Slow Cooker Ravioli Lasagna Recipe

The Ultimate Slow Cooker Ravioli Lasagna Recipe: Cozy & Foolproof

Slow cooker ravioli lasagna crafts traditional lasagna into a hassle-free culinary experience.

Comfort food lovers appreciate this ingenious twist on a classic Italian favorite.

Layered with robust flavors and creamy textures, this dish reimagines pasta preparation with remarkable simplicity.

Warm, hearty ingredients meld together seamlessly inside the slow cooker, creating a mouth-watering meal that requires minimal kitchen effort.

Elegant yet uncomplicated, this recipe bridges home cooking convenience with gourmet satisfaction.

Rich, cheesy goodness awaits those seeking a delectable dinner solution that impresses without complicated techniques.

Prepare to revolutionize your meal strategy with this game-changing approach to lasagna.

Why Everyone’s Loving This Ravioli Lasagna Hack

Why Everyone’s Loving This Ravioli Lasagna Hack
  • Effortless Comfort: Transform traditional lasagna into a low-maintenance slow cooker meal that requires minimal kitchen effort while delivering maximum flavor satisfaction.
  • Layered Flavor Explosion: Create a rich, hearty dish where ground beef, marinara sauce, and cheese merge into a mouthwatering symphony of tastes that blend perfectly during slow cooking.
  • Quick Family Crowd-Pleaser: Whip up a delicious dinner in just 4 hours with minimal prep time, making it ideal for busy weeknights or lazy weekend meals that will satisfy everyone from kids to adults.

Ingredients You’ll Need for Ravioli Lasagna in the Slow Cooker

Main Protein:
  • Ground Beef: Rich, flavorful meat that forms the hearty base of the lasagna, best when freshly ground with some fat content for juiciness.
  • Onion: Aromatic vegetable that adds depth and sweetness to the meat mixture, preferably yellow or white for classic flavor.
Cheese Components:
  • Mozzarella Cheese: Soft, melty cheese that creates a gooey top layer with delightful stretchy texture, shredded for easy melting.
Pasta and Sauce:
  • Frozen Ravioli: Convenient pre-made pasta that eliminates the need for manual layering, pasta should be fully frozen and high-quality.
  • Marinara Sauce: Classic Italian tomato sauce that provides moisture and rich flavor to the entire dish, store-bought or homemade works well.
Seasoning Blend:
  • Salt, Pepper, Garlic Powder, Dried Oregano: Essential spice combination that enhances meats natural flavor, ensuring a well-seasoned base for the lasagna.
Additional Components:
  • Non-Stick Cooking Spray: Prevents sticking and ensures easy serving and cleanup of the slow cooker dish.

Putting Together Slow Cooker Ravioli Lasagna with Ease

Putting Together Slow Cooker Ravioli Lasagna with Ease

Step 1: Prepare The Meat Mixture

Brown ground beef in a medium non-stick skillet over medium-high heat. Add diced onions and season with:
  • Salt
  • Pepper
  • Garlic powder
  • Dried oregano

Cook until beef is brown and onions are soft, maintaining some moisture in the pan.

Step 2: Prepare The Slow Cooker

Spray the inside of the slow cooker with non-stick cooking spray to prevent sticking.

Step 3: Create Delicious Layers

Layer ingredients in the slow cooker in this order:
  • 1/2 marinara sauce on the bottom
  • 1/2 frozen ravioli spread evenly
  • Cooked ground beef and onion mixture
  • Remaining ravioli
  • Remaining marinara sauce
  • Generous sprinkle of shredded mozzarella cheese

Step 4: Slow Cook To Perfection

Cover slow cooker and cook on LOW for 4 hours. During cooking, flavors will blend and cheese will melt beautifully.

Step 5: Serve And Enjoy

After 4 hours, check that ravioli is tender and cheese is bubbly. Turn off heat and let lasagna rest for 10 minutes before serving hot directly from the slow cooker.

Tips to Make Your Ravioli Lasagna Even Better

Tips to Make Your Ravioli Lasagna Even Better
  • Meat Mastery: Brown ground beef thoroughly to lock in rich, savory flavors and prevent any bland or watery texture.
  • Spice Harmony: Balance seasonings carefully, ensuring each bite delivers a perfect blend of salt, pepper, garlic, and oregano without overwhelming the dish.
  • Layer Like a Pro: Create even layers of ravioli, sauce, and meat to guarantee consistent taste and texture in every serving.
  • Cheese Coverage: Spread mozzarella generously but evenly, allowing it to melt perfectly and create a golden, appetizing top layer.
  • Resting Ritual: Let the lasagna rest for 10 minutes after cooking to help layers set and make serving easier without falling apart.

How to Save and Warm Up Leftover Ravioli Lasagna

How to Save and Warm Up Leftover Ravioli Lasagna
  • Refrigerator Storage: Transfer leftover ravioli lasagna into an airtight container within two hours of cooking. Seal tightly and refrigerate for up to 3-4 days, keeping flavors fresh and ingredients safe from bacterial growth.
  • Freezer Method: Wrap individual portions or the entire dish in plastic wrap, followed by aluminum foil for extra protection. Freeze for up to 2 months, preserving the lasagna's delicious taste and texture. Label the container with the date to track storage time.
  • Reheating Technique: Thaw frozen lasagna overnight in the refrigerator. Warm individual servings in the microwave for 2-3 minutes, stirring halfway through to ensure even heating. For larger portions, use the oven at 350°F, covering with foil to prevent drying out.

What Works Best with Slow Cooker Ravioli Lasagna

  • Savor Robust Red Wine Pairing: Rich, full-bodied red wines like Chianti or Sangiovese complement the hearty beef and tomato sauce, enhancing the dish's deep flavor profile with their bold, slightly tannic characteristics.
  • Crisp Green Salad Companion: Prepare a light, zesty mixed green salad with balsamic vinaigrette to cut through the lasagna's richness, providing a refreshing contrast and balancing the meal's heavy components.
  • Garlic Bread Sidekick: Serve warm, crusty garlic bread to soak up extra marinara sauce, adding a crunchy texture and complementary garlic notes that elevate the entire dish's taste experience.
  • Bright Citrus Sparkling Water: Offer a chilled sparkling water with a splash of lemon or lime to cleanse the palate between bites, refreshing the mouth and lightening the meal's overall intensity.

Clever Add-Ins for Slow Cooker Ravioli Lasagna

  • Vegetarian Veggie Blast: Replace ground beef with a mix of sautéed zucchini, mushrooms, and spinach for a nutrient-packed plant-based version that keeps all the cheesy goodness.
  • Spicy Southwest Kick: Add diced green chiles, swap marinara for salsa, and sprinkle pepper jack cheese to transform the classic recipe into a zesty southwestern-style dish.
  • Mediterranean Dream: Incorporate crumbled feta cheese, chopped kalamata olives, and swap marinara for a tomato-basil sauce to give the lasagna a Greek-inspired flavor profile.
  • Protein Power Boost: Use ground turkey or chicken instead of beef for a leaner protein option that still delivers robust taste and satisfying texture.
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Slow Cooker Ravioli Lasagna Recipe

Slow Cooker Ravioli Lasagna Recipe


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4.5 from 11 reviews

  • Total Time: 4 hours 15 minutes
  • Yield: 6 1x

Description

Slow cooker ravioli lasagna merges Italian-American comfort classics into one effortless meal. Layers of cheese ravioli, rich marinara, and melted mozzarella create a hearty dinner you’ll crave again and again.


Ingredients

Scale

Main Ingredients:

  • 25 ounces (708 grams) frozen ravioli (5 cheese, do not thaw)
  • 1 pound (454 grams) ground beef (or mild sausage instead)
  • 24 ounces (680 grams) marinara sauce (I like Rao’s brand)
  • 8 ounces (227 grams) shredded mozzarella cheese (about 2 cups)

Vegetables and Aromatics:

  • 1 cup white onion (diced)

Seasonings:

  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • ¼ teaspoon pepper
  • ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
  • ¼ teaspoon dried leaf oregano (not ground)

Instructions

  1. Warm a medium non-stick skillet over medium-high heat. Combine ground beef (approximately ) and finely chopped onions (), seasoning with salt, black pepper, garlic powder, and dried oregano. Sauté until beef browns completely and onions become translucent, maintaining a slight moisture in the pan.
  2. Prepare the slow cooker by lightly coating its interior with non-stick cooking spray to prevent potential sticking.
  3. Create the initial sauce foundation by spreading marinara sauce across the bottom of the slow cooker. Arrange a single layer of frozen cheese ravioli (about 10-) evenly over the sauce, covering the entire surface.
  4. Distribute the cooked beef and onion mixture uniformly across the ravioli layer, ensuring comprehensive coverage. Add another layer of ravioli directly on top of the meat.
  5. Pour the remaining marinara sauce (approximately ) over the second ravioli layer, making certain all pasta is generously coated. Sprinkle shredded mozzarella cheese across the top, creating a complete cheese blanket.
  6. Secure the slow cooker lid and cook on LOW temperature setting for 4 hours. The extended cooking time allows flavors to merge and cheese to melt thoroughly.
  7. After 4 hours, verify the ravioli’s tenderness and the cheese’s complete melting. Let the lasagna rest for 10-15 minutes before serving to allow proper setting and enhanced flavor integration.

Notes

  • Beef transforms this classic dish into a hearty, comforting meal that feeds a hungry crowd with minimal kitchen effort.
  • Frozen ravioli becomes a genius shortcut, eliminating pasta-making stress while delivering rich, layered Italian flavors.
  • Slow cooking method ensures tender meat, perfectly melted cheese, and deep, complex taste without constant stirring or monitoring.
  • Minimal prep work means you can assemble this recipe in under 15 minutes, making it ideal for busy weeknight dinners or lazy weekend cooking.
  • Mozzarella cheese creates a golden, bubbling top that turns this one-pot wonder into a crowd-pleasing family favorite.
  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 4 hours
  • Category: Dinner, Lunch
  • Method: Slow Cooking
  • Cuisine: Italian-American

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 6
  • Calories: 508 kcal
  • Sugar: 6g
  • Sodium: 883mg
  • Fat: 24g
  • Saturated Fat: 10g
  • Unsaturated Fat: 12g
  • Trans Fat: 0.5g
  • Carbohydrates: 51g
  • Fiber: 3g
  • Protein: 25g
  • Cholesterol: 63mg
Julian Park

Julian Park

Co-Founder, Cuisine Researcher & Food Culture Writer

Expertise

  • Global Food Cultures & Culinary History
  • Regional Flavor Profiles & Cooking Techniques
  • Food Anthropology & Cultural Identity
  • Culinary Research & Narrative Writing
  • Street Food Traditions & Heritage Dishes

Education

The Institute of Culinary Education (ICE), Los Angeles, CA

  • Degree: Certificate in Culinary Arts
  • Focus: Professional culinary techniques, global cuisine fundamentals, and real-world training in restaurant-style cooking and food presentation.

Julian Park is a natural storyteller at The Dream Café who blends hands-on culinary experience with a passion for exploring global food traditions. A graduate of The Institute of Culinary Education in Los Angeles, Julian combines professional technique with a love for cultural discovery, diving into how dishes reflect heritage, migration, and identity. 

His work spans everything from in-depth cuisine guides to reflections on everyday meals around the world. With a curious palate and a journal always close by, Julian helps readers connect with food in a way that feels so insightful and personal.

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