Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 3-4 hours (on LOW) or 1.5-2 hours (on HIGH)
Total Time: 3 hours 15 minutes
Difficulty: Easy (Super Easy!)
Servings: 6-8
Description
Imagine all the cheesy, meaty, saucy goodness of a classic lasagna, but without the hassle of boiling noodles or carefully layering delicate pasta sheets. That’s the magic of this Crockpot Ravioli Lasagna!
This recipe is the ultimate weeknight dinner hack. By using frozen ravioli, we skip multiple steps and create a dish that is impossibly creamy and satisfying. It’s a layered wonder of rich pasta sauce, seasoned ground beef (or Italian sausage!), a luscious ricotta and spinach mixture, gooey mozzarella, and perfectly cooked ravioli—all made right in your slow cooker.
It’s a guaranteed crowd-pleaser that kids and adults will beg for. Just set it and forget it, and come home to the aroma of a hearty, homemade Italian feast.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
Incredibly Easy: No boiling pasta, no complex layering. Just simple ingredients and a slow cooker.
Family Friendly: It’s a fun twist on two favorites: ravioli and lasagna. Even picky eaters love it!
Rich and Flavorful: The slow cooking process melds all the flavors together perfectly, creating a deeply satisfying meal.
Perfect for Busy Nights: Just 15 minutes of prep in the morning, and dinner is ready when you are.
Ingredients
1 lb ground beef or Italian sausage (casings removed)
1 small yellow onion, finely chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 (24 oz) jar of your favorite marinara or pasta sauce
1 (15 oz) container of whole milk ricotta cheese
1 cup grated Parmesan cheese, divided
1 (10 oz) package frozen chopped spinach, thawed and squeezed completely dry
1 large egg
1 tsp dried Italian seasoning
½ tsp salt
¼ tsp black pepper
1 (25 oz) bag frozen cheese ravioli (do not thaw)
2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
Fresh basil or parsley, for garnish (optional)
Instructions
Step 1: Brown the Meat
In a large skillet over medium-high heat, cook the ground beef (or sausage) and chopped onion until the meat is browned and the onion is softened, about 5-7 minutes. Break the meat up with a spoon as it cooks. Add the minced garlic and cook for one more minute until fragrant. Drain off any excess fat.
Step 2: Combine with Sauce
Stir the jar of marinara sauce into the skillet with the cooked meat. Remove the skillet from the heat and set aside.
Step 3: Prepare the Ricotta Filling
In a medium bowl, combine the ricotta cheese, ½ cup of the grated Parmesan cheese, the squeezed-dry spinach, the egg, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Mix well until everything is fully incorporated.
Step 4: Layer in the Crockpot
Lightly coat the inside of your slow cooker with non-stick cooking spray. Now it’s time to build your lasagna layers!
First Layer: Spread about 1 cup of the meat sauce on the bottom of the crockpot. This prevents the ravioli from sticking.
Second Layer: Arrange half of the frozen ravioli in a single layer over the sauce. It’s okay if they overlap a little.
Third Layer: Drop half of the ricotta mixture by spoonfuls over the ravioli. Gently spread it as best you can (it doesn’t need to be perfect).
Fourth Layer: Sprinkle 1 cup of shredded mozzarella over the ricotta.
Fifth Layer: Spoon half of the remaining meat sauce over the cheese.
Repeat the Layers: Repeat the layers one more time: the rest of the frozen ravioli, the remaining ricotta mixture, the final cup of mozzarella, and the last of the meat sauce.
Finally, sprinkle the remaining ½ cup of Parmesan cheese evenly over the top.
Step 5: Slow Cook
Cover the crockpot with the lid and cook on LOW for 3 to 4 hours or on HIGH for 1.5 to 2 hours. The lasagna is done when the ravioli are tender, the sauce is bubbly around the edges, and the cheese is melted.
Pro Tip: Avoid lifting the lid during the first 2 hours of cooking, as this releases essential heat and steam.
Step 6: Rest and Serve
Once cooked, turn off the slow cooker. Let the lasagna rest, uncovered, for about 15-20 minutes before serving. This crucial step allows the layers to set, making it much easier to slice and serve cleanly. Garnish with fresh basil or parsley if desired. Scoop out a generous portion and enjoy!
Notes and Tips
Meat: You can easily substitute ground turkey or chicken for a lighter version. For a spicier kick, use hot Italian sausage.
Ravioli: While cheese ravioli is classic, feel free to experiment with other frozen ravioli flavors like spinach and cheese, or even meat-filled ravioli.
Sauce: A good quality jarred sauce works perfectly here, but you can absolutely use your favorite homemade marinara.
Spinach: It is very important to squeeze as much water as possible out of the thawed spinach. Too much water will make your lasagna watery. Use paper towels or a clean kitchen towel to really wring it out.
Storage: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Reheat gently in the microwave or a low oven.
Nutrition Information
The following nutrition information is an estimate and provided as a courtesy. Actual values may vary depending on the specific brands and ingredients used.
Serving Size: 1/8 of recipe
Calories: 615
Sugar: 9g
Sodium: 1280mg
Fat: 31g
Saturated Fat: 16g
Unsaturated Fat: 12g
Trans Fat: 1g
Carbohydrates: 46g
Fiber: 5g
Protein: 37g
Cholesterol: 125mg