Home cooked Slow Cooker Lasagna made with no-boil noodles, Italian sausage, cheese, a quick tomato sauce and a couple of handfuls of baby spinach!
Holy moly was this lasagna good! It may even trump my vegetable lasagna! The best part of this dish is that it’s cooked in a slow cooker and if you’re lucky, your significant other will make it! Yep, Alan surprised me with this delicious home cooked meal!
After our four day getaway I had to get back to the office, but Alan is on summer break for a couple of more weeks, so while I was at work he sent a text saying that he’ll make dinner and wanted ideas. Isn’t that the hardest part of meal planning? Coming up with what to make? I suggested Kalua Pork because it’s the easiest recipe ever and we could eat it for several meals. Plus. it’s made in the slow cooker which takes some pressure off of the whole task of cooking.
So imagine my great surprise when I came home to this cheesy lasagna! When Alan decides to make a dish he’ll investigates all his options and he adjusts the recipe to his preference. That’s a MAJOR cooking breakthrough folks! It wasn’t too long ago that he would NOT tweak a recipe at all. Every single ingredient would have to be exactly what the recipe said to a “T”. Seriously would drive me nuts! Half the fun of cooking is experimenting and adding your personal touch. Agree? We’ve come a long happy way! I do believe his hobby for brewing beer has helped him become more creative in thinking outside of the recipe box!
AND what I thought might be eggplant in this lasagna is actually a nutritious dose of spinach! Layers of baby spinach are nestled between the noodles and cheese – gawh! Arrow went strait to my giddy heart! <swoon>.
Slow Cooker Lasagna
Ingredients
- 1 pound Italian sausage
- 1 onion, diced
- 2 garlic cloves minced
- 28 ounce crushed tomatoes
- 6 ounce tomato paste
- 1 cup water
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 tablespoon oregano
- 9 No-Boil lasagna noodles
- 3 cups Baby spinach
- 16 ounce ricotta
- 8 ounce mozzarella cheese, shredded
Instructions
Liz
Sandra, this sounds fantastic! We love lasagna, and this is a fabulous option for the summer when you don’t want to turn on the oven 🙂
Sandra Shaffer
Definitely a great alternative to heating up the kitchen! I love slow cooked meals!
Christie
I am not sure my husband knows what a slow cooker is! Since he won’t make it, I can’t wait to make it myself.
Sandra Shaffer
Your husband is the taste tester! That’s his job in the kitchen 🙂
Carrie @Frugal Foodie Mama
Making lasagna in my slow cooker is something I have been wanting to try for a while now! 🙂 I can’t wait to try this recipe.
Sandra Shaffer
Give it a try, Carrie! It’s a great way to keep the kitchen cool, and still get a favorite family meal on the table!
Sara Brennan
I’ve never heard or thought of putting pasta in the slow cooker like this. Great concept! Thank you for sharing!
Sandra Shaffer
Thanks for stopping by Sara! You can pretty much cook anything in a slow cooker I’m learning!
Betsy @ Desserts Required
You are a VERY lucky woman to come home to this meal! I am curious, can I make the lasagna in the slow cooker and leave it for more than three hours (kind of thinking along the lines of all day)?
Sandra Shaffer
I haven’t tried it, but I think using regular lasagna noodle instead of the no-bake would work if you want to leave it for a longer time. Maybe add a little more sauce so the noodles will soak up some of the liquid. Let me know if you give it a try!
Diane
Sandra I love your story. How nice to have a hubby engaged in the cooking process with you. This lasagna looks fantastic!
Sandra Shaffer
Thank you, Diane! I can count on him if I give specific directions, but this recipe was a super sweet surprise!
LydiaF
What a great way to keep the kitchen cool and still have a hot meal.
Sandra Shaffer
Aren’t slow cookers the best?! I’m relying more on mine!
Michelle @SimplifyLiveLove
My husband won’t do a darn thing in the kitchen except toast bagels and put ice cream in a bowl. 😉 LUCKY YOU!! This lasagna looks fabulous.
Sandra Shaffer
Lol – should I mention that he’ll do laundry too? haha! Thanks, Michelle!
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This looks absolutely delish!! What a lovely husband you have. I’m pinning this for future reference. It will cook perfectly while we are gone for church on Sunday mornings!!
Sandra Shaffer
That sounds lovely! Church, a family meal and happy bellies 🙂
Hotly Spiced
How lovely that you came home to this beautiful meal. What a lovely surprise. Your lasagne looks really good and I had no idea lasagne could be made in a slow cooker! xx
Sandra Shaffer
🙂 Thanks, Charlie! This lasagne was several meals for us and my son took the rest of the leftovers!
Sheena @ Hot Eats and Cool Reads
I love that this is a slow cooker recipe! Great flavors! Agree that experimenting is half the fun! 🙂
Sandra Shaffer
Right? I was quite proud when my husband mentioned that he decided to use sausage instead of ground beef because he thought it would add more flavor! It sure does!
Katerina
I think slow cooker is the best vessel for making meals during summer! Your lasagna are divine!
Sandra Shaffer
I think the only type of recipe I haven’t tried in a slow cooker is breakfast! That’s next 🙂
Sandra Shaffer
Give it a try, Joy! I’m sold on the idea of slow cooking lasagna and not only because it was made for me 🙂 It’s tasty!
Maureen | Orgasmic Chef
A friend of mine is suffering the tail end of cancer so on my visit yesterday, I brought all the ingredients for your slow cooker lasagna and popped it in her slow cooker. She’s not eating much but she was thrilled to be able to serve her family dinner at home. Thanks for a great meal for them. 🙂
Sandra Shaffer
You’re such a sweet friend. Nothing is more comforting than knowing your family is taking care of during such a difficult time. Thanks for the ray of sunshine your brought to them and right back to me 🙂 XO