Mile High Crock Pot Lasagna With Zucchini Or Spinach Recipes

SKINNY SLOW-COOKER SPINACH LASAGNA

Steps:

• Spray 5- to 6-quart slow cooker with cooking spray. In medium bowl, mix pasta sauce, tomatoes, crushed red pepper, bell pepper and zucchini. Spread 1 cup tomato mixture in bottom of slow cooker.
• Layer 3 lasagna noodles, broken into pieces to fit, over sauce in slow cooker. Spread half of the ricotta cheese over noodles; sprinkle with 1/4 cup of the mozzarella cheese and half of the spinach. Top with one-third of the tomato sauce mixture (about 1 1/2 cups). Repeat layering of noodles, cheeses and spinach. Top with remaining 3 noodles and sauce. Save remaining 1 cup mozzarella cheese in refrigerator.
• Cover; cook on Low heat setting 4 to 5 hours or until noodles are tender and cooked through. Sprinkle with reserved mozzarella; cover and let stand 10 minutes to melt cheese.

SLOW COOKER LASAGNA

Steps:

• In a large skillet over medium heat cook the ground beef, onion, and garlic until brown. Add the tomato sauce, tomato paste, salt, and oregano and stir until well incorporated. Cook until heated through.
• In a large bowl mix together the cottage cheese, grated Parmesan cheese, and shredded mozzarella cheese.
• Spoon a layer of the meat mixture onto the bottom of the slow cooker. Add a double layer of the uncooked lasagna noodles. Break to fit noodles into slow cooker. Top noodles with a portion of the cheese mixture. Repeat the layering of sauce, noodles, and cheese until all the ingredients are used.
• Cover, and cook on LOW setting for 4 to 6 hours.

MILE-HIGH CROCK POT LASAGNA WITH ZUCCHINI OR SPINACH

Steps:

• Brown the beef, onions, zucchini, and garlic in 2 tablespoons olive oil in a large skillet, stirring to break up meat.
• Stir in the oregano, basil, pepper, crushed anise seeds, sliced mushrooms, parsley, spaghetti sauce, and wine.
• In a separate bowl, stir together the beaten egg and the ricotta cheese, beating well until mixture is smooth. Stir in the grated Parmesan cheese, combine well.
• Grease the bottom and sides of the crock pot (I use cooking spray or butter).
• Layer about 1/4 of the meat sauce mixture in the bottom of the crock pot. Put a layer of noodles on top of that (break noodles to fit, overlapping is fine). Put about 1/3 of the cheese mixture and sprinkle with 1/4 of the mozzarella. Repeat with sauce, noodles and cheese for another two layers. Top with meat sauce and a little Parmesan and shredded mozzarella on top.
• Cover and cook on low for 4-6 hours (4 hours on HIGH plus 30 minutes on LOW, in my 1990s 'older' model 4-Quart crock pot), or until noodles are tender.

SLOW-COOKER SPINACH LASAGNA ROLLUPS

Steps:

• In a large pot of boiling salted water, cook the lasagna noodles according to the instructions on the box until barely al dente. Drain and set aside.
• Meanwhile, in a large bowl, mix the ricotta, mozzarella, Parmesan, Italian seasoning, and eggs. Stir in the spinach.
• Pour 1/2 jar of marinara sauce into the bottom of a slow cooker, spreading evenly.
• Cut each lasagna noodle in half crosswise. Spread about 1 heaping tablespoon ricotta mixture across one noodle half. Roll up the noodle and place it in the slow cooker, seam-side down. Continue with the remaining noodles and ricotta mixture.
• Pour 1 jar of marinara sauce over the top of the rollups. Cover and cook on high for 3 hours. Pour the remaining 1/2 jar of sauce into the slow cooker and allow to heat through before serving.