Description
This Slow Cooker Ravioli Lasagna is an easy, comforting one-pot meal that layers frozen ravioli, seasoned ground beef, marinara sauce, and melted mozzarella cheese for a delicious twist on classic lasagna. Perfect for busy days, this recipe uses a slow cooker to create a hearty, cheesy dish with minimal effort and maximum flavor.
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 25 oz. frozen ravioli (5 cheese variety), DO NOT THAW
- 1 lb. ground beef
- 1 cup white onion, diced
- 1/2 tsp. salt
- 1/4 tsp. pepper
- 1/4 tsp. garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp. dried leaf oregano (not ground)
- 24 oz. marinara sauce (e.g., Rao’s)
- 8 oz. shredded mozzarella cheese (about 2 cups)
Instructions
- Brown the beef and onion: In a medium non-stick skillet over medium-high heat, add the ground beef and diced onion along with salt, pepper, garlic powder, and dried oregano. Cook until the beef is browned and the onion is softened, leaving a few tablespoons of liquid in the skillet to keep the meat moist.
- Prepare the slow cooker: Spray the inside of your slow cooker with non-stick spray to prevent sticking and make cleanup easier.
- Layer the lasagna: Pour half of the marinara sauce into the bottom of the slow cooker, spreading it out evenly. Then add half of the frozen ravioli on top of the sauce, making sure they are evenly distributed.
- Add the beef mixture: Spread all of the cooked ground beef and onion mixture evenly over the ravioli layer.
- Complete the layers: Add the remaining ravioli on top of the beef layer, followed by the remaining marinara sauce spread evenly over them. Then sprinkle the shredded mozzarella cheese evenly over the top of the sauce.
- Cook the lasagna: Place the lid on the slow cooker and cook on LOW for 4 hours. This allows the ravioli to cook through and the flavors to meld together.
- Serve: Once cooked, serve the saucy and cheesy ravioli lasagna hot and enjoy this easy, comforting meal.
Notes
- Do not thaw the frozen ravioli before layering to prevent them from becoming mushy.
- Keeping some liquid with the cooked beef helps retain moisture and flavor in the slow cooker.
- You can use any variety of frozen ravioli, but 5 cheese works wonderfully for richness.
- Using a high-quality marinara like Rao’s enhances the depth of flavor.
- Cooking on LOW is important to ensure even cooking without drying out the dish.
- This recipe is great for meal prepping and can be kept warm in the slow cooker for an additional hour if needed.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 4 hours
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: Italian-American
