Hamdi Saidani This Pioneer Woman Crock Pot Lasagna is a cheesy and hearty recipe, which is made with ground beef and Italian sausage. It’s the ultimate comfort food recipe, ready in about 5 hours.
Pioneer Woman Crock Pot Lasagna Recipe Ingredients
For the Meat Mixture:
- 2 teaspoons olive oil
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 2 pounds ground beef
- 1 pound Italian sausage, casing removed
- 3 cloves garlic, finely chopped
- One 28-ounce can diced tomatoes
- One 14.5-ounce can diced tomatoes
- One 6-ounce can tomato paste
- 1 tablespoon minced fresh basil
- 1 tablespoon minced fresh flat-leaf parsley
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- Freshly ground black pepper
For the Cheese Mixture:
- 3 cups ricotta cheese
- 3/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan
- 1/2 cup grated Romano
- 1 tablespoon minced fresh basil
- 1 tablespoon minced fresh flat-leaf parsley
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 2 large eggs, beaten
For the Lasagna Assembly:
- Nonstick cooking spray
- 15 uncooked lasagna noodles
- 2 cups grated mozzarella
How To Make Pioneer Woman Crock Pot Lasagna
- Make the Meat Sauce: In a large skillet over medium-high heat, sauté the onion in olive oil for 5 minutes. Add the ground beef, sausage, and garlic, and cook until the meat is browned, about 7 to 9 minutes. Drain off the excess fat. Stir in the diced tomatoes, tomato paste, basil, parsley, oregano, salt, and pepper.
- Mix the Cheese Filling: In a medium bowl, combine the ricotta, Parmesan, Romano, basil, parsley, salt, pepper, and beaten eggs. Stir everything together until well combined.
- Layer the Lasagna: Spray a 6-quart slow cooker with cooking spray. Start by spreading about one-quarter of the meat sauce on the bottom. Top with 5 uncooked lasagna noodles, breaking them as needed to fit. Spread one-third of the cheese mixture over the noodles, then sprinkle with 1/2 cup of mozzarella. Repeat this layering process twice more.
- Finish the Top Layer: For the final layer, top with the remaining meat mixture and the last 1/2 cup of mozzarella cheese.
- Slow Cook and Rest: Cover the slow cooker and cook on LOW for 4 hours. Once the time is up, turn off the heat, uncover, and let the lasagna sit and set for 30 minutes before serving. Garnish with fresh parsley.
Recipe Tips
- How to prevent a watery crock pot lasagna? Using a thick meat sauce is key. Also, the 30-minute resting period after cooking is not optional! This crucial step allows the lasagna to set up and absorb any excess liquid, making it easy to slice.
- Can I use oven-ready or no-boil noodles? This recipe is specifically designed to use regular, uncooked lasagna noodles. The slow, moist cooking environment softens them perfectly. No-boil noodles can sometimes become too soft or mushy in a slow cooker.
- Can I assemble this lasagna ahead of time? Yes, this is a great make-ahead meal. You can assemble the entire lasagna in the slow cooker insert, cover it, and refrigerate for up to 24 hours. You may need to add 30-60 minutes to the total cooking time.
- Can I make this with just ground beef? You can, but the Italian sausage adds a huge amount of savory, spiced flavor. If you use all ground beef, consider adding an extra teaspoon of Italian seasoning to the meat sauce to compensate.
What To Serve With Crock Pot Lasagna
This is a hearty, all-in-one meal. For a classic Italian-American dinner experience, serve it with:
- Warm, crusty garlic bread
- A simple Caesar salad
- A classic green salad with Italian vinaigrette
How To Store Crock Pot Lasagna
- Refrigerate: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
- Freeze: Lasagna freezes very well. You can freeze individual slices or the entire casserole. Let it cool completely, then wrap it tightly. It will keep for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.
Crock Pot Lasagna Nutrition Facts
- Serving: 1/10th of recipe
- Calories: 650 kcal
- Carbohydrates: 35g
- Protein: 45g
- Fat: 38g
- Saturated Fat: 18g
- Sodium: 1200mg
Nutrition information is estimated and may vary based on ingredients and cooking methods used.
FAQs
Why cook lasagna in a slow cooker?
It’s a fantastic method for freeing up your oven, especially during the holidays. It also keeps the house cool in the summer and allows the meat sauce to simmer and become extra tender.
Do you have to break the lasagna noodles?
Yes. Since most slow cooker inserts are oval, you will need to break the straight, uncooked noodles to fit them into a relatively even layer. This is perfectly normal and won’t affect the final dish.
My lasagna came out burnt on the edges. What happened?
Some slow cookers can have hot spots, especially around the edges. Using a slow cooker liner can sometimes help with more even heating. Also, ensure your meat sauce is spread all the way to the edges to keep the noodles covered in liquid.
Try More Pioneer Woman Recipes:
- Pioneer Woman Crock Pot Cube Steak Recipe
- Pioneer Woman Crock Pot Apple Butter Recipe
- Pioneer Woman Crock Pot Chili Recipe
Pioneer Woman Crock Pot Lasagna Recipe
Description
A rich and cheesy layered pasta bake made easy in the slow cooker, with a hearty meat sauce, creamy ricotta filling, and no-boil-needed noodles.
Ingredients
Instructions
- In a skillet, make the meat sauce by browning the beef, sausage, onion, and garlic. Drain the fat, then stir in the tomatoes, paste, and seasonings.
- In a bowl, mix all the cheese filling ingredients until well combined.
- In a greased 6-quart slow cooker, create three layers in this order: meat sauce, broken uncooked noodles, cheese filling, and mozzarella.
- Top the final layer with the remaining meat sauce and mozzarella.
- Cover and cook on LOW for 4 hours.
- Turn off the heat and let the lasagna rest, uncovered, for 30 minutes before serving.
Notes
- u003cliu003eThe most important step for a non-watery lasagna that slices well is to let it rest for the full 30 minutes after cooking.u003c/liu003eu003cliu003eUsing regular, uncooked lasagna noodles is key; they cook to perfection in the slow cooker’s moist environment.u003c/liu003eu003cliu003eFor the best flavor and melt, always shred your own Parmesan, Romano, and mozzarella cheeses from blocks.u003c/liu003eu003cliu003eDon’t be afraid to break the uncooked lasagna noodles to create a solid layer that fits your slow cooker’s shape.u003c/liu003e
