because of this, I recommend only using cottage cheese.
    ingredients for crockpot lasagna

    How to make Crockpot Lasagna

    Detailed instructions and measurements to make Crockpot Lasagna are listed in the recipe card at the bottom of this page.

    1. Add the Italian sausage to a large skillet over medium high heat. Cook until browned. If using pork sausage, you'll need to drain it once it's finished cooking. If you're using turkey Italian sausage, it won't need to be drained.
    2. Add the spaghetti sauce to the cooked sausage and stir to combine.
    3. In a separate mixing bowl, add the cottage cheese, parmesan cheese, egg, and Italian seasoning. Mix to combine.
    4. Spray the slow cooker liner insert with nonstick spray. 
    5. Start by placing ⅓ of the meat and sauce mix on the bottom of the slow cooker. Spread it evenly. 
    6. Layer 3 lasagna noodles, breaking as needed to cover the sauce. 
    7. Layer half of the cottage cheese mix on top of the lasagna noodles. 
    8. Layer half of the mozzarella cheese. 
    9. Put the next layer of meat sauce mix (⅓ of original amount) and spread evenly. Repeat steps 5, 6, and 7. Reserving a small amount of mozzarella for the top.
    10. Top with remaining 3 noodles (breaking as needed to evenly cover). 
    11. Pour the remaining ⅓ of sauce on top. Topping with the reserved mozzarella.
    12. Place the lid on the slow cooker and set it on low. Cook for 5-6 hours or until the pasta is tender.
    13. Allow it to cool about 10 minutes before serving.
    cottage cheese in a mixing bowl
    cottage cheese and parmesan in a mixing bowl
    egg added to cottage cheese and parmesan in a mixing bowl
    italian seasoning, egg, cottage cheese, and parmesan in a mixing bowl
    crockpot lasagna cheese filling in a mixing bowl
    cooked turkey italian sausage in a skillet
    cooked turkey italian sausage and pasta sauce in a skillet
    pasta sauce and italian sausage mixed together in a skillet
    sauce on bottom of crockpot
    noodles on top of sauce in the crockpot
    cheese mixture on top of noodles in the crockpot
    shredded mozzarella over cheese mix in crockpot
    noodles on top of sauce in the crockpot
    cheese mixture on top of noodles in the crockpot
    shredded mozzarella over cheese mix in crockpot
    noodles over shredded mozzarella in the crockpot
    meat sauce over noodles in the crockpot
    uncooked crockpot lasagna in the slow cooker

    Crock Pot Lasagna Recipe Tips

    If you want to prepare the lasagna in advance, you can prepare it in the crock pot and before cooking place it in the refrigerator up to 24 hours in advance. Take it out of the refrigerator an hour before putting it in the crockpot to cook.

    If you like the top to be cheesy, you can sprinkle extra cheese on top while cooking.

    How to serve Easy Crockpot Lasagna

    Lasagna goes excellent with a side salad and easy garlic bread.

    Crockpot Lasagna FAQs

    Can I use no-boil noodles?

    I recommend NOT using no-boil noodles in any recipe. Especially with this recipe, you don't need to boil them anyway so you aren't saving any time. No boil lasagna noodles often result in a rubbery, sticky pasta.

    Can you cook lasagna without boiling?

    No, the noodles will cook right in the crockpot with the sauce. There is no need to cook the noodles in advance.

    How do I make sure my lasagna is moist?

    To prevent your lasagna from becoming dry, it's important to use a good ratio of sauce to noodles along with the right cheese. I recommend cottage cheese in this recipe to avoid the dryness that can come from using ricotta cheese.

    How many layers should be in a lasagna?

    While there is no specific number a layers a lasagna should have, it is often 3 to 4 layers of noodles.

    Can you make lasagna without cooking the meat first?

    I do not recommend making lasagna without cooking the meat first. In order to guarantee the best results and flavor, you should cook the meat first.

    How many layers should lasagna have?

    For this recipe, you should have 3 layers of noodles.

    What is the correct order to layer lasagna?

    You should start with the meat sauce, followed by noodles, then cheese. You'll want to repeat these layers in that order.

    Why did my lasagna turn out runny?

    Lasagna can become runny if the sauce isn't thick enough or if you pre-boil your pasta and don't drain in properly.

    What should the bottom layer of lasagna be?

    The bottom layer of lasagna should be a thin layer of sauce. This will help prevent the pasta from sticking to the bottom.

    crockpot lasagna topped with fresh basil and a slice of garlic bread

    how to store leftover lasagna

    Leftover lasagna stores really well. Once cooled, place it in an airtight container in the refrigerator up to 4 days.

    When you're ready to reheat, place it on a microwave safe dish and cover the lasagna with a damp paper towel before heating.

    Can you reheat lasagna in a slow cooker?

    You can reheat lasagna in a slow cooker. Place it back in the slow cooker and set it to low.

    other lasagna recipes you might like

    • One Pot Lasagna Soup
    • Vegetable Lasagna
    • Tex-Mex Lasagna
    crockpot lasagna topped with fresh basil

    Crockpot Lasagna

    Slow Cooker Lasagna is the same classic lasagna recipe you love, but made entirely in the crockpot. It's easy to make and delicious!
    5 from 5 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 10 mins
    Cook Time 6 hrs
    Total Time 6 hrs 10 mins
    Course Dinner, Main Course, Main Dish, Main Dishes
    Cuisine American, Italian
    Servings 8 people
    Calories 255 kcal
    Protein 26 g

    Equipment

    • crockpot
    • skillet
    • spatula
    • mixing bowl
    • measuring cups

    Ingredients
      

    • 1 pound turkey Italian sausage
    • 4½ cups spaghetti sauce
    • 16 ounces cottage cheese
    • ¼ cup grated parmesan cheese
    • 1 whole egg
    • 1 tablespoon italian seasoning
    • 8 ounces shredded mozzarella cheese
    • 9 whole lasagna noodles

    Instructions
     

    • Add Italian sausage to a large skillet over medium high heat.
    • Cook until browned. If using pork sausage, you'll need to drain it once it's finished cooking. If you're using turkey Italian sausage, it won't need to be drained.
    • Add the spaghetti sauce to the cooked sausage and stir to combine.
    • In a separate mixing bowl, add the cottage cheese, parmesan cheese, egg, and Italian seasoning. Mix to combine.
    • Spray the slow cooker insert with nonstick spray.
    • Start by placing ⅓ of the meat and sauce mix on the bottom of the slow cooker. Spread it evenly.
    • Layer 3 lasagna noodles, breaking as needed to cover the sauce.
    • Layer half of the cottage cheese mix on top of the lasagna noodles. 
    • Lay half of the mozzarella cheese.
    • Put the next layer of meat sauce mix (⅓ of original amount) and spread evenly.
    • Repeat steps 5, 6, and 7. Reserving a small amount of mozzarella for the top.
    • Top with remaining 3 noodles (breaking as needed to evenly cover). 
    • Pour the remaining ⅓ of sauce on top. Topping with the reserved mozzarella.
    • Place the lid on the slow cooker and set it on low. Cook for 5-6 hours or until the pasta is tender.
    • Allow it to cool about 10 minutes before serving.

    Nutrition

    Nutrition Facts
    Crockpot Lasagna
    Amount per Serving
    Calories
    255
    % Daily Value*
    Fat
     
    11
    g
    17
    %
    Saturated Fat
     
    6
    g
    38
    %
    Polyunsaturated Fat
     
    1
    g
    Monounsaturated Fat
     
    3
    g
    Cholesterol
     
    54
    mg
    18
    %
    Sodium
     
    1702
    mg
    74
    %
    Potassium
     
    655
    mg
    19
    %
    Carbohydrates
     
    14
    g
    5
    %
    Fiber
     
    3
    g
    13
    %
    Sugar
     
    10
    g
    11
    %
    Protein
     
    26
    g
    52
    %
    Vitamin A
     
    876
    IU
    18
    %
    Vitamin C
     
    27
    mg
    33
    %
    Calcium
     
    331
    mg
    33
    %
    Iron
     
    7
    mg
    39
    %
    * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
    Keyword crockpot, slow cooker
    Have you tried this recipe? Please let us know how it was in the comments or tag us on Instagram @sweetlysplendid!

    Nutritional information is provided as a courtesy. It should only be used for estimation purposes and is not a guarantee of any kind. Nutritional information varies widely between brands and types of ingredients used. It is recommended that you calculate the nutritional information based on your own ingredients and brands used. Sweetly Splendid, LLC makes no guarantees as to the exact nutrition information.

    Browse more recipes

    • Small bowl of 4 ingredient guacamole dip with tortilla chips around the bowl and a half avocado and red onion.
      Easy 4-Ingredient Guacamole Recipe
    • Spoon laying in a bowl of homemade italian seasoning.
      Homemade Italian Seasoning Substitute
    • Baking dish of buffalo chicken dip.
      Can You Freeze Buffalo Chicken Dip
    • garlic parmesan chicken wings stacked on a light blue plate
      Air Fryer Garlic Parmesan Wings

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

      Did you love this recipe? Let us know! Cancel reply

      Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

      Recipe Rating




    1. Beth

      December 11, 2021 at 6:06 am

      5 stars
      Excellent! Layered beautifully. My new go to lasagna recipe. Thanks. P.s. It cooked in 3 hours in my crockpot.

      Reply
      • kara

        December 12, 2021 at 1:18 pm

        Wonderful!! I'm so glad you liked it!

        Reply
    2. Jacob Myers

      February 24, 2022 at 11:24 pm

      5 stars
      This was surprisingly amazing. We were skeptical on how it would turn out but honestly it’s better than baking in the oven. 10/10

      Reply

    Primary Sidebar

    Kara is a wife & mother living deep in the heart of Texas. She loves all things food and spending time with her family and dogs. She has a passion for cooking and loves making yummy, family-friendly recipes.

    More about me →

    Popular

    • crockpot ranch chicken over rice sprinkled with parsley
      Ranch Chicken Crock Pot Recipe
    • pit boss smoked ribs covered in bbq sauce
      Pit Boss Ribs
    • A serving of vegetable lasagna with a fork
      Vegetable Lasagna with White Sauce
    • old fashioned potato salad in a white bowl topped with fresh dill
      Old Fashioned Potato Salad

    Footer

    About

    • About
    • Privacy Policy

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up! for emails and updates

    Contact

    • Contact
    • Services

    ↑ back to top

    Copyright © 2021 Sweetly Splendid all rights reserved