This Slow Cooker Vegetable Lasagna recipe is the easiest pasta dinner you'll make all winter long! Healthy vegetable lasagna will warm you up in an instant, and leave your kitchen flooded with the rich, delicious smell of Italian cuisine! 
Best Healthy Vegetable Lasagna Recipe
I can remember the first time that I had lasagna cooked in the slow cooker. My older sister was blessing her new baby in church in Idaho, and my little family (we had 3 kids at the time) drove up to celebrate the day with them. The problem and benefit of having so many people show up at your door to celebrate a new baby is that you have a new baby and you have company. My sister thought ahead and made two slow cookers of lasagna for us all to eat after church. I brought up bread and salad, and we made it a meal. I'm pretty sure my brother-in-law, who is an excellent baker, made some kind of giant iced cookie for dessert, too. With a little forethought and some planning, my sister made a meal that fed lots and lots of people without too much work on her own part; she's smart like that.
I had no idea that lasagna made in the slow cooker could be so, well, normal. And it's easy! You don't even have to cook the noodles ahead of time. This version is a veggie + noodle-filled heaven that cooks itself, and you are going to love it. Don't mistake vegetable lasagna for the kind that uses vegetables in place of noodles, because that isn't the case here. It's the best of both worlds - carb-y wonderful noodles included. You can use just about any vegetable that you like. I really love the zucchini + fresh spinach combo. I have also made this with a variety of things like mushrooms, kale, shredded carrots, and even bell peppers. Use what you like and what you have on hand. The mushrooms were the only thing I cooked ahead of time because I wasn't sure what they would do in the slow cooker (though I'm fairly certain they would be just fine going in raw like everything else).
This dish is hearty, filling, easy, and delicious. Perfect for all things busy school night or weekend filled with activities. Make it soon.
Tips on Making Slow Cooker Vegetable Lasagna:
I think the key to getting this to cut and serve like a traditional baked lasagna is to let it sit in the slow cooker for an hour after the cooking time. I didn't realize my slow cooker was on warm and it was still cooking the vegetable lasagna I have pictured (it's a little dark around the edges because I cooked it on warm for too long). So yours shouldn't be that dark if you unplug the slow cooker completely. I really like that it only takes 3 hours to cook on high (perfect for going to church and coming home to dinner or getting it ready right before school gets out), but if you are going to be gone for the afternoon you can make this at lunch and cook it for 5-6 hours on low before dinner. I feel like this is a great flexible recipe that the whole family will love. I can't wait for you to try it.
I'm in love with this programmable slow cooker. I think the best feature is that the lid locks on. After I lost a whole slow cooker of meatballs in the back of my suburban on the way to a party, I'll never go back to one without a clamp-on lid. I didn't realize how often I take my slow cooker places! For under $50, it's a great option (and makes a great gift too).
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Easy Slow Cooker Vegetable Lasagna
- Total Time: 3 hours 10 mins
- Yield: serves 6-8 1x
Description
This Slow Cooker Vegetable Lasagna recipe is the easiest pasta dinner you'll make all winter long! Healthy vegetable lasagna will warm you up in an instant, and leave your kitchen flooded with the rich, delicious smell of Italian cuisine!
Ingredients
- 1 jar Italian tomato pasta sauce (24 ounce)
- 1 can diced tomatoes, with the juice (14.5 ounce)
- 24 ounces part-skim ricotta cheese OR cottage cheese
- 9 lasagna noodles with wavy edges
- 3-4 cups chopped vegetables of choice (I used zucchini and fresh spinach)
- 2 cups shredded Mozzarella or Provolone cheese
- Parmesan cheese for topping
- fresh parsley for topping
Instructions
- In a small bowl combine the pasta sauce, diced tomatoes, and ricotta or cottage cheese. Place ½ cup of the tomato mixture on the bottom of the slow cooker. Break 3 lasagna noodles so that they fit into the slow cooker better (you can see how I did this in the pictures.)
- Cover with about one third of the tomato sauce mixture, chopped vegetables, cheese, and end with noodles. Repeat layers two more times for a total of three complete layers. Covered with a thin layer of sauce and a little bit more shredded cheese.
- Cover and cook for 3 hours on high or 5-6 hours on low. Turn off the slow cooker and let the lasagna sit for one hour before serving so that the noodles can absorb any extra moisture. Sprinkle with a little Parmesan and fresh parsley before serving.
Notes
You can use a just about any vegetable that you like. I really liked the zucchini + fresh spinach combo. I have also made this with a variety of things like cooked mushrooms, kale, shredded carrots, and even bell peppers. Use what you like and what you have on hand. The mushrooms were the only thing I cooked ahead of time because I wasn't sure what they would do in the slow cooker.
- Prep Time: 10 mins
- Cook Time: 3 hours
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Slow Cooker
- Cuisine: Italian
Keywords: vegetable lasagna recipe, healthy vegetable lasagna, how to make vegetable lasagna, slow cooker lasagna recipe, crockpot lasagna recipe, easy lasagna recipe, easy slow cooker lasagna recipe
This recipe is adapted from and inspired by the ever amazing Lindsay at Pinch of Yum.
Seriously, how easy is this? Make it right in the slow cooker, throw in whatever vegetables you have on had, move on with your day, and come back to a ready-to-eat meal the whole family will gobble up. This recipe would go great with a side of my favorite no-knead bread (it's the best, and super easy too).
Do tell. Have you ever made slow cooker lasagna? What vegetables are you thinking about trying?
Enjoy, from my kitchen to yours!
Mike
Absolutely delicious, simple, amazing recipe. I did run into an issue of mine drying out a little. I followed the directions, including using spinach and zucchini. Cooked for 5.5 hours on low.
Any tips for next time, or where it might have went wrong? It was still delicious and not TOO dry, just drier than it should have been.
★★★★
Melissa
Did you do anything to the zucchini like press out the water? I'd suggest adding more veggies that are moist like zucchini or up the amount of sauce/tomatoes you add~
Elly
Only tried slow cooker version once and it was so good. Sadly lost the recipe so am trying yours and It's cooking as we speak and smells delicious. I have used onions, peppers and courgettes as my veggies with some garlic. I did not have the cheese so have used low fat cheddar and on the top, a mix of Cheddar and red Leicester for colour. Can't wait to try. Thank you.
Veronika
I’ve been craving lasagna and this looks great and easy! Instead of veggies do you think browned ground beef would work just as well?
Melissa
Yes, it works great. I add cooked ground beef or sausage often in addition to the veggies.
Ann Wallace
Did you or can you use no cook lasagna noodles?
Melissa
You can use either/or, they both work great in this recipe so use what you have on hand or prefer.
Becky H
Mercy me, this looks so good! I am excited to try it!
Marseille
You know what's been me from trying something like this (or cakes in the slow cooker). I'm afraid i won't be able to get it out in reasonable edible looking pieces. Any tips?
Melissa
Yep, once it has cooked, turn the slow cooker all of the way off and let it sit for one hour before serving. That's the key to slicing this dish. I don't have any idea when it comes to cakes though, I have never tried a slow cooker cake though it sounds delicious!