Crock Pot Lasagna (yes! Lasagna!!)

So how many of you buy Stouffer's frozen lasagna and get home from work at 6 and then have to wait 80 minutes for it to cook?! Yes it's easy and simple, but it never tastes quite the same as homemade right? Well here's a SUPER simple recipe that ANYONE can do. And the best part? It's a CROCK POT recipe!! Make it and set it for a dinner ready and waiting when you get home! 

Here's what you need:

1 lb  ground beef - try to get the best fat ratio (93/7)

1 large onion chopped fine in a food processor

2 garlic cloves, minced (or 2 teaspoons of store bought minced garlic)

1   jar tomato spaghetti sauce - choose your favorite flavor- I prefer the garlic and herb the best. 

8 oz  fresh lasagna sheets- these are the NO BOIL kind, they should be found near the deli in the cold section. 

1lb   bag of shredded mozzarella cheese

1lb  ricotta cheese

2 oz  parmesan cheese - grated/shredded

¼ cup milk

1 egg - lightly beaten

1 tsp oregano

  salt and pepper

 If you like, you can add in mushrooms - sliced and added at end of frying meat

  

Prepare:

Fry the beef, onion and garlic in a frying pan until browned. Drain any excess grease. Add in your tomato sauce and heat. 

  

While the meat is cooking, combine the ricotta, milk and egg. 

Add in the mozzarella and parmesan. Save about 1 tablespoon of parmesan for later.

I reccommend using a crock pot liner for easy cleanup, but you dont have to.

Time to layer!  

Spread about 1/4 of your meat in the bottom of the crock pot.

Next add a layer of lasagna sheets. You will need to trim them to fit your crock pot.

Top those layers with 1/3 of the cheese sauce.

Repeat the meat, pasta, and cheese sauce. You should now have cheese sauce on top.

Now add meat, pasta, and meat.

Top with remaining cheese sauce. 

    When you finish the layers should be -

    meat, pasta, cheese, meat, pasta, cheese, meat, pasta, meat, cheese.

Sprinkle the retained parmesan on top.

 Cook on low for 4-6 hours.

    This recipe serves 4-6 but you can double it if you need to. 

Serve with garlic bread and a tossed salad! If you use a crock pot liner, simply transfer your leftovers to a tupperware container and then throw the liner away! No burnt on crusty cleanup!