A traditional recipe for a Crock-Pot Layered Lasagna Casserole that comes out beautifully and makes for a simple dinner on any night. This recipe is cooked in the rectangular casserole shaped slow cooker but could easily be adapted to a round or oval slow cooker too.
Slow Cooker Layered Lasagna Casserole
Many of my recipes lately have been using my newest addition to my Crock-Pot collection. This 3.5 quart casserole Crock-Pot is slowly becoming one of my favorite slow cookers in my arsenal. Oh sure, I still love my trusty 6.5 quart oval slow cooker too but the rectangular shape of this casserole slow cooker is just so darn handy! Even though it is smaller by volume I can still fit a lot of food in it! Plus some things just look better when they are cooked in this shape.
Lasagna is one of those dishes. Oh sure there are several recipes out there that are made in a traditional round or oval slow cooker (we have a couple HERE and HERE). They come out tasty oh sure, but they don’t quite LOOK like the traditional layered lasagna that we all know and love. But this one does…it is put together just like a oven-baked lasagna is and in fact is the exact same recipe I would use if I was going to bake it in the oven.
But I don’t like to bake things in my oven, not if I can crock it instead. Otherwise this blog would be called Oven Ladies. đŸ˜€
So here you go, my go to recipe for lasagna made in the slow cooker. To feed my family I made up a quick salad and and some crusty bread. A winner for dinner any night!
Special Diets
This recipe for Crock-Pot Layered Lasagna Casserole is Weight Watchers Friendly on the new Personal Points plan. You can see the WW personal points for this recipe here on the Weight Watchers website. Click here for MORE of our Weight Watchers Recipes
Crock-Pot Layered Lasagna Casserole Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 Lbs. Italian Sausage
- 1 Whole Onion ((Diced small))
- 3 Cloves Garlic ((Minced))
- 15 Oz. Low Fat Ricotta Cheese
- 1 Teaspoon Dried Oregano
- 1 Teaspoon Dried Basil
- 1 Teaspoon Dried Parsley
- 1 Whole Egg
- 1 Cup Parmesan Cheese
- 48 Ounces Jarred Marinara Sauce (Store Bought Or Homemade)
- 4 Cups Mozzarella Cheese ((Shredded))
- 9 Oz. Lasagna Noodles ((No cook variety – I use Barilla brand))
Instructions
- In a large skillet cook the Italian sausage, onion and minced garlic. Breaking up the sausage into crumbles and cooking until the sausage is cooked and no longer pink. Drain to remove excess grease and set aside.
- In a medium bowl stir together the ricotta cheese, oregano, basil, parsley, egg and Parmesan cheese until well mixed. Set aside.
- In the bottom of a 3.5 quart casserole shaped slow cooker add 1 1/2 cup of marinara sauce and spread it to cover the entire bottom of dish.
- Lay down on top of the sauce 1 layer of uncooked lasagna noodles.
- On top of the lasagna noodles spread half of the ricotta cheese mixture making sure it is evenly distributed.
- Sprinkle a a layer of mozzarella cheese on top of the ricotta cheese.
- Add a layer of the browned sausage, onion & garlic mixture.
- Add a layer of marinara sauce.
- Repeat layers – noodles, ricotta cheese, mozzarella cheese, sausage, sauce. Ending with sauce then a light layer of mozzarella cheese.
- Cover crock-pot and cook on LOW for 6-8 hours.
- Serve with a side salad and some crusty bread or garlic bread for a wonderful and easy dinner.
Notes
Nutrition
I did this yesterday in my casserole crock pot and the 6 to 8 hours is too long. Ended up burning the edges and parts of the bottom. I cooked it for 7 hours. I think time needs to be adjusted.
Well 7 hours falls into the 6 to 8 hour time range. Some crock-pots cook a little hotter than others that is why we give a time range on most recipes. We always recommend cooking for the shortest amount of time (in this case 6 hours) and checking to see if it needs further cooking.
I cooked mine for 6 hours on low and one side was burned.
I am sorry your lasagna burned. When you mention that it burned on only one side that makes me think that your slow cooker is heating unevenly as it shouldn’t do that.
When I make my lasagna in the casserole crock pot without cooking the noodles, I always use about a cup and a half of water. It helps cook the noodles without burning them .
Great tip, thanks for sharing Sherry! I have never had an issue with the noodles burning but I think it would depend on the type of marinara sauce you use too. Some are more watery than others. If I am using a thicker brand of sauce I sometimes add a little water to the empty jar and give it a shake and pour that into my lasagna.
Heidi, this recipe looks great! I bought this same crockpot but have not used it yet. Now I have a plan.
Thanks,
You’re welcome Susan, this Crock-Pot is one of my favorites and I find myself using it at least once a week. We have several recipes here on the site for it (and I am always working on more) but I also just find the size nice for things like meatloaf, casseroles (of course) and baked potatoes & sweet potatoes.
How would you suggest I adjust the time if I am using cooked noodles (I’ve already assembled the casserole)? FYI, I am using the same crockpot as the one you have pictured in this post just the programmable version.
If you are using cooked noodles the lasagna does not need to cook quite as long. I would shave an hour or two off the cooking time.
Hi, can we use regular lasagna noodles? I don’t have the no-cook ones on hand
Hi Beth, I have not tried this recipe with regular lasagna noodles as I always use the no-cook ones. I think it should work but cannot be 100% sure. If you try it, please come on back and let us know how it turned out for you!
Trying this for the first time today, fingers crossed it comes out okay. I will definitely let you know how it came out. I love my casserole slow cooker and need more recipes for it.
Hope you enjoy the lasagna recipe Susan! That casserole crock-pot is one of my favorites too!
Also, you can find more recipes here on the site for the 3.5 quart casserole slow cooker here -> https://crockpotladies.com/tag/3-5-quart-casserole-crock-pot/
Do you know if I can assemble the lasagna in this crock pot pan the night before and go straight from fridge to heating? If so, fo you think it will take the full 8 hours to bake?
Hi Jennifer, while I have not personally assembled and refrigerated this lasagna recipe I am pretty sure it would work. I think the cooking time should be pretty close to the original recipe but cannot give a for sure answer. I would give it a try and just sort of watch it there near the end (maybe check on it at 6 hours). Come back and let me know how it turned out!
Do you have to cook the lasagna on low?
Yes this recipe is best cooked on LOW for 6 yo 8 hours.
Can you cook this the day before and then reheat the day of? In the crockpot
Yes you can!
This is the worst thing I cooked in my entire life. Cooked for 6 hours. The entire bottom burned. Had to throw it out. What a waste of time and money.
I am sorry this recipe did not turn out well for you Carol. Perhaps your slow cooker cooks at a higher temperature than most or has a hot spot. I wish I knew why your lasagna burned but I cook this recipe in my slow cooker at least once a month and have never had an issue.
Just made this recipe using the Casserole Style Crock and it was done in 3.5 hours. Any longer would have burned the lasagna. Luckily I read the others comments about timing and made sure to check at the 3 hr mark vs 6 hrs. I know I should have let it cool before digging in but it looked and smelled so delicious my fork convinced me to dive right in piping hot and it was worth it! Thank you so much for this recipe, now I can finally put my Casserole Crock to use. Can’t believe I’ve had this thing for 6 years and have only used it twice before today.
So glad you enjoyed this recipe English.