Crockpot Lasagna

Technically, what I have (pictured above) is called a slow cooker but it works pretty much the same way as a crockpot... there's a pot to put the food in and a heat source to cook it at a steady temperature.  As long as you have that, you can make this incredible and super simple lasagna.

First, assemble your ingredients:
Lasagna noodles or bow tie pasta
Your favorite spaghetti sauce  (I like Prego)
Cooked and crumbled hamburger or sausage or a mixture
Fresh or frozen diced tomatoes (or canned works too)
Cottage cheese
Grated mozzarella cheese
Grated cheddar cheese
Parmesan cheese
Any minced garlic or herbs you wish to add

Sauce and first layer of noodles.

Start by evenly spreading a bit of sauce in the bottom of your crock pot.  If cheesey dishes tend to stick, you'll want to lightly grease it first.  Then add a single layer of uncooked dry noodles.

Next add a layer of hamburger, more sauce, then half of the tomatoes, and cottage cheese, mozzarella, cheddar, and parmesan cheeses, your garlic and herbs.  Repeat those layers:  noodles, hamburger, sauce, tomatoes, cheeses and herbs.  Use about 1/2 cup water to rinse your sauce jar or can and pour this over the top of the lasagna.

All layers have been added to the pot and it's
ready to cook.

I set my slow cooker to 3, which is the medium setting, and walk away for about 3 to 3 1/2 hours.  It's an awesome way to let dinner basically cook itself while you go off and enjoy life or attend to other tasks.  And the house smells so good if you make this for Sunday dinner and it cooks while you are at Church.

Just a couple of quick notes:

Why didn't I know that you could use uncooked pasta in dishes like this?  This is the kind of secret you just don't keep from your girlfriends!!  Shame on you ladies... shame on you for keeping me in the dark!

Also, I like to use bow tie pasta because it's easier to get a consistent layer in my slow cooker and when the lasagna is all done you really can't tell the difference since both have ruffled edges.

You might need a little more or less time depending on the size, style and temperatures for your crockpot or slow cooker.

Mmmmm.... lasagna!

I've shared this post at the The Country Homemaker Hop- Week 15 on White Wolf Summit Farmgirl.