Description
Comforting crockpot ravioli lasagna melds Italian pasta traditions with convenient slow-cooking methods. Layers of cheese-filled ravioli, rich marinara sauce, and melted mozzarella create a hearty meal you’ll savor with family and friends.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 package (25 oz / 700 g) frozen cheese or meat ravioli
- 1 lb (450 g) ground beef or Italian sausage
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1 jar (24 oz / 680 g) marinara or pasta sauce
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 small onion, finely chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 can (14 oz / 400 g) diced tomatoes, drained (optional)
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
- Fresh basil or parsley, chopped (optional, for garnish)
Instructions
- Meat Preparation: Sear ground beef or Italian sausage in a skillet over medium heat until completely browned, eliminating all pink sections. Drain excess fat thoroughly.
- Crockpot Foundation: Spread a thin marinara sauce layer across the bottom of the crockpot to prevent ingredient adhesion and enhance overall flavor complexity.
- Initial Layering: Arrange frozen ravioli strategically across the sauce base, creating an even, overlapping pattern to ensure comprehensive coverage.
- Protein Integration: Distribute the seasoned meat uniformly across the ravioli, creating a substantial protein foundation that permeates the entire dish.
- Cheese Layering: Delicately spread ricotta in soft dollops over the meat, introducing creamy texture and rich flavor throughout the composition.
- Cheese Cascade: Liberally sprinkle mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses across the surface, guaranteeing complete coverage and maximizing cheesy indulgence.
- Repeated Composition: Continue layering ingredients, building vertical complexity and ensuring each section receives equal distribution of components.
- Final Flourish: Top the final layer with an abundant cheese coating, promising a golden, appetizing surface that will caramelize during cooking.
- Thermal Transformation: Cover crockpot and slow cook on low setting for 4-6 hours or high setting for 2-3 hours, allowing ingredients to harmonize and ravioli to reach perfect tenderness.
- Serving Presentation: Allow lasagna to rest momentarily after cooking, enabling structural stability. Garnish with fresh basil or additional Parmesan, then slice and serve this comforting culinary creation.
Notes
- Prevent Sticking Strategy: Create a thin marinara sauce base in the crockpot to stop ravioli from adhering to the bottom and ensure smooth removal.
- Meat Preparation Technique: Thoroughly brown ground beef or sausage, completely eliminating pink areas and draining excess grease for a cleaner, less fatty texture.
- Cheese Distribution Hack: Dollop ricotta and sprinkle mozzarella and Parmesan evenly across layers to guarantee consistent flavor and creamy mouthfeel in every bite.
- Resting Period Importance: Allow lasagna to rest 5-10 minutes after cooking, enabling ingredients to set and making portioning easier without falling apart.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 4-5 hours (low) or 2-3 hours (high)
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 9
- Calories: 176
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 540 mg
- Fat: 8 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 20 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 10 g
- Cholesterol: 30 mg