Easy Lazy Crockpot Lasagna Casserole

This cheesy crockpot lasagna casserole is packed with all the flavors of traditional lasagna but so much easier to make! No boiling the noodles required, just dump it all in your slow cooker and when you’re ready it’s the perfect lazy lasagna your whole family will love for sure.

I have made a lot of things over the years but last night I decided to make what we are calling, Crockpot lasagna casserole.  It’s now one of our favorite pasta crockpot recipes.  (originally published 6/17, affiliate links present)

I love my slow cooker and Instant Pot! They just make my life easier and meals simple in the kitchen.

I work full time and can still put a hot meal on the table for the 5 of us this way, love it!

If you too love slow cooker recipes of all kinds, you’re going to go crazy over this one. First let’s go over a few resources:

• This 8 quart is my all time favorite model.
  • For easier cleanup you can use these liners if you like.
• I love trying new things and this Crockpot cookbook has a TON of great ones in it.
• For the best Crockpot recipes ever we have a bunch here on The Typical Mom blog.

We have made crock pot lasagna before, but using smaller noodles makes it more of a casserole.

I like this more than the traditional way because kids can eat it easily and it can fit on the fork with each bite.

Crockpot lazy lasagna

You can of course do this in a pan on your stovetop over medium heat, or in your Instant Pot. If you forgot to defrost it beforehand, follow these directions on how to defrost ground beef fast.

• That is really the only prep you’ll need to do outside of your slow cooker.
• Since there are no regular lasagna noodles, there’s no need to boil any water for any reason.
• This cuts down on the cook time and frustration significantly.

All the wonderful flavors of your favorite lasagna are in this dish with the exception of one. You could easily add some of that too though if you wanted.

The only thing I didn’t include was the ricotta cheese. You could easily add a spoonful when you add in the mozzarella and it would be great that way too!

Crockpot goulash you might want to call it too but not as soupy as that so casserole fits the bill better in my eyes.

Any way you call it we all loved it and it literally cost under $10 to make and feed all of us PLUS there was enough for me to eat the next day for lunch, bonus!!

Crockpot casserole dish

• I like my large 8 qt. crockpot for this one so it has lots of room to bubble up
• You can use any small noodles but we like these the best
• 1 jar of pasta sauce (I usually use this meat sauce one)
  • if you only have tomato sauce I would add some Italian seasonings too
• Mozzarella cheese
• Ricotta or cottage cheese are optional
• 1 packet of taco seasoning (yes, it works great)
• Ground beef (can omit but adds a great taste)
  • or spicy Italian sausage
• Diced tomatoes (I like the petite version)
• If we have parmesan cheese we will put some on top when serving this

If you like a wetter consistency just add more spaghetti sauce to this lazy slow cooker lasagna. It is very versatile depending on your preference.

• In a hurry? Make our pressure cooker lasagna casserole recipe

Crockpot lasagna casserole

Looking for more easy crockpot recipes or easy cheap crockpot recipes?

• Crockpot hamburger recipes
• Easy Crockpot Italian Wedding Soup
• Taco dip with ground beef
• Here are more easy Crockpot dinner ideas too

If you are looking for other other easy slow cooker pasta recipes we have a few more you should try.

• If you’d like to make a lasagna casserole in the oven you can do that too.
• Our enchilada lasagna doesn’t have noodles at all, but has a Mexican twist to this Italian meal.

Then try our favorite Instant Pot lasagna soup seen here! Healthy and the kids will love it because it’s super flavorful.

What is the best way to freeze lasagna?

Even though this isn’t the “traditional way” to make it, since there are the same ingredients you’d treat it as such. 

• If you want to freeze it after some has been eaten, you can put leftovers into airtight plastic containers or freezer bags.
• Always allow food to completely cool to room temperature before packaging it up and putting it in the fridge or freezer. If you don’t it can grow bacteria easier when cooled and make you sick.
• You can freeze lasagna before you cook it as well! I haven’t tried this but know others who have done this.

If you’re a fan of batch cooking it’s a great idea to assemble the first 3 instructions below and store in freezer bags. Then defrost what’s in there, throw it in your Crock when you’re ready and continue with the next steps as usual.

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What is a good side dish for lasagna?

Our favorite side dish would be this garlic pull apart bread. In each dish, top with remaining cheese and serve together or 1/2 hour before serving melt cheese on top of the whole thing in the pot.

You can print recipe below. It is complete with nutritional information too, i.e. saturated fat and calories per serving.

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4.88 from 8 votes

Crockpot Lasagna Casserole

This crockpot lasagna casserole is cheesy and packed with all the flavors of traditional lasagna but easier to make! Great slow cooker dinner casserole.

Course Entree, Main Course

Cuisine Italian

Keyword casserole, crockpot, easy, lasagna, no boil, pasta, slow cooker

Prep Time 15 minutes

Cook Time 4 hours

Total Time 4 hours 15 minutes

Servings 6

Calories 593kcal

Author The Typical Mom

Ingredients

• 1 onion
• 1 lb ground beef (could use sausage instead)
• 12 oz noodles (shell or bow tie noodles)
• 28 oz spaghetti sauce (32 oz if you want it soupier and more like goulash)
• 1 can diced tomatoes
• 3 tbsp taco seasoning
• 1 1/2 c mozzarella cheese
• 3/4 c ricotta cheese (optional)

Instructions

• Brown ground beef and diced onion in a pan, then add to your crockpot.
• Pour can of spaghetti sauce and can of diced tomatoes on top of meat.
• Sprinkle taco seasoning on top, stir well.
• Set crockpot to high and cook for 3 hours, or low and cook for 5-6 hours.
• Lift lid when done cooking and add your uncooked noodles and 1 cup of cheese, (and ricotta if you choose to add it) stir well.
• Sprinkle other 1/2 c. of cheese on top and put lid back on.
• Set to high for 30 minutes.
• Serve!

Video

Nutrition Facts

Crockpot Lasagna Casserole

Amount Per Serving (8 oz)

Calories 593 Calories from Fat 234

% Daily Value*

Fat 26g40%

Saturated Fat 12g75%

Cholesterol 91mg30%

Sodium 1063mg46%

Potassium 977mg28%

Carbohydrates 56g19%

Fiber 5g21%

Sugar 10g11%

Protein 32g64%

Vitamin A 1105IU22%

Vitamin C 17.6mg21%

Calcium 273mg27%

Iron 4.6mg26%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.