Super Easy CrockPot Lasagna

Day 27.

Lasagna is a family-favorite meal around here. I probably make it about once a month, but have never attempted to make it in the crockpot before the other day.

This works. It really, really works. You can use regular noodles and they will soften nicely.

There is still work to do if you want to add meat---you'll need to brown hamburger or turkey meat, and if you want some veggies or hardboiled eggs snuck in, you'll need to chop them up.

But!

You can do it all in the morning while you are still awake and have coffee in your system, click on the dishwasher and then be done in the kitchen for the whole. entire. day.

I love that part.

If you are not a morning person, assemble it the night before (minus the 1/4 cup of water--add that before cooking) while you are watching Leno. Or Letterman. Or Colbert.

and hey, do you spell it lasagna or lasagne? I like it with an 'A' better, but the box of Tinkyada noodles (very lovely gluten free noodles) spells it with an 'E.'

The Ingredients:

serves 6

1 pound ground beef or turkey
1(26-ounce) jar pasta sauce (keep jar! don't rinse and throw out!)
1 (10-ounce) box of regular lasagna noodles (I use brown rice noodles)

1 (16-ounce) container ricotta cheese
8 ounces sliced mozzarella cheese
4 cups shredded Italian-blend cheese

OPTIONAL: spinach leaves, sliced hardboiled eggs, sliced mushrooms, chopped veggies

1/4 cup water

The Directions:

--brown meat with chosen spices in large skillet

--pour in entire jar of pasta sauce (save jar, don't rinse or throw away!)

--simmer on low for a few minutes

--put a ladle-full of sauce mixture into the bottom of your crockpot.

--top with a layer of dried lasagna noodles. You'll have to break them to fit, and little pieces will fly all over the place, much to the delight of small children and pets.

--smear ricotta cheese on top of lasagna noodles
--layer veggies, mushrooms, eggs and spinach on top of the ricotta cheese
--add sliced mozzarella cheese
--add a handful of the shredded cheese
--ladle on some more of the meat sauce
--top with more dry noodles and repeat layers until crock is to desired capacity.

--put the 1/4 cup of water into your empty pasta jar and shake. Pour tomatoey juice over the whole pile of food.

--cover and cook on low for 8 hours, high for 4.
--Check noodles an hour before serving, and push the top ones down into the liquid if they are getting too hard or are curling up.

The Verdict.
 
ENJOY! This is the most simplest lasagna ever, but it comes out perfect EVERY.SINGLE.TIME.

I've made this lasagna hundreds of times, and have served it to company lots and lots. If you'd like more heat, add crumbled sausage to the sauce, red chile flakes, etc. This is your lasagna -- you can certainly customize it to your family's taste.

I think you'll be happy!