Authentic Italian Crock Pot Lasagna Food

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.

CROCK-POT EASY LASAGNA RECIPE

Steps:

• In a medium skillet, cook and crumble the ground beef over medium-high heat on the stove top until no longer pink. Drain off excess fat and add the marinara sauce skillet and stir to combine.
• Spray a 3.5 quart casserole OR a 6 quart oval slow cooker with non-stick cooking spray (or line with a slow cooker liner) to make removal of the cooked lasagna easier.
• Spoon a thin layer of the meat sauce in the bottom of the slow cooker and spread evenly.
• Add a layer of no-bake lasagna noodles, breaking them in half if needed to make them fit in the slow cooker.
• Add another layer of the meat sauce on top of the noodles.
• Add a layer of both mozzarella and cheddar cheese.
• Add another layer of meat sauce, a layer of noodles, and another layer of meat sauce and then a final layer of cheese for the very top layer.
• Cover and cook on LOW for 4 to 5 hours or until the noodles are tender.

CROCKPOT LASAGNA CASSEROLE

Steps:

• 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!

SLOW COOKER ITALIAN SAUSAGE LASAGNA

Steps:

• Cook sausage and onion in 10-inch skillet over medium heat 6-8 minutes, stirring occasionally, until sausage is no longer pink; drain. Stir in undrained tomato sauce, basil and salt.
• Mix 1 cup of the mozzarella cheese and the ricotta and Parmesan cheeses. Refrigerate remaining mozzarella cheese while lasagna cooks.
• Spoon 1/4 of the sausage mixture into 6-quart slow cooker; top with 5 about noodles, broken to fit the pot. Spread with 1/2 of the cheese mixture and 1/4 of the sausage mixture. Top with 5 noodles, remaining cheese mixture and 1/4 of the sausage mixture. Top with remaining 5 noodles and remaining sausage mixture.
• Cover and cook on Low heat setting 4-6 hours or until noodles are tender.
• Sprinkle top of lasagna with remaining mozzarella cheese. Cover and let stand about 10 minutes or until cheese is melted. Cut straight down and enjoy!
• Tips: Sprinkle some chopped fresh parsley on top before serving for added appeal. Italian sausage can be interchanged with the hot or spicy varieties for more zing. Links can be substituted by cutting the casings and squeezing the meat out and cooking as directed.

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.

GLUTEN FREE CROCK POT LASAGNA SOUP

Steps:

• Brown the ground beef in a large sauce pan and drain off in excess grease.
• Place the ground beef, onion, red bell pepper, diced tomatoes, crushed tomatoes, garlic, Italian seasoning and beef broth in a 6 quart crock pot.
• Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours or on high for 3-4 hours.
• Stir in the uncooked gluten free pasta. Cover and switch the crock pot to the high setting. Cook for 20-40 minutes until the noodles are cooked through and cooked to the tenderness that you prefer.
• Spoon into bowls. Top with a tablespoon of ricotta cheese, and a handful of mozzarella and parmesan cheese.
• Enjoy!

SLOW COOKER LASAGNA

Steps:

• In a large skillet, brown and crumble the ground beef, add in onion and garlic and cook for additional 1-2 minutes.
• Drain excess grease.
• Add in spaghetti sauce, broth, add italian herbs, basil and dried parsley. Stir.
• In a separate bowl, mix together ricotta cheese, 2 cups mozzarella cheese, 1/4 parmesan cheese, egg, pepper and chopped parsley.
• Spray crock pot with no-stick cooking spray. Scoop approximately 1 cup of meat sauce into bottom of slow cooker.
• Top with one layer of uncooked lasagna noodles. Just do your best to break them up to fit into your crock pot.
• Next top with a layer of cheese mixture.
• Keep adding layers, ending with meat sauce. I was able to get 3 layers in my 5-quart slow cooker.
• Put the lid on and cook on low for 4-6 hours. You want most of the liquid to be absorbed and noodles should be soft.
• When it is finished cooking, add remaining cheeses and sprinkle with parsley.
• Put the lid back on for about 10-15 more minutes until cheese is melted.

CROCK POT LASAGNA

Steps:

• Brown sausage in a skillet over medium-low heat.
• Drain, and return to pan.
• Stir in onion and garlic.
• Cook, stirring regularly, until softened, about 3-4 minutes.
• Stir in crushed tomatoes, tomato sauce, Italian seasoning, basil, and salt.
• Remove from heat, and set aside.
• In a medium bowl, stir 1 cup mozzarella cheese together with the ricotta, cottage cheese, and Parmesan cheese.
• Lightly grease the slow cooker insert.
• Place 1/4 of the sauce into the bottom of a 6 quart slow cooker.
• Place 3 noodles over sauce, breaking to fit as necessary.
• Top noodles with half of the cheese mixture.
• Layer ¼ of sauce and 3 more noodles.
• Place remaining half of cheese mixture over the noodles and top with 1/4 sauce.
• Top with last 3 noodles and the remaining 1/4 sauce.
• Cover, and cook on LOW for 4-6 hours. Since slow cooker cook differently, I recommend checking the lasagna around the 3.5 hour mark and then gauging the cooking time from there.
• Top with remaining 1 cup mozzarella.
• Continue cooking until cheese melts.
• Let the lasagna sit for 15-30 minutes to set up before serving.

CROCK-POT LASAGNA

Steps:

• In a large skillet over medium heat, heat oil. Add onion and cook until translucent, 3 to 4 minutes. Add garlic and cook until fragrant, 1 minute. Add beef and season with salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning. Cook until no pink remains. Stir in 3 cups of the marinara until combined and cook 2 to 3 minutes more.
• In a large bowl, combine ricotta with Parmesan and parsley. Season with salt and pepper and stir until fully incorporated.
• Grease the bowl of your slow cooker with a nonstick cooking spray. Using the remaining marinara, spread a thin layer on the bottom of the crock pot. Next, add a layer of noodles (you'll have to break some to make them fit), a layer of meat mixture, a layer of mozzarella, and a layer of ricotta mixture. Repeat until all ingredients are used up, ending with mozzarella. Cover and cook on low for 4 to 5 hours.
• Garnish with more Parmesan and parsley and serve.