Crockpot Lasagna Recipe - NO precooking involved!

BentoLunch.net - Crockpot Lasagna, no precooking required

Lasagna photo courtesy of WikiCommons (I couldn't find mine)

I've seen several recipes going around Facebook and Pinterest for a crockpot lasagna, and promised my friends that I definitely had a better (and easier) one.  I've shared it before on my column on MomTrends, but I think I need it here too.

Most versions of crockpot lasagna involve precooking the ground beef.  If I actually had any desire to precook anything, I wouldn't be using my crockpot, I'd just use the oven and a pan.  My entire reason for using a crockpot is to throw the food into it and come back later to a cooked meal and one dirty dish.

So without further ado, the no-cook crockpot lasagna recipe!

Ingredients:
15 oz. (1 container) ricotta cheese
1/4 cup parmesan cheese
2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
1 lb ground beef
2-3 Tbsp minced garlic
1 tsp oregano
1 jar marinara sauce (24 oz)
Lasagna noodles

Directions:
In one bowl, combine ricotta, parmesan and 1 cup of mozzarella. In a separate bowl, combine ground beef, oregano and garlic.
Pour 1/4 to 1/2 cup of marinara sauce at the bottom of the crockpot (just enough to cover it) and add a layer of lasagna noodles, breaking to fit in place.
Spread about half the cheese mixture on top of the noodles, top with half the meat mixture and a cup of sauce.
Break noodles to fit again, top with rest of cheese, meat, 1 cup of sauce, and one more layer of noodles.
Pour the remaining sauce on top of the last layer of noodles and sprinkle with the reserved mozzarella.
Cook on low for 4-6 hours.

Optional, mix chopped spinach leaves into the ricotta cheese before layering!

Comments

  1. Gotta try this! Looks waaaay yummy. :)

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  2. LOVE that there is no precooking! Because as you say: if I use the crockpot I DON'T want to precook half the ingredients! Pinned for next week! Yum!

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  3. Made this last night!!! WHAT A HIT!! :) And so easy! Thanks Shannon :)

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  4. Made this last night. WHAT A HIT!! And so easy :) Thanks Shannon!

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  5. This is in the crock pot right now!

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  6. This is in the crock pot right now!

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  7. I'm going to make this today. Can't wait! Did you use regular lasagna noodles, or the noodes that do not need to be cooked first?

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  8. I'm going to make this today. Can't wait! Did you use regular lasagna noodles, or the noodes that do not need to be cooked first?

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    1. I always use regular noodles. Just break the edges a little to fit. :)

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  9. The picture shows spinach but the ingredients list or the recipe doesn't. Do I just substitute it for the meat

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    1. No, it definitely needs the meat.

      You can add chopped spinach to the ricotta or a thin layer of it on the cheese layer, but I have no idea what would happen if you switched it for the meat. :)

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  10. Looks delicious! Am I correct that I do not precook the meat and just add it raw?

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    1. Yes! That's why I love this one so much, just mix up the raw meat with the seasonings and add it in!

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  11. Can this be made with ground turkey? Hubs is allergic to beef.

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    1. I've never tried, so I really can't say.

      In theory, I don't see why not, but I can't make any promises. (My husband hates ground turkey, so I can't even do a test run of it.)

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  12. Yum!! What size crock pot is this good for? Also, would it work to use ground beef I already have cooked? Or is it better to use raw? (sorry if this posted twice - not sure if I clicked the right button the first time.) :)

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    1. I have a big black oval one, about 18 inches across. I can't remember if it's a 6 quart or 8 quart though, I can fit a whole chicken in it though, if that helps.

      Cooked beef might not leave you enough liquid leftover to make it nice and juicy, but I don't see why you couldn't use it.

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  13. How many adults does this recipe serve? Sounds delish..

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  14. If you don't precook the ground beef, does it all just bake together into one big layer of meat, or does it "crumble" into smaller pieces? Does that make sense? :)

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  15. I chop up the spinach and mix it right into the cheese mixture, then they can't pick it out and it is not do over powering. My DD who won't be in that same room as spinach loves it like this.

    I am also going to have to use pre-made sauce, we're kind of picky that way, but I can it, so it's not do bad. I make a large batch 5-10 pounds of hamburger, then when done I put it in either quart sealers, you can use bigger jars if you want I just don't have any; or freeze the sauce in Ziploc baggies. I prefer the jars, because I can make a homemade spaghetti meal in the time it takes to cook the spaghetti, warm the sauce and make a salad.

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  16. Made this tonight and the kids loved it. Use regular lasagne noodles. Yummy.

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  17. I've just put everything in my cooker and I can't wait to taste it this evening!

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  18. Can I prepare it the night before, store it in the refrigerator and turn on the crockpot in the morning?

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    1. I've never tried. I don't like to put my inner crockpot in the fridge. :(

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  19. Can gluten free noodles be used in this recipe?

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    1. I'm not sure. We don't purchase gluten-free noodles (I tried once for a different project and my kids hated the taste, so since we aren't GF, I've never bought them again).

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  20. It is going in crock pot right now I hope it turns out OK for me

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  21. I usually buy frozen. Thaw it a little (like running the brick of it under water) and chop!

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