Delicious layers of pasta, meat sauce, and cheese, nothing beats making your favorite dish in the crock pot. This crock pot lasagna is quick, easy, and delicious! You may never go back to making it in your oven again.

crockpot lasagna next to slow cooker

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Easy Crockpot Lasagna Recipe

I’m always looking for new recipes to make in my crock pot, and this crock pot lasagna recipe has become one of my go-to week-day recipes. Quickly whip up some meat sauce on the stove top and layer everything in your slow cooker for a deliciously layered lasagna with tender noodles, creamy sauce, and lots of cheese.

Why you’ll love this Slow Cooker Lasagna recipe:

  • Won’t heat up the kitchen: I love this recipe because I can have homemade lasagna in the summertime without having to heat up my kitchen to have it.
  • Simple ingredients: Made with traditional lasagna ingredients, you’ll be able to find everything you need at your local grocery store. 
  • Easy to make: With your crock pot, this recipe is so easy to make. Throw it all in and come back in a few hours.

Easier than your oven lasagna recipe, you’ll love how quick and easy it is to make crockpot lasagna!

step by step photos for how to make crockpot lasagna
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lifting up slice of lasagna from crockpot

How to make Lasagna in a Crock Pot

You can jump to the recipe card for full ingredients & instructions!

  1. First, spray your crock pot with non-stick cooking spray.
  2. Brown the ground beef, onion, garlic, Italian seasoning, and salt for 5 minutes, until onions are softened.
  3. Then, stir in the marinara sauce and ½ cup of water, and simmer for 5 minutes.
  4. In a large bowl, combine the ricotta cheese, 1 cup mozzarella cheese, parmesan cheese, egg, basil, and pepper.
  5. Spread 1 cup of meat sauce on the bottom of the crock pot, evenly. Then, top with 3 noodles, breaking them so they fit. Finally, spread a third of the cheese mixture on top. 
  6. Repeat step 5, two more times to create three layers. Sprinkle the remaining mozzarella cheese on top.
  7. Cover and cook on low for 4 hours, until noodles are tender. Top with fresh basil, if desired.
inside of crockpot lasagna
slice of crockpot lasagna on white plate
Can I put dry pasta in the slow cooker?

Yes, you can! In fact, that’s exactly what you will be doing for this crock pot lasagna recipe. The uncooked noodles go straight into the crock pot, so you don’t even have to boil them first. Just let the crock pot do the work.

How long does it take to cook pasta in the slow cooker?

It depends on what type of pasta you are making. Since we have 3-layers of noodles in this recipe, it will take about 4 hours on low for your pasta to become tender. You can check the noodles sooner to see if they are done. They should be soft and tender.

What is the best order to layer lasagna?

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.

How do you store leftover lasagna?

You can place any leftover lasagna in an airtight container and store it in the refrigerator. Properly stored lasagna will last for 3 to 5 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.

Serving Suggestions

Lasagna is the perfect all-in-one meal solution. I like to serve it with a side of salad or some garlic bread. Here are a couple of my favorite side dishes:

Crock pot lasagna is the perfect busy weeknight meal. Serve it with or  without sides for a quick and easy dinner!

featured crockpot lasagna
inside of slice of crockpot lasagna

Tips!

  • Always use the no-boil noodles. They won’t get soggy and will absorb extra liquid
  • 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. 
  • You can substitute ricotta for small curd cottage cheese. 
  • Use a 5-6 quart oval slow cooker for best results.

You can’t get any easier than this crockpot lasagna! It’s sure to become your new favorite way to make it!

More Crockpot Recipes to Try

overhead slice of crockpot lasagna with bite

More Lasagna Recipes we Love

If you make this recipe be sure to upload a photo in the comment section below or leave a rating. Enjoy! You can also jump to recipe.

Recipe Card

Crockpot Lasagna Recipe

4.65 from 17 votes
Prep: 30 minutes
Cook: 4 hours
Total: 4 hours 30 minutes
Servings: 8 people
Author: Becky Hardin
overhead view of a wooden spoon lifting a slice of lasagna from a crockpot.
This crockpot lasagna recipe is so quick and easy. Make a simple meat sauce, then layer everything in the slow cooker, set it, and forget it!
Step-by-step photos can be seen below the recipe card.
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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
  • 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
    meat sauce in a large pan with a wooden spoon.
  • 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
    mixing ricotta and shredded cheeses in a glass bowl with a spoon.
  • 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
    ricotta cheese filling spread over noodles and meat sauce in a crockpot.
  • Repeat two more times, beginning with sauce and ending with cheese, creating 3 layers. Sprinkle the remaining mozzarella cheese on top.
    shredded cheese over lasagna in a crockpot.
  • Cover and cook on low for 4 hours, until noodles are tender. Top with fresh basil, if desired.
    Fresh basil
    lasagna in a crockpot topped with fresh basil.

Video

Becky’s Tips

Storage: Store crockpot lasagna in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months.
Calories: 519kcalCarbohydrates: 32gProtein: 32gFat: 29gSaturated Fat: 15gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 10gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 120mgSodium: 1005mgPotassium: 629mgFiber: 3gSugar: 5gVitamin A: 926IUVitamin C: 7mgCalcium: 405mgIron: 3mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Did you make this? Leave a comment!

Meet Becky Hardin

Becky Hardin is a wife and mother living in Saint Louis Missouri. She founded The Cookie Rookie in 2012 as a creative way to share recipes. Now, she is a trusted resource for easy cooking around the world, being featured in Taste of Home, The Kitchn, ABC’s Home and Family, and more. Here at The Cookie Rookie she is the editor in chief of all recipes and continues to enjoy sharing her passion for cooking for busy families. She has since founded two additional food blogs, Easy Chicken Recipes and Easy Dessert Recipes.

4.65 from 17 votes (17 ratings without comment)
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2 Comments
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Colleen C
Colleen C
August 6, 2022 12:05 pm

Could you make this with Alfredo sauce instead of marinara or would it curdle?

Samantha Marceau
August 8, 2022 9:12 am
Reply to  Colleen C

It will probably work with store-bought sauce, but homemade may curdle!