Effortless Crock Pot Spinach Lasagna: A Cheesy, Vegetarian Delight
Discover the ultimate weeknight wonder: an incredibly delicious, oh-so-cheesy, and remarkably easy Crock Pot Spinach Lasagna! This recipe takes all the traditional flavors you love and transforms them into a hands-off, slow-cooker masterpiece. Made with high-quality ingredients like Barilla Lasagne pasta and rich pasta sauce, combined with fresh spinach and creamy cheeses, this dish promises a blissful experience with every single bite.
Forget the complexities of traditional lasagna; our slow cooker method simplifies the entire process without sacrificing any of the decadent taste. Imagine coming home to the aroma of a perfectly cooked, layered lasagna that tastes like you spent hours in the kitchen, when in reality, your trusty crock pot did all the heavy lifting.
Why You’ll Fall in Love with Slow Cooker Spinach Lasagna
If you’re a fan of classic lasagna and the unparalleled convenience of a slow cooker, then this recipe is truly a match made in culinary heaven. We’re talking seriously yummy, deeply flavorful, and incredibly cheesy vegetarian lasagna that will become a staple in your meal rotation. What’s not to love about a dish that delivers gourmet taste with minimal effort?
This crockpot vegetarian lasagna recipe is a game-changer for busy individuals and families. The beauty of it lies in its simplicity: layer your ingredients, set your slow cooker, and let it work its magic. No need to pre-boil noodles, no constant monitoring, just a few hours of gentle cooking that results in perfectly tender pasta, melted cheeses, and a rich, aromatic sauce. The outcome is a decadent, comforting meal that is sure to impress, whether for a cozy family dinner or entertaining guests.
Not only is it a delight for your taste buds, but it’s also an excellent way to incorporate more vegetables into your diet. This recipe packs in a generous amount of fresh spinach, which wilts down beautifully into the layers, adding a subtle earthy flavor and a nutritional boost that even the most discerning eaters won’t notice. They’ll just be too busy asking for seconds!
Essential Ingredients for a Perfect Lasagna
Creating this magnificent Crock Pot Spinach Lasagna requires a handful of simple yet essential ingredients. Quality matters here, as each component contributes to the overall incredible flavor profile. Here’s what you’ll need to gather:
- Barilla® Lasagne Pasta Sheets: The hero of our dish. Using no-boil lasagna sheets saves a significant amount of prep time and ensures perfectly tender pasta without the fuss. Their quality helps them stand up to the slow cooking process beautifully.
- Premium Pasta Sauce: A good quality pasta sauce forms the foundation of your lasagna’s flavor. For an extra layer of complexity, consider using two different types, as suggested in our tips. A robust marinara for the base and a flavorful roasted garlic sauce for the top layers can create a truly dynamic taste experience.
- Fresh Spinach: This recipe calls for a generous ½ pound of fresh spinach leaves. While it may seem like a lot when you’re layering, the spinach significantly reduces in volume as it cooks, infusing the lasagna with its vibrant color and mild, healthy goodness.
- Creamy Ricotta Cheese: Ricotta is key to that signature creamy, comforting texture of lasagna. It blends wonderfully with Italian spices to create a rich, savory layer that complements the pasta and sauce.
- Fragrant Italian Seasoning: A blend of herbs like oregano, basil, thyme, and rosemary that elevates the cheese mixture and permeates the entire dish with authentic Italian flavors.
- Plenty of Mozzarella Cheese: What’s lasagna without ample mozzarella? This cheese melts into gooey perfection, binding the layers together and providing that irresistible stretch and mild, milky flavor that everyone loves.
The Indispensable Kitchen Tool: Your Slow Cooker
The slow cooker is the star appliance for this recipe. For the best results and ultimate peace of mind, we highly recommend using a crock pot equipped with a digital timer. This feature allows you to set the cooking duration, after which it automatically switches to a “warm” setting. This ensures your lasagna cooks perfectly without overcooking, giving you the flexibility to go about your day without constantly checking the clock. A large oval or rectangular slow cooker (6-quart or larger) works best to accommodate the lasagna layers.
Unlocking Unforgettable Flavors
Prepare for a taste sensation! This Crock Pot Spinach Lasagna is unbelievably good, a true testament to the magic that happens when simple, quality ingredients are slow-cooked to perfection. The thoughtful combination of a flavorful Barilla® Pasta Sauce, the subtle earthiness of fresh spinach, and the luxurious creaminess of ricotta and mozzarella cheeses creates a symphony of flavors that makes each bite a wonderfully blissful experience. You’ll find yourself savoring every forkful.
One of the hidden benefits of this dish is how effortlessly it helps you incorporate more vegetables into your family’s meals. We’re talking about a generous half-pound of fresh spinach, cleverly nestled within the cheesy layers. Most people won’t even realize they’re eating so much healthy green goodness; they’ll simply be too enamored with the rich, comforting taste to notice! It’s common to hear requests for second helpings, and leftovers are always highly anticipated.
Expert Tips for Slow Cooker Lasagna Success
Achieving a perfectly cooked, deliciously layered lasagna in your slow cooker is simpler than you might think. Follow these expert tips to ensure your Crock Pot Spinach Lasagna turns out flawless every time:
- **Layering Your Sauces for Depth:** To create a truly dynamic flavor profile, experiment with different Barilla® Pasta Sauces. We suggest starting with a classic Marinara for the base layers, offering a bright, rich tomato foundation. For the final sauce layer, try a Roasted Garlic Barilla Pasta Sauce. The combination of these two distinct flavors adds incredible depth and complexity that you’ll notice with every delicious bite of lasagna.
- **Don’t Fear the Spinach Pile:** When you first add your fresh spinach leaves, your crockpot might look like it’s overflowing. Don’t worry! Fresh spinach has a remarkably high water content, and it will wilt down significantly as the lasagna cooks. After approximately three hours of cooking on low, that seemingly gigantic pile will have transformed into perfectly integrated, tender, and yummy layers within your lasagna.
- **Embrace No-Boil Noodles:** One of the greatest time-saving aspects of this recipe is that you do not need to pre-cook the Barilla® Lasagne sheets. Simply place them into the crockpot straight from the box. The moisture from the sauce and the slow, consistent heat of the crockpot will soften them to a perfect al dente texture as the lasagna cooks. This means less mess and one less step in your preparation!
- **Resist the Urge to Peek:** While it can be tempting to lift the lid and check on your masterpiece, try to avoid it, especially during the first few hours. Every time the lid is removed, a significant amount of heat escapes, extending the cooking time. Let your slow cooker do its job uninterrupted for optimal results.
- **Allow for Resting Time:** Just like with many cooked dishes, allowing your lasagna to rest for 10-15 minutes after it’s done cooking will help the layers set and make it easier to cut and serve. This brief pause allows the juices to redistribute and the cheese to firm up slightly.
More Delicious Crock Pot Dinner Recipes
If you’ve enjoyed the ease and deliciousness of this Crock Pot Spinach Lasagna, you’re in for a treat! Our collection of slow cooker recipes is designed to simplify your cooking and bring hearty, flavorful meals to your table with minimal fuss. Explore some of our other fantastic vegetarian and family-friendly crock pot dishes:
- Hearty Three Bean Vegetarian Chili
- Comforting Sloppy Joe Tater Tot Casserole
- Cheesy Stuffed Peppers
- Crockpot Kielbasa with Potatoes and Green Beans
- Creamy Loaded Mashed Cauliflower
For even more effortless meal ideas, be sure to check out all of our easy vegetarian crockpot recipes. And if you’re a true recipe enthusiast, don’t miss our diverse categories including copycat recipes, delectable dessert recipes, and our extensive collection of CrockPot Recipes.
Stay connected and never miss a new recipe! Follow Tammilee Tips on MSN, Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest for all our latest culinary creations and inspiring posts.
Crock Pot Spinach Lasagna
Print
Rate
Ingredients
- 9 oz Lasagna Noodles
- 24 marinara sauce
- ½ pound fresh spinach leaves
- 15 oz Ricotta cheese
- 1 Tablespoon Italian seasoning
- 16 oz Mozzarella Cheese
Instructions
- Spray your crockpot with non-stick spray to prevent sticking and make cleanup easier.
- Pour a generous amount of your favorite Pasta Sauce on the bottom of the crockpot. Ensure there’s a nice, even layer that fully covers the base, but not excessively thick.
- Carefully layer your Barilla® Lasagne sheets over the pasta sauce. Don’t worry if they don’t fit perfectly; you can break them to fill gaps. The goal is to cover as much of the sauce layer as possible with pasta.
- In a separate bowl, combine your Italian seasoning with the ricotta cheese. Mix well until the herbs are evenly distributed throughout the cheese.
- Spread half of the ricotta cheese mixture evenly on top of the Barilla Lasagne sheets.
- Distribute half of your fresh spinach leaves over the ricotta cheese mixture.
- Repeat these layers (sauce, pasta, ricotta, spinach) one to two more times, depending on the size and depth of your slow cooker. Ensure your top layer consists of sauce and a final layer of pasta.
- Cover your slow cooker and cook on the LOW setting for 3 hours. After 3 hours, carefully remove the lid, add the final generous layer of mozzarella cheese over the top, and continue to cook for 1 more hour, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly and the pasta is tender.
Kitchen Tools
- Slow cooker (6-quart or larger recommended)
Nutrition
Calories from Fat 180
Recipe originally shared on December 11, 2013. Updated September 2020.