Monday, April 16, 2012

Crock Pot Spinach Lasagna



It's time for another Secret Recipe Club posting. This month I got Mostly Food and Crafts, which I was pretty happy about because I've actually pinned several things from this blog already. Also, I've wanted to try lasagna in the crock pot for a long time now, but have been afraid of serving it several hours later only to find that my lasagna has been replaced with red gloppy glop from Glop. If you know what I mean. It helped to have Danielle to mentor me through.

The lasagna was excellent and super easy. The other thing I really loved about it is that with normal lasagna you're supposed to take it out of the oven (and it still takes an hour in there) and then let it set for 15 minutes or so so that it doesn't ooze out all over the place. This wasn't necessary with this lasagna. It was a little oozy, but not much. And the noodles were perfect--not mushy at all.

A few notes:

1. One thing I always forget about lasagna is that the putting together takes longer than I expect. This is a very fast meal to put in the crock, but not a five minute one. Plan for at least 10 minutes and 15-20 if you're making your own quick sauce.
2. This is very very spinachy. Which is as a spinach lasagna should be. However, if you only sort of like spinach or you're worried that people in your posse will object to so much, reduce the spinach by half. It will still taste great and you'll please a bigger crowd. In fact, if  you're a little shy about the spinach, you could also use 10 oz of baby spinach, chopped and steamed in place of the frozen spinach. Frozen spinach comes with all the stems and everything. Again, no big deal if you're a spinach lover or veteran, but if you're not, or you're worried about people liking it, then chopped, steamed baby spinach is the way to go. You'll barely notice you're eating green leafy things.
3. Danielle recommends 3-4 hours on low. I did mine for 2 hours on high. Totally worked! Hurray. So if you don't get to this until you're kids are walking in the door from school, don't fret. It can still totally work and it is nice to be doing dinner while they do their after school chores/homework and then to relax during the normally rushed pre-dinner thing.

Crock Pot Spinach Lasagna
adapted from Mostly Food and Crafts
makes 6-8 servings
Prep time: 10-20 minutes
Cook time: 2-4 hours
Cost: $7.25
noodles: .40, ricotta: 1.00. mozzarella: 1.00, Parm: .75, spinach: 2.50, marinara: 1.60

6-7 regular lasagna noodles (not no-boil)
20 oz. spinach, thawed (if you think this will be too much for your family, see note above)
1 C ricotta cheese
3/4 C grated Parmesan cheese
3 C marinara sauce (we added some cooked ground beef to ours)
1/2 C water
1 1/2 C mozzarella cheese

If using ground beef, brown with salt and pepper or a bit of pesto (yum). Add this to your marinara sauce. Add 1/2 C water to it all.

While beef is browning, combine spinach ricotta cheese, and 1/2 C Parmesan cheese.

Ladle about 3/4 C marinara sauce into bottom of crock pot. Add 2 lasagna noodles, breaking if necessary to make them fit. Top with 3/4 C marinara sauce, 1/2 spinach mixture and 1/2 C mozzarella.

Repeat (noodles, sauce, spinach, mozzarella).

Top with final 2 noodles. Add remaining sauce and remaining Parmesan and mozzarella cheeses.

Cook in crock pot for 3-4 hours on low or 2 hours on high.

PRINTABLE RECIPE


12 comments:

  1. I also feel a bit worried about trying a lasagna in the crock pot so it's good to know yours was a success. Could you tell any difference from a traditionally baked lasagna?

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  2. I'm glad you liked it! This is the only crockpot lasagna that always comes out perfect and not mushy. You just reminded me that I need to make it again soon.

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  3. I have always wanted to try lasagna in my crockpot--this sounds like a good recipe to start with.

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  4. MMM looks delish. I've always wanted to try lasagna in my crockpot but was afraid of the same thing as you. Glad to see it worked!

    Heather @ Join Us, Pull Up a Chair

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    1. I've been meaning to make lasagna in the crockpot but just never have, this looks great!

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  5. I love that you had a scratch made meal in about the time it would take to cook one of the frozen casseroles :) awesome!

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  6. Hi Jeanie,
    This is a wonderful Crockpot Lasagna with great flavor! It is fun cooking with you in the SRC!
    Miz Helen

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  7. Yes! I've been looking for a recipe like this as well. Thanks for posting, and thanks providing a great recipe for me this month! Be sure to stop by Seasonal Potluck this month. We have peas AND rhubarb link parties open! We'd love if you'd share any recipes you may have http://bit.ly/H9XJGB

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  8. How cool is that. Usually my crockpot is for cooking some protein all day long or a soup. Lasagna.. now that is something I have to try. Looks delicious!

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  9. That looks so amazing. I'd keep the full compliment of spinach. I'm craving that for lunch (but I'll probably be stuck with bagels, and not even good ones, we finished those already!)

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  10. i would have never thought to make lasagne in a crockpot! clever women, you are!

    Happy SRC reveal from a group D member!

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  11. what a grat idea to make lasagna in a crockpot, it really makes my life a lot easier

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