This cheesy, saucy crock-pot lasagna is so easy to make with just a few ingredients. Perfect for busy days, and so much flavor you won’t even miss the meat!
I love meat. It tastes good, and has easy-to-digest proteins, B vitamins, and iron.
But it can be a killer to my grocery budget – even when I use all my tips to save on meat.
To offset this, I sometimes serve a meatless main dish to help stretch our budget, like this slow cooker meatless lasagna. That doesn’t mean we don’t get protein though!
One of the biggest responses to eating less meat is a concern of eating less protein, but there are plenty of lower-cost protein options to choose from! Eggs, beans, edamame, and Greek yogurt are all high in protein, but low in cost.
Cottage cheese is another item that’s frugal yet high in protein, and it’s one of the simple ingredients in this crock-pot lasagna. Combined with the other cheeses, we get plenty of protein and a delicious easy dinner!
MEATLESS CROCK-POT LASAGNA
Aside from being a frugal meal option, this crock pot lasagna is also:
- Quick and easy to throw together.
- Easy to have the ingredients on hand. Marinara sauce and pasta in the pantry, and cheese in the fridge or freezer, and you’re set!
- Great for all schedules! With two cooking time options, you can prep this crockpot lasagna whenever it’s most convenient for you.
- A filling and delicious slow cooker meal! The family won’t even miss the meat sauce!
CROCKPOT LASAGNA INGREDIENTS
This crockpot lasagna is a great meal to plan for busy days or to have as a backup meal since the ingredients are easy to keep stocked in the pantry.
- Marinara sauce. Use a jar of your favorite sauce or mix up a batch of Homemade Tomato Sauce instead. Marinara is typically a bit thinner than tomato sauce or spaghetti sauce, but since we are adding water here, either will work.
- Water. To make sure there’s enough liquid to cook the lasagna noodles.
- Cottage cheese. This is where most of your protein comes from, along with the other cheeses. Ricotta cheese also works but we prefer cottage cheese.
- Shredded Mozzarella cheese. For that stretchy cheese pull when you put a bite on your fork. Block cheese is usually less expensive than shredded and it’s not dusted with anti-caking fiber.
- Grated Parmesan cheese. The extra savory, salty flavor that mixes perfectly with the other cheeses. Skip the container with the green lid and grate your own for better flavor, then use the rind in Spinach Pesto or Minestrone Soup.
- Uncooked lasagna noodles. You don’t need to boil them or buy any special pre-cooked noodles. They’ll cook in the marinara sauce and water during the slow cooking time.
INSTRUCTIONS HOW TO MAKE LASAGNA IN A CROCKPOT
Making meatless lasagna in a crockpot is really easy!
Step 1. Mix the marinara sauce and water. Pour a small amount of sauce into the bottom of a greased oval slow cooker. Place 3 regular lasagna noodles on top, breaking the outer ones in half to fit.
Step 2. Sprinkle with cottage cheese, mozzarella, and Parmesan cheese mixture. Top with sauce. Repeat layers 2 more times. Top with remaining sauce and mozzarella cheese. (See recipe card for specific amounts for each layer, or just eyeball it.)
Step 3. Cook on high for 3-4 hours or on low for 6-8 hours. Let the crock-pot lasagna stand for 15 minutes with the lid off before serving.
This easy crockpot lasagna recipe is my personal favorite because it’s incredibly easy to throw together and since it cooks in the slow cooker, it’s virtually hands-off. Plus, it works with two different cooking times, so if I happen to forget to prepare it in the morning, I can take care of it at lunch, and dinner will still be ready on time.
CROCKPOT LASAGNE TIPS
- This crockpot lasagne recipe is delicious. My family is getting PLENTY of protein and they don’t miss the meat. (Here are some more cheap and healthy ways to get protein.)
- If you DO want to add meat to this crockpot lasagna, simply mix some cooked ground beef or ground turkey in with the sauce mixture as you’re layering it in. I promise it’s totally delicious without it!
- You could also add veggies for a crockpot veggie lasagna. Mushrooms, eggplant, summer squash, zucchini, spinach, or sliced tomatoes would all be yummy! If you add veggies, I would do the shorter cooking time on high so that they don’t turn to mush.
- I buy my cheese in a block at Costco (I compared prices at ALDI and sometimes they come out better.)
- I use this slow cooker. It has lasted me for years!
- If one of your food priorities is to buy raw milk, you can make your own cottage cheese for this recipe. (Learn more about food priorities in Grocery Budget Bootcamp!)
Grocery Budget Bootcamp enrollment is currently closed, but you can check out my FREE Fight Inflation Workshop. You’ll get access to three AMAZING video sessions focused on how to save money on food right now, despite rising grocery costs.
WHAT TO SERVE WITH LASAGNA IN CROCKPOT
Making this lasagna in crockpot is so easy, that you’ll have time to add a few sides for an impressive dinner without much work! Try one of these combos with your crock-pot lasagna:
- Kale Caesar Salad and 90-Minute Man Bread
- Sweet Kale Salad (Costco Copycat) with Homemade Focaccia Bread
- Cranberry Apple Spinach Salad and Rosemary Olive Oil Bread
- Wedge Salad with Cheesy Garlic Bread
Or just add one of these easy veggies on the side and call it done!
- Instant Pot Steamed Veggies
- Butter Parmesan Zoodles
- Easy Pan-Roasted Broccoli
- Sautéed Garlic Green Beans
- Roasted Cabbage Wedges
SLOW COOKER LASAGNA FAQS
Do you have to boil lasagna noodles before making crock-pot lasagna?
No. This recipe calls for uncooked lasagna noodles. They cook in the sauce and water during the slow cooking time.
Do you have to put sauce on the bottom of slow cooker lasagna?
Starting with a layer of sauce means that your lasagna noodles won’t stick to the bottom of your crockpot, making for prettier serving and easier cleanup!
Can you freeze crock-pot lasagna?
If you have leftovers, you can freeze them. Leftovers are best when put into the freezer after cooling completely. It won’t be as good if it sits in the fridge for a couple of days and then is frozen.
MORE DELICIOUS MEATLESS MEALS
- Weeknight Creamy Mushroom Pasta
- Cheesy Lentil Pasta
- Easy Baked Ziti
- Garlic White Bean Soup with Kale
- Weeknight Veggie Stir Fry
- Our Favorite Beans and Rice
Fight Inflation Workshop!
Sign up for my FREE Fight Inflation Workshop and learn simple strategies to save money, even with rising food costs!Slow Cooker Lasagna
This cheesy, saucy crock-pot lasagna is so easy to make with just a few ingredients. Perfect for busy days, and so much flavor you won’t even miss the meat!
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 3-4 hours
- Total Time: 3-4 hours
- Yield: 4–6 servings 1x
- Category: Main Meals
- Method: Slow Cooker
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
- 24 oz jar marinara sauce
- ½ cup water
- 24 oz cottage cheese
- 12 oz mozzarella cheese, shredded
- 1 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
- 9 uncooked lasagna noodles
Instructions
- Mix marinara sauce and water. Place a small amount of sauce in the bottom of a greased oval slow cooker. Place 3 noodles on top, breaking the outer ones in half to fit.
- Sprinkle with 1 cup of cottage cheese; ⅔ cup of mozzarella and ⅓ cup of parmesan. Top with 1 ¼ cups of sauce. Repeat layers 2 more times. Top with the last cup of mozzarella cheese.
- Cook on high for 3-4 hours or on low for 6-8 hours. Let stand for 15 minutes with the lid off before serving.
Notes
- This crockpot lasagne recipe is delicious. My family is getting PLENTY of protein and they don’t miss the meat. (Here are some more cheap and healthy ways to get protein.)
- If you DO want to add meat to this crockpot lasagna, simply mix some cooked ground beef or ground turkey in with the sauce mixture as you’re layering it in. I promise it’s totally delicious without it!
- You could also add veggies for a crockpot veggie lasagna. Mushrooms, eggplant, summer squash, zucchini, spinach, or sliced tomatoes would all be yummy! If you add veggies, I would do the shorter cooking time on high so that they don’t turn to mush.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1
- Calories: 704
Can you freeze leftovers ??
Hi Bess, Yes you can freeze leftovers! Just freeze them immediately. Leftovers are best when put into the freezer after cooling. It won’t be as good if it sits in the fridge for a couple days and then is frozen.
I made this today (my first of your recipes) and I couldn’t believe how yummy it was. Any suggestions on what veggies we can add? I’m an instant pot newbie so I didn’t want risk adding anything that may overcook.
Hi Nikoleta! You could easily add spinach or kale, mushrooms, eggplant, summer squash, sliced tomatoes… I’d do the shorter cook time on high personally, so they don’t turn to mush!
pre cooked noodles?
So glad to find this recipe. It was great to come home last night to a delicious steaming hot Lasagna ready to eat. I cooked it on low for 8 hours and it was perfect. The only thing I did differently was add sliced mushrooms on top of the marinara layers. Yum! My family said I could definitely make it again. Thank you!
You’re very welcome!
I LOVE your recipe!! Just started following you, so now I wont’ miss a post ??
We hadn’t used our slow cooker in months, and I finally decided to drag it out for this recipe. It’s supposedly a good slow cooker, but pretty much every time I use it, the food turns out really mushy and not that great. Hence the reason we go months between uses. Tonight was no exception . . . I had high hopes, but it turned out all mushy and weird (kind of rubbery, and with a distinct taste, not burnt but just not a normal flavor for the ingredients that went into it) even though I followed the recipe. It looked nothing like your photos, that’s for sure! I did it for about 6 or 7 hours on low. So our slow cooker went back into the cabinet for who knows how long again. It’s just not worth it to make a meal in it when it turns out like mush every time and nobody likes it. Do you have any tips for more successful slow cooking? Is it better to cook it on high for a shorter amount of time? I’m sure the recipe is great if I could get it to turn out like it’s supposed to!
Oh man, it sounds like you’ve got a slow cooker with a mind of its own! Honestly, I would do one of two things: get a new slow cooker (and test it and take it back if it doesn’t work), OR test out a really basic recipe with your slow cooker to determine its quirks. Something like beans or a whole chicken, where you can easily see when it’s done and can test slow vs. hot or see if there are hot spots. I’m sorry this didn’t work out for you Crystal!
Another to add to my menu rotation! Love your blog. I have made so many of your recipes and loved every single one! You are the best!
Oh wow – thank you for the high regards Amelie!