Crock Pot Lasagna

My husband LOVES lasagna...and I don't make it in the summer months because I tell him it heats up the house with the oven on and it is really a "winter meal"...like chili or stew.  In the summer we are grilling and enjoying burgers, hot dogs, fish and chicken.  Whenever we are at an Italian restaurant and he will order lasagna he will always ask the waitress if it is a seasonal dish, or do they serve it all year round.  They have no idea what he is talking about...but I know it is to let me know you CAN have lasagna year round. 

So, I was thrilled to find this recipe for Crock Pot Lasagna on a blog called The Girl on Bloor. 

This is a great blog and after trying this I will be sure to follow for more great recipes as this lasagna turned out GREAT!!!

Easiest EVER Crock Pot Lasagna

• Cooking spray
• 1 lb extra-lean ground beef
• 1 yellow onion, diced
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1/2 tsp each salt & pepper
• 2 (650mL) jars tomato sauce (I used Aldi Organic sauces)
• 1 lb lasagna noodles (can use either oven ready or normal) uncooked
• 1 (475g) tub ricotta cheese
• 1 large egg
• 2 cups mozzarella cheese
• 1/2 cup water
• Chopped fresh basil or parsley, for garnish

We don't eat beef very often...I used ground turkey. It was a little more than a pound but that did not matter.

Brown the turkey or ground beef,

When meat is almost cooked through, add onions and garlic,

pepper,

and salt.

Add one jar of tomato sauce...

and stir until combined.

Spray inside of crock pot with cooking spray

then layer in a bit of the meat sauce to cover the bottom of the pot.

Add a layer of the uncooked lasagna noodles - I used whole grain - and you have to break up some pieces to fit.  I was worried how this would turn out, but it all went great!

I mixed together the ricotta, an egg, 

and added some dried parsley to the mix.

Layer the ricotta, the mozzarella, more of the meat sauce mixture...

Repeat until the crock pot is full...usually 3 layers total.

Pour the second jar of sauce over the entire mixture, top with more mozzarella cheese.  

Then pour the water in around the sides of the lasagna...I used the jar that the sauce came in, filled it with water, to get the last little bit of sauce out!

Put on the lid...

Cook for 3 hours on high, or 6 hours on low...I cooked it on low while we went to the pool !!!

It turned out GREAT !  I was thinking it would not 
come together, there would be spots without noodles since I had to break to fit in...but no.  And it came out in great pieces...just like pan lasagna.  

Here is the link to the recipe and instructions from The Girl on Bloor 

Crock Pot Lasagna

I will definitely make this again...it was delicious, re-heated well, and I froze two portions for a future meal.  Next time I think I will try adding spinach to the layers!

Have you ever tried lasagna in the crock pot ? Let me know if you have any other dishes that usually are make in the oven but can be so much easier in the crock pot.

Thanks so much for stopping by Our New Vista today.  Please leave a comment below - I love hearing from you !

Have a great week and enjoy the rest of August!