Crockpot Ravioli Lasagna

Ingredients and Cooking Method

Frozen Ravioli: 25 oz. of frozen ravioli (preferably 5-cheese variety). Do not thaw the ravioli before use.
Ground Beef: 1 pound of ground beef (alternatively, mild sausage or soy crumbles can be used).
White Onion: 1 cup, diced.
Salt: ½ teaspoon.
Pepper: ¼ teaspoon.
Garlic Powder: ¼ teaspoon.
Dried Leaf Oregano: ½ teaspoon (not ground oregano).
Marinara Sauce: 24 oz., preferably a high-quality brand like Rao’s for enhanced flavor.
Shredded Mozzarella Cheese: 8 oz., which equals about 2 cups.

Prepare the Ground Beef Mixture:
- Heat a medium-sized non-stick skillet over medium-high heat.
- Add the ground beef and diced onion to the skillet.
- Season with salt, pepper, garlic powder, and dried oregano.
- Cook until the meat is browned and fully cooked through.
- Do not drain all the liquid from the skillet; leave about 2-3 tablespoons of liquid in the mixture to keep it moist.
Prepare the Slow Cooker:
- Spray the inside of your slow cooker with non-stick cooking spray to prevent sticking.
Layering Ingredients in the Slow Cooker:
- Pour half of the marinara sauce into the bottom of the slow cooker, spreading it evenly across the base.
- Add half of the bag of frozen ravioli on top of this layer of sauce, arranging them in a single layer if possible (some overlap is fine).
- Spread all of the cooked ground beef mixture evenly over this layer of ravioli.
- Add the remaining half bag of frozen ravioli on top of the meat layer.
- Pour over the remaining marinara sauce to cover everything evenly.
Add Cheese Topping:
- Sprinkle shredded mozzarella cheese evenly over the top layer.
Cook in Slow Cooker:
- Place the lid on your slow cooker securely.
- Set it to cook on LOW for approximately 4 hours.
Serve and Enjoy!
- Once done, serve hot directly from your slow cooker and enjoy this comforting dish!

Do not thaw frozen ravioli before using them in this recipe; they are designed to cook perfectly from frozen in a slow cooker environment.
If you cannot find frozen ravioli, refrigerated ravioli can be used as an alternative but will reduce cooking time by about an hour.
Variations include substituting marinara sauce with Alfredo sauce for a creamy version or salsa for a taco-inspired lasagna.