Monday Meals: Slow Cooker Lasagna

Here's a little secret about lasagna. Are you ready?

It's a total pain in the butt to make.

Seriously.

Between the layering of the ingredients, the handling of hot noodles guaranteed to burn your fingers; and the mess it makes- it doesn't feel like it's worth the effort. It's almost a better idea to pack the family in the car and have dinner at the Olive Garden.

But don't despair. Cool Dads has your back. The Wisconsin Test Kitchen has been making a slow cooker lasagna for years that is easily their most requested recipe. You don't cook the noodles; and all you need to do is layer the ingredients in the slow cooker and let it sit all day. Five hours later- you have a delicious Italian dinner.

Cool Dads Slow Cooker Lasagna

12 lasagna noodles, uncooked
1lb. ground beef, browned and drained
1 teaspoon Italian seasonings
1 28oz jar spaghetti sauce
1/4 cup water
1 16oz carton cottage cheese
2 cups mozzarella cheese, grated

Break noodles in half. Place half of the noodles in the bottom of a greased 4-quart slow cooker. Stir Italian seasonings into the browned meat and spread half over the noodles already in the slow cooker. Then, layer half of the sauce and water; half of the cottage cheese, and half of the mozzarella cheese over the beef. Repeat layers. Cover and cook on low for 4-5 hours- do not cook more than 5 hours.

Recipe adapted from 101 Things to do with a Slow Cooker

Notes from the Test Kitchen
-This is a great way to get some vegetables into your diet- add some mushrooms, spinach or even kale after the ground beef layer.
-The recipe calls for ground beef, but you can use whatever type of meat you want- the Wisconsin Test Kitchen used ground pork. Boca crumbles or ground turkey would also be delicious.

There you have it- Italian food simplified. This is a recipe your entire family will love; and it's a perfect week night meal to make when life is hectic. We hope you enjoy it as much as we do!

Stay Cool,
The Cool Dads Crew