Let me tell you, today’s dinner was just amazing. It was just like you slaved over a hot stove all day trying to make the best lasagna ever!!!!
No one will believe that this dinner was done in a crock pot… soo…if you won’t tell I won’t either…
All the recipes featured this week for My Crock Pot Meal Plan are from Fix-it and Forget-it Christmas Cookbook: 600 Slow Cooker Holiday Recipes
Today on the Menu :
Slow Cooker Almost Lasagna
This will take a little prep time on your part, BUT it is sooo worth it!!!! I would suggest if you are a working mom and need it quick in the mornings like I do; cook the pasta and brown the beef/ sausage the night bef. put in the fridge and then cook the next morning, if you are a stay at home mom, I would not start cooking this till about 1pm, it takes about 4-6 hrs. on low
Here is what you need: ( I only have part of the ingredients in the pic.. sorry)
This will make 8-10 servings, i used 1/2 the recipe ( except for the pasta, I used the whole box)for our dinner and we had a HUGE pot of lasagna.
1 Box Rotini or ziti cooked 2 Tbsp. olive oil 2 28 oz jars of pasta sauce 9 your favorite kind) 2 cups tomato juice ( or sauce) 1/2 lb ground beef 1/2 lb sausage ( we didn’t have sausage, and used 1 1/2 lb of ground beef) 2 cups grated Parmesan Cheese ( divided) 1/2 cup Italian bread crumbs 3 eggs,( divided) 2 cups mozzarella cheese ( divided) 2 cups ricotta cheese 1 1/2 tsp. parsley flakes ( I had none, so I left those out) 3/4 tsp. salt ( I left that out, had enough salt in the Tomatoes) 1/4 tsp. pepper 1 medium Onion ( not in the recipe but we always add onion)
How to make it:
- Mix cooked pasta, olive oil, pasta sauce and tomato juice ( or Tomato sauce), set aside.
- Brown beef and sausage( and the onion if you like), set aside and let cool
- Stir 1 cup Parmesan cheese, bread crumbs, 1 egg and 1 cup mozzarella cheese into the cool meat mixture and mix well.
- In a separate bowl beat together ricotta cheese, 2 eggs, 1 cup Parmesan cheese, parsley flakes, salt and pepper, set aside.
How to assemble your lasagna.
- Pour 1/2 of pasta- sauce mix into slow cooker
- spread entire ricotta mixture over the pasta
- top with entire meat mixture
- cover with remaining pasta mixture
- sprinkle with remaining 1 cup mozzarella cheese
- Cover, cook on low 4-6 hrs.
This was delicious ….OMG.. just like a “real” lasagna, the cheese and everything, it looked and smelled the same way, BUT soo much easier and less work on your part. Let your slow cooker do the cooking for you. My Tween and teen gobbled it all up. They gave it 2 thumbs up…
Enjoy.
Lauren Monsey Nagel says
Oh my, this does sound yummy. I would love some good crockpot recipes! I’m so glad you posted this, it does sound quite good. I like onions too.
Lauren Monsey Nagel recently posted..Cold Weather is Here- Its time to bake!
mausekind says
Lauren… it was sooo yummy… I have never made Pasta in the crock pot bef. and was hesitant… this was great… really… I will make that more often… let me know how it turned out if you decide to make it:-)
Karen Foster says
Sounds great! I can’t wait to try it! Thanks!!
Karen
Karen Foster recently posted..Vintage Wanna Bee- GIVEAWAY!!! GIVEAWAY!!! My very first giveaway!
Anna Pry says
sounds good but I wonder how much time it really saves? If you have to cook the pasta and the meat separately anyway, I think I’d just go ahead and make the traditional version.
Sarah Osborne says
I’ve always been too hesitant to make homemade lasagna, but I think I could do this one!