Best 5 Authentic Italian Crock Pot Lasagna Recipes

CLASSIC ITALIAN LASAGNA

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
• Bechamel sauce:
• In a 2-quart pot, melt 5 tablespoons of butter over medium heat. When butter has completely melted, add the flour and whisk until smooth, about 2 minutes. Gradually add the milk, whisking constantly to prevent any lumps from forming. Continue to simmer and whisk over medium heat until the sauce is thick, smooth and creamy, about 10 minutes. The sauce should be thick enough to coat the back of wooden spoon. Remove from heat and add the nutmeg and tomato sauce. Stir until well combined and check for seasoning. Set aside and allow to cool completely.
• In a saute pan, heat extra-virgin olive oil. When almost smoking, add the ground beef and season with salt and pepper. Brown meat, breaking any large lumps, until it is no longer pink. Remove from heat and drain any excess fat. Set aside and allow to cool completely.
• In a medium sized bowl, thoroughly mix the ricotta and eggs. Season with salt and pepper. Set aside.
• Into the bottom of a 13 by 9-inch baking dish, spread 1/3 of the bechamel sauce. Arrange the pasta sheets side by side, covering the bottom of the baking dish. Evenly spread a layer of all the ricotta mixture and then a layer of all the spinach. Arrange another layer of pasta sheets and spread all the ground beef on top. Sprinkle 1/2 the mozzarella cheese on top of the beef. Spread another 1/3 of the bechamel sauce. Arrange the final layer of pasta sheets and top with remaining bechamel, mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses. Cut the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter into 1/4-inch cubes and top lasagna.
• Line a large baking sheet with aluminum foil. Place lasagna dish on top, cover and put on the middle rack of the oven and bake until top is bubbling, about 30 minutes. Remove cover and continue to bake for about 15 minutes.
• In a large casserole pot or Dutch over, heat oil over medium high heat. Add onion and garlic and saute until soft and translucent, about 5 to 10 minutes. Add celery and carrots and season with salt and pepper. Saute until all the vegetables are soft, about 5 to 10 minutes. Add tomatoes and bay leaves and simmer uncovered on low heat for 1 hour or until thick. Remove bay leaves and check for seasoning. If sauce still tastes acidic, add unsalted butter, 1 tablespoon at a time to round out the flavors.
• Add 1/2 the tomato sauce into the bowl of a food processor. Process until smooth. Continue with remaining tomato sauce.
• If not using all the sauce, allow it to cool completely and pour 1 to 2 cup portions into freezer plastic bags. This will freeze up to 6 months.

SLOW COOKER LASAGNA

Steps:

• In a large skillet over medium heat cook the ground beef, onion, and garlic until brown. Add the tomato sauce, tomato paste, salt, and oregano and stir until well incorporated. Cook until heated through.
• In a large bowl mix together the cottage cheese, grated Parmesan cheese, and shredded mozzarella cheese.
• Spoon a layer of the meat mixture onto the bottom of the slow cooker. Add a double layer of the uncooked lasagna noodles. Break to fit noodles into slow cooker. Top noodles with a portion of the cheese mixture. Repeat the layering of sauce, noodles, and cheese until all the ingredients are used.
• Cover, and cook on LOW setting for 4 to 6 hours.

AUTHENTIC ITALIAN CROCK POT LASAGNA

Steps:

• Spray crock pot with non-stick cooking spray.
• Heat olive oil and saute onion and garlic in Dutch oven.
• Add ground beef and cook until lightly browned.
• Add salt and pepper and mix well. Remove meat from pan and set aside.
• Add tomato paste and cook approximately 5 minutes, until browned.
• Add crushed tomatoes, basil, wine, sugar and hot pepper. Stir in the browned ground beef and mix well.
• Cover and let simmer 30 minutes while you prepare the cheese mixture.
• Place ricotta cheese in large mixing bowl.
• Make a well in the center and add 1/2 cup Romano cheese, mozzarella cubes, salt, pepper, and parsley.
• In a small bowl, beat egg lightly. Pour into center well with cheeses.
• Mix until thoroughly combined.
• When tomato sauce has cooked for 30 minutes, spoon a layer of tomato sauce into a 6-qt. oval crock pot.
• Cover with a layer of lasagna noodles, overlapping and breaking pasta to fit all around the bottom, if necessary.
• Add half of the ricotta mixture and carefully spread over lasagna noodles with a frosting knife.
• Cover with a layer of sauce. Then add another layer of lasagna noodles, ricotta mixture, sauce.
• End with a final layer of lasagna noodles and the remaining sauce.
• Cover and cook on low for 4 hours. (I have to set mine on 8 hours and shut it off or switch it to keep warm after 4 hours since my slow cooker cooks anything under 8 on high.).
• In the last 60 minutes, sprinkle top with remaining Romano cheese and slices of mozzarella.

CROCK POT LASAGNA

Steps:

• Brown the beef, onion and garlic in a little oil in a frying pan. Drain off any grease.
• Add the spaghetti sauce into the browned meat mixture. Mix well.
• In a separate bowl, mix the ricotta cheese, milk and egg. beat until thoroughly mixed and smooth. Then mix in the mozzarella cheese and the grated cheese, so that all the cheeses are combined.
• Grease the crock pot with some vegetable spray on the bottom and sides.
• Put about 1/4 of the meat and sauce mixture in the bottom of the crock pot. Put a layer of noodles on top of that ( break or cut them if needed). Put about 1/3 of the cheese mixture on top of that. Then repeat with sauce, noodle, cheese for another 2 layers. Top with meat sauce. Cook on low for 4-6 hours or until noodle are tender.

SLOW-COOKED LASAGNA

Steps:

• In a large skillet, cook the beef, green pepper and onion over medium heat until meat is no longer pink; drain. Stir in pasta sauce; heat through. In a large bowl, combine the mozzarella and ricotta cheeses, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, salt and pepper. , Spread 1 cup meat sauce in an oval 3-qt. slow cooker. Break one lasagna noodle into three pieces. Layer 1-1/3 noodles over sauce, breaking noodles to fit as necessary. Top with 2/3 cup meat sauce and 1-1/3 cups cheese mixture. Repeat layers twice. Top with remaining sauce., Cover and cook on low for 4-5 hours or until noodles are tender. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese. Cover and cook 15 minutes longer. Let stand for 10 minutes before cutting.