Slow-Cooker Vegetarian Lasagna

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Sure, the slow cooker's great for stews and soups, but it also happens to make a mean lasagna! In this ingenious slow-cooker recipe, all you have to do is chop your veggies, then layer the ingredients (raw) into the crockpot. Serve with: Garlic bread and a green salad.

Cook Time:
30 mins
Additional Time:
1 hr 30 mins
Total Time:
2 hrs
Servings:
8
Yield:
8 servings

Ingredients

  • 1 large egg

  • 1 15- to 16-ounce container part-skim ricotta

  • 1 5-ounce package baby spinach, coarsely chopped

  • 3 large or 4 small portobello mushroom caps, gills removed (see Tip), halved and thinly sliced

  • 1 small zucchini, quartered lengthwise and thinly sliced

  • 1 28-ounce can crushed tomatoes

  • 1 28-ounce can diced tomatoes

  • 3 cloves garlic, minced

  • Pinch of crushed red pepper (optional)

  • 15 whole-wheat lasagna noodles (about 12 ounces), uncooked

  • 3 cups shredded part-skim mozzarella, divided

Directions

  1. Combine egg, ricotta, spinach, mushrooms and zucchini in a large bowl.

  2. Combine crushed and diced tomatoes and their juice, garlic and crushed red pepper (if using) in a medium bowl.

  3. Generously coat a 6-quart or larger slow cooker with cooking spray. Spread 1 1/2 cups of the tomato mixture in the slow cooker. Arrange 5 noodles over the sauce, overlapping them slightly and breaking into pieces to cover as much of the sauce as possible. Spread half of the ricotta-vegetable mixture over the noodles and firmly pat down, then spoon on 1 1/2 cups sauce and sprinkle with 1 cup mozzarella. Repeat the layering one more time, starting with noodles. Top with a third layer of noodles. Evenly spread the remaining tomato sauce over the noodles. Set aside the remaining 1 cup mozzarella in the refrigerator.

  4. Put the lid on the slow cooker and cook on High for 2 hours or on Low for 4 hours. Turn off the slow cooker, sprinkle the reserved mozzarella on the lasagna, cover and let stand for 10 minutes to melt the cheese.

    Slow-Cooker Vegetarian Lasagna

Tips

Equipment: 6-quart (or larger) slow cooker

Tip: The dark gills found on the underside of a portobello mushroom cap are edible, but can turn a dish an unappealing gray color. If you like, gently scrape the gills off with a spoon.

For easy cleanup, try a slow-cooker liner. These heat-resistant, disposable liners fit neatly inside the insert and help prevent food from sticking to the bottom and sides of your slow cooker.

Originally appeared: EatingWell Magazine, November/December 2011

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

413 Calories
15g Fat
49g Carbs
27g Protein
Nutrition Facts
Servings Per Recipe 8
Calories 413
% Daily Value *
Total Carbohydrate 49g 18%
Dietary Fiber 7g 26%
Total Sugars 9g
Protein 27g 54%
Total Fat 15g 19%
Saturated Fat 8g 40%
Cholesterol 67mg 22%
Vitamin A 2678IU 54%
Vitamin C 26mg 29%
Folate 78mcg 19%
Sodium 666mg 29%
Calcium 558mg 43%
Iron 4mg 23%
Magnesium 103mg 24%
Potassium 847mg 18%

Nutrition information is calculated by a registered dietitian using an ingredient database but should be considered an estimate.

* Daily Values (DVs) are the recommended amounts of nutrients to consume each day. Percent Daily Value (%DV) found on nutrition labels tells you how much a serving of a particular food or recipe contributes to each of those total recommended amounts. Per the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the daily value is based on a standard 2,000 calorie diet. Depending on your calorie needs or if you have a health condition, you may need more or less of particular nutrients. (For example, it’s recommended that people following a heart-healthy diet eat less sodium on a daily basis compared to those following a standard diet.)

(-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient. If you are following a special diet for medical reasons, be sure to consult with your primary care provider or a registered dietitian to better understand your personal nutrition needs.

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