Easy Crockpot Lasagna

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a cooked slow cooker lasagna topped with melted mozzarella cheese

This crockpot lasagna is cheesy, saucy and loaded with layers of tender noodles, beef and Italian sausage, cottage cheese and plenty of mozzarella. With about 20 minutes of prep and no need to boil the noodles first, you get all the layers of a classic homemade lasagna without hovering over a pot of pasta or heating up the oven.

And YES, you really can put the noodles in uncooked! They soften right in the sauce as the lasagna slowly cooks, which is exactly why this has become one of my favorite ways to make lasagna.

Why You’ll Love This Crockpot Lasagna

  • No boiling the noodles: Layer them into the slow cooker straight from the box and let the sauce and steam do the work.
  • Classic lasagna, less work: You still get layers of meat sauce, pasta and three kinds of cheese without boiling noodles or heating up the oven.
  • Extra flavorful meat sauce: Using both ground beef and Italian sausage gives the sauce so much more flavor than beef alone.
  • Creamy cottage cheese filling: Cottage cheese, Parmesan and an egg make a rich, creamy layer that holds together beautifully when sliced.
  • Great for feeding a family: It’s hearty, filling and makes plenty for dinner with leftovers for the next day.

Ingredients You’ll Need

  • Ground Beef: Adds hearty, beefy flavor to the meat sauce. We combine it with Italian sausage so neither one overpowers the lasagna.
  • Italian Sausage: The easiest way to add loads of flavor without measuring a bunch of extra seasonings. Mild or hot Italian sausage will both work.
  • Yellow Onion: Mince it fairly small so it melts into the meat sauce as it cooks.
  • Garlic: Fresh garlic adds another layer of savory flavor to the sauce.
  • Marinara Sauce: This is one place where using a really good jarred sauce makes a difference. We love Rao’s, but use your favorite marinara or Bolognese sauce.
  • Heavy Cream: Just a splash rounds out the acidity of the tomato sauce and makes it a little richer. It’s optional, so feel free to leave it out.
  • Lemon Juice: It might sound unexpected, but a little squeeze brightens the rich meat and cheese layers.
  • Cottage Cheese: Creates the creamy cheese layer in place of traditional ricotta. We love the texture and mild flavor.
  • Egg: Helps bind the cottage cheese mixture so the lasagna holds its layers better when sliced.
  • Parmesan Cheese: Freshly grated Parmesan adds salty, nutty flavor to the cottag
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Beef Chow Mein Casserole

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a large serving spoon scooping out a serving of mock chow mein casserole

Confession: this beef chow mein casserole was one of my LEAST favorite dinners as a kid. Right up there with tuna casserole. And now? I totally get why my mom made it.

This old-fashioned mock chow mein casserole is made with ground beef, rice, cream of mushroom soup and a few simple pantry ingredients, then topped with those crispy chow mein noodles that every kid fights over. It’s inexpensive, filling and makes enough to feed the whole family.

As a kid, I would stare at that pan of beef, rice and soup wondering why we couldn’t just order pizza.

Funny how growing up changes things.

Somewhere along the way, I realized my mom’s casseroles weren’t punishment. 😂 They were the recipes she grew up eating—the kind of simple, budget-friendly dinners that could feed a family without a lot of fuss.

And wouldn’t you know it, now I’m the one craving mock chow mein casserole.

Mom, you win.

QUICK LOOK

  • Prep: About 15 minutes
  • Main Ingredients: Ground beef + rice
  • Bake: 2 hours
  • Best for: Family dinners + leftovers
  • Don’t Skip: The crunchy chow mein noodles!

What is Mock Chow Mein?

Despite the name, mock chow mein isn’t traditional Chinese chow mein. It’s an old-fashioned American casserole made with ground beef, rice, condensed soup and soy sauce, with crispy chow mein noodles sprinkled over the top.

It’s one of those vintage recipes that showed up in family cookbooks and casserole dishes for generations and this is the version my mom made for us growing up.

Why You’ll Love This Mock Chow Mein Recipe

  • Budget-friendly: Ground beef, rice and pantry staples make this an inexpensive way to feed the whole family.
  • Easy to make: Brown the beef, stir everything together and let the oven do the work.
  • That CRUNCH: Crispy chow mein noodles on top are easily the best part.
  • Old-fashioned comfort food: It’s one of those simple family recipes that tastes exactly like childhood.

Ingredients You’ll Need

One reason recipes like this have stuck around for generations? Simple, inexpensive ingredients. Here’s what you’ll need:

  • Ground
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No Fuss Chicken Broccoli Rice Casserole

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a white casserole dish full of chicken broccoli rice casserole topped with a golden ritz cracker topping

If you’re looking for a cozy, no-fuss dinner that checks all the right boxes, this chicken broccoli rice casserole is it. It’s creamy, comforting, and packed with tender chicken, fluffy rice, and just enough broccoli to make everyone feel good about what’s on their plate.

This is one of those dependable casseroles you can turn to on busy weeknights for simple ingredients, easy prep, and comforting flavor that the whole family actually wants to eat.

a white casserole dish full of chicken broccoli rice casserole topped with a golden ritz cracker topping

Casseroles are what my entire childhood were made of except for when my mom made tuna casserole. I think she only did it once or twice and I’m pretty sure my soul died in the process. OK not to be dramatic but truly I was that picky of a kid that I hated it with all of my heart and soul.

Nowadays, I see the comfort and the ease of throwing everything into a casserole and this chicken, broccoli and rice casserole is exactly what your family is craving for dinner this week.

Why You’ll Love This Casserole Recipe

Family-Friendly: Creamy, cheesy flavors everyone loves

One-Dish Dinner: Protein, veggies, and carbs all in one pan

Pantry-Friendly: Uses simple, easy-to-find ingredients

Great for Leftovers: Reheats really well

Perfect for Busy Nights: Comfort food without extra work

Ingredients You’ll Need

This chicken rice casserole with broccoli comes together with simple, everyday ingredients you likely already have on hand. Nothing fancy, just classic comfort food staples that work really well together.

  • Olive Oil: Helps sauté and lightly coat the pan while adding subtle flavor.
  • White Long Grain Rice: Cooks up fluffy and absorbs all the creamy, savory flavors.
  • Chicken Broth: Adds moisture and depth while cooking the rice.
  • Italian Seasoning: Brings a simple blend of herbs that ties everything together.
  • Garlic Powder: Adds savory garlic flavor without overpowering the dish.
  • Salt: Enhances all the flavors and keeps ever
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25+ of Our Favorite Ground Beef Recipes

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25+ of Our Favorite Ground Beef Recipes

25+ of Our Favorite Ground Beef Recipes

If there’s one thing I know about busy weeknights, it’s that ground beef is always there to save the day. It’s budget-friendly, cooks up quickly, and somehow manages to please every single member of the family (even the picky ones!).

Over the years, we’ve collected so many tried-and-true recipes that start with a pound of ground beef and end with happy, full bellies around the table. From cozy casseroles to quick skillet dinners and a few fun international twists, these are the ground beef recipes we make again and again—and I know you’ll love them too.

Table of Contents

Comfort Food Ground Beef Recipes

Ground Beef Casseroles

  1. Cheesy Ground Beef and Rice Casserole

One-Dish Cheesy Beef & Rice Bake

Need a comforting dinner? This ground beef & rice casserole brings cheesy, hearty flavor with minimal effort—perfect for busy nights!

  1. Taco Casserole

Easy Taco Bake with Ground Beef

All your taco favorites layered in a casserole! Easy, cheesy, and ready in a flash—taco night made even better.

  1. Cheesy Ground Beef and Potato Casserole

Creamy Beef & Potato Gratin

Who doesn’t love potatoes and beef? This casserole is creamy, cheesy, and full of flavor—your ultimate comfort food fix.

  1. Mexican Ground Beef and Rice Casserole
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Easy Pizza Casserole Dinner

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Easy Pizza Casserole Dinner

a photo of a cheesy pepperoni pasta casserole topped with sliced olives and melted cheese

This delicious and simple pizza casserole is the perfect weeknight dinner solution. Made with layers of pasta, pizza sauce, pepperoni, cheese, and your choice of toppings, it’s sure to be a crowd-pleaser!

This is an emergency post. We’ve had a pizza casserole recipe on the blog since it first began, almost 17 years ago. Until now. I went to pull it up for dinner one night a few weeks ago and it was gone. Where did the pizza casserole recipe disappear to?!

I still have no idea what happened, but thankfully I still had the recipe with one change, we ONLY use our homemade pizza sauce. You’ll have to trust me on this one, it totally transforms the dish from good to amazing.

Every time I ask my kids for dinner ideas, they always say pizza…every single time. I love pizza as much as the next person (four cheese margherita pizza, pizzeria pizza dough, pesto pepperoni and sausage pizza), but homemade pizza takes time and planning ahead. Let me be honest, sometimes I’m not that on the ball. Pizza pasta casserole to the recipe! It tastes like you are eating pizza but it’s on the table from start to finish in less than an hour.

What is Needed to Make Pizza Casserole?

If you’re looking for a delicious and quick weeknight meal, this easy pizza casserole dinner is a recipe that the whole family will love. With simple ingredients and minimal prep time, you’ll have dinner on the table in no time! Here is everything you’ll need…

  • Ground Beef: We used 85/15 which I recommend for the best flavor.
    • PRO TIP: You can use just ground beef or just sausage, but I found that the combination of both meats provided a depth of flavor that was so tasty. Ground beef is also so kid-friendly!
  • Mild Italian Sausage: Adds that signature meat lovers pizza flavor.
  • Homemade Pizza Sauce: You really have to try this homemade pizza sauce in this recipe, but if you don’t have the time, buy a good quality store-bought sauce.
  • Pasta: We use rigatoni but any pasta will work fine. I’d recommend a big hearty noodle for the best texture.
  • Mozzarella: The best melty cheese for pizza.
  • Pepperoni: any brand of pre-sliced pepperoni works great
  • Parmesan Cheese: adds bold pizza flavor
  • Sliced Black Olives: totally optional but I love olives so they are a must for me
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