Slow Cooker Lasagna
(431)
  • Minutes to Prepare:
  • Minutes to Cook:
  • Number of Servings: 8
Ingredients
1 pound ground beef, 96% lean1⁄4 tsp red pepper flakes2 tsp dried thymeOne 24-ounce jar low-sodium marinarasauceOne 3⁄4-pound eggplant, unpeeled, diced(2 cups)15 ounces part-skim ricotta cheese1 cup shredded Italian five-cheese blend(see Note)1⁄4 cup egg substitute (or 1 egg white)1 tbsp chopped fresh parsley6 no-boil lasagna noodles
Directions
1. In a skillet over moderate heat, brown the
ground beef and drain any excess fat. Stir in red
pepper flakes, thyme, tomato sauce, eggplant,
and 1 1⁄4 cup water.
2. In a mixing bowl, combine the ricotta, shredded
cheese blend, egg substitute, and parsley.
3. Coat the inside of the slow cooker with nonstick
cooking spray. Place enough meat sauce
in the slow cooker to cover the bottom. Top
with 2 or 3 lasagna noodles (break them up as
needed) to cover the meat sauce. Repeat layer.
4. Top the second layer with all of the cheese
mixture and finish with a top layer of the remaining
meat sauce.
5. Cover and set the slow cooker on low. Cook
for 3 1⁄2 to 4 hours.
**Please note that the cooking time should not exceed 4 hours. This is not an “all day” slow-cooker meal.**
Note: If you can’t find the Italian five-cheese
blend, shredded part-skim mozzarella will work
just fine.

Makes 8 servings; roughly one cup
Servings Per Recipe: 8
Nutritional Info Amount Per Serving
  • Calories: 271.4
  • Total Fat: 10.2 g
  • Cholesterol: 56.5 mg
  • Sodium: 284.4 mg
  • Total Carbs: 18.1 g
  • Dietary Fiber: 1.6 g
  • Protein: 24.9 g

Member Reviews
  • SNAPPY_MOM
     A tip knowing what a serving size should be. I have a food scale that weighs up to 15 pounds. Weigh your crock and a hot pad empty. Then, when the crock is full, place a hot pad on the scale, and weigh again. Subtract the non-food weight and divide by 8. This is the weight of your serving. Voila! - 9/30/10
  • SCOUT1222
     I substituted zucchini in for the eggplant and used ground chicken because the store didn't have any lean ground beef. It turned out super tasty and was extremely easy. - 10/12/09
  • SHASHEE71
     The idea of Lasagna in A Crockpot was not appealing. But I thought...Why not?! And boy am I glad that I gave this a try! I followed the directions EXactly as Chef Meg instructs and this meal was delicious! 3 1/2 hours was perfect. I used whole wheat lasagna noodles and they were perfect. Loved! - 7/25/10
  • MPCOOK08
     I changed up the recipe a bit too!! Instead of water, used low-sodium chicken stock. I didn't use the thyme or parsley, use dried Italian seasoning... used motz cheese and for the sauce used Prego's HeartSmart Roasted Red Peppers and Garlic. Oh, and I peeled the eggplant! IT WAS WONDERFUL!!! :) - 10/7/09
  • ABARKLEY
     i know i'm not the only one commenting about portion size. i don't take my entire crockpot of food & divide into 8 servings and then take 1 srvg. i take my measuring cup and fill it with as much as i get for a serving. dividing portions by cup size would help more than dividing an entire meal. - 1/11/10
  • TRICIAN13
     Versatile! No meat? Add veggies-onions, tomatoes, broccoli, zucchini, mushrooms, carrots, celery, spinach--finely diced/shredded. Instead of marinara, use no-sodium canned tomatoes, less water; add garlic, oregano, basil, etc. Can use non-fat cottage cheese instead of ricotta. Turkey or chicken too. - 10/18/10
  • SERENITYSEL
     Cholesterol was high, I didn't use eggplant as I dislike it so much. Also you don't have to use the non-cook lasagne, the regular cooks as well. When I made regular lasagna, I never got the non-cook noodles. An old trick from an Italian coworker. - 10/18/09
  • QUEENB76
     This was my first attempt @ making lasagna & this recipe made it practically foolproof. I will make this again! The serv size is NOT difficult. To get 271 cal u want 1/8 of the TOTAL amount. The size of YOUR crockpot determines YOUR size.She has already explained this so the hostility is unnecessary - 10/5/10
  • GOINGFOR20
     This was sooo good! Thanks for the idea Meg. Even my picky-eater teenage son ate it:-) I used zuchinni in place of the eggplant and added fresh spinach to the cheese mixture. I added a splash of balsalmic vinegar (1 T. to the tomato sauce mixture) and used veggie ground round. - 8/27/10
  • BBRICKMAN6
     Next time I'll only put 1/2 cup water, as the eggplant releases plenty for the noodles to cook. Mine was a little too juicy. Also, serving size was easy, I just cut the lasagna like a pie in 8 wedges, then scooped out 1 wedge at a time. It was about 1 1/2 cups per serving. - 1/16/11
  • ANNAM67
     I followed the recipe exactly and thought the result was a satisfying substitute for my old lasagna recipe. I wish I'd diced the eggplant a little smaller - it was a little too chunky for me. The crushed red pepper added just the right zing to the jarred marinara sauce I used. - 10/5/09
  • MONAJAY2
     I'll try this tempting recipe with a few variations. I'll substitute baby spinach for the eggplant and spicy turkey sausage rather than beef. How many ounces equal a serving size would help estimate caloric value of this tempting dish. - 10/19/09
  • RELAXYOURBACK
     Excellent and easy! Modifications - peeled eggplant and diced small, added garlic to browning hamburger, used more red pepper flakes, subbed Italian seasoning for thyme, subbed broth for water, used fat free ricotta and added a little Parmesan. Used a little extra marinara to moisten pasta. Thanks! - 10/9/10
  • LAURANCE
     This was a winner. I made it today, and we all liked it. Now, I have to confess that I tweaked it. Eating eggplant is like trying to eat rubber, so I used broccoli. I used sweet Italian sausage instead of ground beef, and diced tomatoes instead of marinara sauce, and V8 juice instead of water. - 11/9/10
  • MARYLYNNMACK
     I agree with the other poster that they should be able to give a serving size, not just the number of servings. No matter how big the crockpot, you're putting the same amount of stuff in it, so you should be able to measure what comes out in serving sizes. - 6/13/10
  • EVANIAN
     I replaced the lasagna noodles with whole wheat noodles. I also used zucchini instead of eggplant. Yummy. - 10/12/10
  • LITTLEWIND53
     I don't see these posts as hosile, I see them as frustration. The size of the crockpot makes no difference. 1 cup going into a 4, 6 or even 8 quart crockpot is still 1 cup. But the recipe has some variables (such as the noodles, so you can't determine exactly what the end volume will be. - 11/4/10
  • BUBBLEJ1
     I really think some members need to grow up and learn how to solve their own problems. Make the dish. Cut it into 8 evenish portions. Done. Dear me, so much stress for something so simple. - 8/23/11
  • CD4351492
     I used ground turkey and it was very good. I will add more spices like garlic and basil next time. Very easy to make! - 2/4/10
  • PICKIE98
     I use my crockpot 6 days a week, this is a great way to use up veggies and still get that Italian taste!! Eggplant is very nutritios and yummy,, you could shred carrots, add onions, mushrooms, spinach, etc,, all will cook in the specified time.. garlic and anise are good too for authentic flavor!! - 12/14/09
  • KDD4ME
     Will definitely make again. I added frozen chopped spinach to the cheese mixture and zucchini and mushrooms along with the eggplant and it was great! - 11/6/09
  • CHERYL1228
     ATTN: CINDY GIRL)*

    I'm not familiar with a lasagna noodle, dried, no boil variety. Could someone help me out here? I'd like to try the recipe, my husband would love it.

    RESPONSE: referred to as 'oven ready noodles'...available in the pasta section of grocery stores

    Hope this helps, Cheryl - 10/18/09
  • BRIT83
     The eggplant didn't do much for me-if I add it in the future, I'm going to remove the skin and dice it much smaller. I'll probably make it in the future, sans eggplant with less thyme. Otherwise good and I'll probably make it again with a few minor changes. - 10/6/09
  • MOMMYSWAMI
     I "veganized" this recipe by using Gimmelean for the ground beef and instead of ricotta cheese I used a combination of soy cheese and crumbled tofu (just because we like tofu so much). I also used regular lasagna noodles & cooked the eggplant a bit to improve the flavor (I don't like eggplant) - 10/10/10
  • THINONE7
     Sounds yummy-I can't wait to make it. Re: serving sizes- look at any food label- it provides a measurement as the portion size- ie 1 cup or 8 oz not a fraction of the total amount. Serving sizes should be a standard unit of measurement. The size of the pot its cooked in is completely irrelevant. - 11/8/10



© 2024 SparkPeople, Inc. - Terms - Privacy