Mouthwatering Crockpot Ravioli Lasagna
Crockpot Ravioli Lasagna turns frozen cheese ravioli into an easy layered slow cooker dinner with ground beef, pasta sauce, mozzarella and Parmesan. It delivers the cheesy, saucy appeal of lasagna while keeping the preparation straightforward for a busy weeknight.
The recipe starts by browning and draining the ground beef. From there, everything gets layered directly in the crockpot: pasta sauce, frozen cheese ravioli, beef, Parmesan and mozzarella. The layers repeat until the ingredients are used, with sauce and cheese finishing the top.
You can also adjust how meaty you want the dish to be. The supplied recipe calls for 1 pound of ground beef, with 2 pounds offered as an option for extra meatiness. Either way, the beef is fully cooked and drained before it goes into the slow cooker.
Once assembled, Crockpot Ravioli Lasagna cooks on LOW for 4–6 hours or HIGH for 2–3 hours. The supplied finishing cue is melted, bubbly cheese, after which the lasagna is ready to scoop into portions and serve.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Frozen ravioli keeps preparation simple: The recipe uses one bag of frozen cheese ravioli without adding a separate ravioli-cooking step.
- Only five main ingredients are needed: Ravioli, Parmesan, mozzarella, pasta sauce and ground beef make up the dish.
- It uses a straightforward layering method: Sauce, ravioli, beef and cheese repeat throughout the crockpot.
- You can make it extra meaty: Use the listed 1 pound of ground beef or increase it to 2 pounds as specifically suggested by the recipe.
- Two cheeses create the cheesy layers: Shredded Parmesan and mozzarella are both included.
- You can choose your pasta sauce: The ingredient list calls for one 24-ounce jar of your favorite pasta sauce.
- There are two slow-cooker schedules: Cook on LOW for 4–6 hours or HIGH for 2–3 hours.
- Serving is uncomplicated: Once cooked, simply scoop the ravioli lasagna into portions and enjoy.
Ingredients
- 1 bag frozen cheese ravioli
- 1 cup shredded Parmesan cheese
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1 jar (24 oz) of your favorite pasta sauce
- 1 lb ground beef, browned and drained (or 2 lbs for extra meatiness)
Ingredient Notes
Frozen Cheese Ravioli
The recipe calls for one bag of frozen cheese ravioli. No bag weight is supplied, so an exact package size should not be assumed. The instructions place the ravioli directly into the crockpot during assembly and do not include a separate boiling step.
Ground Beef
Use 1 pound of ground beef for the standard version or 2 pounds if you want the extra-meaty option included in the original recipe. Brown the beef over medium heat until fully cooked, then drain the excess fat before layering it into the crockpot.
Pasta Sauce
One 24-ounce jar of your favorite pasta sauce provides the sauce component. A thin layer goes into the crockpot first, and sauce is repeated through the layers before finishing on top.
Mozzarella
Two cups of shredded mozzarella provide the main melted cheese layer. Some goes between the ravioli and beef layers, while cheese also finishes the top of the dish.
Parmesan
One cup of shredded Parmesan joins the mozzarella throughout the layers. The source specifies shredded Parmesan but does not provide another variety or substitute.
Equipment
- Slow cooker or crockpot
- Skillet
- Stirring utensil
- Utensil for scooping and serving
How to Make Crockpot Ravioli Lasagna
-
Prepare the Ground Beef
In a skillet over medium heat, brown the ground beef until fully cooked. Drain excess fat and set aside.
-
Layer the Ingredients
In your crockpot, start layering. Begin with a thin layer of pasta sauce, then add a layer of ravioli, followed by some ground beef, and sprinkle with Parmesan and mozzarella cheese. Repeat the layers until all ingredients are used, finishing with a layer of sauce and cheese on top.
-
Cook
Cover and cook on LOW for 4–6 hours, or on HIGH for 2–3 hours, until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
-
Serve
Once cooked, scoop out portions and enjoy your delicious lasagna.
Tips for the Best Results
- Brown the beef first: The ground beef should be fully cooked in a skillet before it enters the crockpot.
- Drain the excess fat: Do this after browning and before assembling the lasagna.
- Start with sauce: A thin layer of pasta sauce forms the first layer in the slow cooker.
- Follow the supplied layering order: Add ravioli after the sauce, followed by ground beef, Parmesan and mozzarella.
- Repeat the layers: Continue until the ingredients are used rather than putting everything into one thick layer.
- Finish with sauce and cheese: These ingredients form the top layer before the crockpot is covered.
- Choose the beef amount you prefer: The recipe supports 1 pound or an extra-meaty version using 2 pounds.
- Use the cheese as a finishing cue: The supplied method describes the finished cheese as melted and bubbly.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Adding Raw Ground Beef to the Crockpot
The supplied recipe specifically calls for browning the beef over medium heat until fully cooked before layering it with the ravioli.
Forgetting to Drain the Beef
Drain the excess fat after browning the ground beef. The recipe includes this step before the beef is set aside for assembly.
Forgetting the Initial Sauce Layer
Begin with a thin layer of pasta sauce before adding the first layer of frozen cheese ravioli.
Putting All the Cheese in One Layer
Parmesan and mozzarella are sprinkled through the repeated layers, with sauce and cheese also reserved for the top.
Assuming a Specific Ravioli Package Size
The recipe says one bag of frozen cheese ravioli but does not provide its weight. Avoid changing the ingredient list to an assumed package size.
Substitutions and Variations
The supplied recipe includes two built-in choices. First, you can select your favorite 24-ounce jar of pasta sauce. Second, you can increase the ground beef from 1 pound to 2 pounds for an extra-meaty Crockpot Ravioli Lasagna.
No alternative ravioli filling, meat, cheese or sauce quantity is supplied. Those changes would be additional variations rather than part of the original recipe.
Serving Suggestions
The original directions keep serving simple: once the cheese is melted and bubbly and the dish has finished cooking, scoop the ravioli lasagna into individual portions and serve.
No bread, salad, vegetables or other accompaniments were supplied with the recipe, so additional side dishes would be general serving ideas rather than components of the original Crockpot Ravioli Lasagna.
Storage and Reheating
Specific storage and reheating instructions were not included with the original recipe, so this article does not assign a storage duration or reheating method that was not supplied.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to cook frozen ravioli before putting it in the crockpot?
The supplied recipe does not include a separate ravioli-cooking step. It instructs you to layer the frozen cheese ravioli directly into the crockpot.
Do I need to cook the ground beef first?
Yes. Brown the ground beef in a skillet over medium heat until fully cooked, then drain the excess fat before layering.
How much ground beef do I need?
The standard recipe calls for 1 pound. The source also specifically allows 2 pounds for extra meatiness.
What kind of ravioli should I use?
The ingredient list calls for frozen cheese ravioli.
What size bag of frozen ravioli should I buy?
The source states one bag but does not provide its weight, so an exact package size has not been invented.
What pasta sauce should I use?
The recipe calls for one 24-ounce jar of your favorite pasta sauce without specifying a particular style or brand.
What cheese goes into Crockpot Ravioli Lasagna?
The recipe uses 1 cup shredded Parmesan cheese and 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese.
How do I layer ravioli lasagna in a crockpot?
Start with a thin layer of pasta sauce, followed by ravioli, ground beef, Parmesan and mozzarella. Repeat until the ingredients are used, then finish with sauce and cheese.
How long does Crockpot Ravioli Lasagna cook on LOW?
Cover and cook on LOW for 4–6 hours.
How long does it cook on HIGH?
The supplied HIGH setting is 2–3 hours.
How do I know when it is ready?
The supplied recipe says to cook until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
How many servings does this recipe make?
The original recipe does not state a serving yield, so an exact number of portions has not been assigned.
Recipe Card: Crockpot Ravioli Lasagna
Recipe Name: Crockpot Ravioli Lasagna
Description: Frozen cheese ravioli layered in the slow cooker with browned ground beef, pasta sauce, mozzarella and Parmesan for an easy cheesy dinner.
Method: Slow cooker
Cook Time: LOW for 4–6 hours or HIGH for 2–3 hours
Ingredients
- 1 bag frozen cheese ravioli
- 1 cup shredded Parmesan cheese
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1 jar (24 oz) of your favorite pasta sauce
- 1 lb ground beef, browned and drained (or 2 lbs for extra meatiness)
Instructions
- Prepare the Ground Beef: In a skillet over medium heat, brown the ground beef until fully cooked. Drain excess fat and set aside.
- Layer the Ingredients: In your crockpot, start layering. Begin with a thin layer of pasta sauce, then add a layer of ravioli, followed by some ground beef, and sprinkle with Parmesan and mozzarella cheese. Repeat the layers until all ingredients are used, finishing with a layer of sauce and cheese on top.
- Cook: Cover and cook on LOW for 4–6 hours, or on HIGH for 2–3 hours, until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
- Serve: Once cooked, scoop out portions and enjoy your delicious lasagna.
Recipe Notes
- The recipe uses frozen cheese ravioli and does not include a separate ravioli-cooking step.
- The ravioli bag weight was not supplied.
- Brown and drain the ground beef before assembling the layers.
- Use 1 lb ground beef or 2 lbs for the supplied extra-meaty option.
- Start with a thin layer of pasta sauce and finish with sauce and cheese.
- Cook on LOW for 4–6 hours or HIGH for 2–3 hours.
- The supplied finishing cue is melted, bubbly cheese.
- No serving yield or nutrition information was supplied.
Storage and Reheating
Specific storage and reheating instructions were not included with the original recipe.