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
- 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.
- Prepare the slow cooker by lightly coating its interior with non-stick cooking spray to prevent potential sticking.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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