Lasagna Made Simple
How is lasagna made simple? Here’s how… layer ingredients in the slow cooker, including uncooked lasagna noodles, set on high for 2 1/2 hours and let the slow cooking process work it’s magic!
This is another example of a time consuming recipe simplified, big time!
Easy steps in slow cooker Lasagna:
- Make sauce mixture
- Combine cheeses
- Layer ingredients in slow cooker
- Cook for 2-3 hours
Layering Slow Cooker Lasagna:
- Sauce
- Noodles
- Cheeses Mixture
- Repeat!
Can I put raw pasta in a slow cooker?
Yes!!!! Here’s when it works…. if you’re adding lots of liquid or sauce to a recipe the liquid will cause your pasta to cook all the way through, thus eliminating the need to pre-cook pasta. I really love eliminating steps! In fact, you’ll need to check the pasta about a half hour before you anticipate the dish will be done to make sure that it doesn’t overcook which will result in either crusty or mushy pasta.
How many layers should Lasagna be?
Great Lasagna should have at least three layers to give you that rich, creamy, layered effect. As they say, “the more the merrier!” Not only that, you’ll have nice thick slices which I think are always better!
Will Lasagna brown in the slow cooker?
Although it will not brown on the top, it will brown nicely on the edges. Maybe it depends on your pot? I thought that I would miss the fact that the cheese doesn’t get toasty brown on the top but it actually doesn’t change the taste at all. Matter of fact, crock pot lasagna stays really moist… you won’t end up with that dried out top layer of noodles!
Is Lasagna better with ricotta or cottage cheese?
Ricotta– Tastes more like the authentic béchamel sauce that’s in real Italian lasagna recipes. It’s thicker and holds together better; more like soft cheese. Ricotta is your best bet for more traditional, authentic lasagna.
Cottage Cheese- Is a great alternative if you don’t have ricotta or you’re trying to cut out a few calories and some fat. When using cottage cheese make sure you get the small curd variety, it’s drier and has a consistency more like ricotta which means it’ll hold together better than the large curd which is much looser and liquid.
Bottom line… it’s totally up to you, use what you like! Personally, I love both of them! That’s why we’ll be using cottage cheese and ricotta in this recipe. I tried it with ricotta and cottage cheese alone, then tried it with both of them and I (and my family) decided its amazing with both! Because, can you have too much cheese? However, if you only have one it’ll still be delicious!
Lasagna simplifying tips:
Jarred pasta sauce is the way to go! Barilla is my go-to pasta sauce in a jar. First of all it’s really good! I’ve been told by Italian cooks that it’s the one they use… that says a lot! Not only that, but it’s inexpensive and you can find it in most grocery stores or at Wal-Mart.
Pre-Grated Mozzarella and Parmesan are also great time savers.
“People who have fully prepared always save time. “
Albert Einstein
More easy pasta recipes you’ll love:
Baked Spinach and Cheese Ziti (Ziti Florentine)
Pasta with Kale and Tomatoes (in 15 Minutes)
Fettuccine Alfredo (5 ingredients, 15 minutes)
Which slow cooker is the best?
That depends on what you’re using it for, the size of your family and the type of settings you’ll need. For example, if you need a pot that will shut off at a specific time and stay on a warm setting you’ll want a programmable pot. like this one.
A good general size for a family of four is the basic 4 quart pot. These are very inexpensive… you can pick one up for under twenty bucks! Such as these
For a larger family (6-8) you’ll need at least a six quart pot. I like an oval six quart size for things like lasagna and large roasts. I have this one and I love it!
Lasagna Made Simple
Equipment
- 6-Quart Slow Cooker
Ingredients
- 1 lb. ground beef
- 1 onion chopped
- 1 tbsp garlic minced
- 2- 24 oz Jars of Spaghetti Sauce Barilla
- 1 tbsp Basil dried
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
- 15 oz cottage cheese small curd
- 1 cup ricotta cheese
- 1 egg
- 1 tbsp parsley dried
- 9 lasagna noodles
- 2 cups mozzarella cheese grated
- 1/2 cup Parmesan Cheese
Instructions
- Brown ground beef in a large skillet, drain excess grease.Add onions and garlic and cook until for a few minutes until softened.
- Add basil, salt & pepper. Stir in both jars of sauce & allow to simmer.
- Combine cottage cheese, ricotta, egg and parsley in medium sized bowl & mix well.
Assemble Lasagna
- Lightly grease the inside of slow cooker. (I use vegetable oil)
- Pour 1 1/2 cups of sauce mixture into the bottom of slow cooker.
- Place a layer of noodles over the sauce. I place one whole noodle in the center & break the other two to size as needed, filling in any spaces with broken pieces. (It doesn't have to be perfect, it'll all mesh together.)
- Divide the cheese mixture into thirds. Drop tablespoonfuls of cottage cheese mixture on top of noodles using 1/3 of the mixture.
- Sprinkle with 1/2 cup of mozzarella cheese & 2 tbsp. of Parmesan.
Repeat with sauce, noodles, cheese. 2 times, you will have 3 layers in total.
- Top with any remaining sauce and mozzarella.
- Cover and cook on high setting for 2 1/2 hours.
- Allow 20-30 minutes cooling time to make cutting easier.
I’d love to hear how this recipe came out for you! Please feel free to leave any questions or comments below.