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Crock Pot Lasagna and how to use up all that Zucchini

Do you have more Zucchini then you know what to do with?!!  I do not like to see things go to waste ESPECIALLY healthy, can be made into tasty really good food, type things!  I have heard lots of people like to use it in place of pasta just raw, cut like noodles, with sauce on top.  I don't have a cool cutter that does that.   Anyone have one that they really like?  Just steamed then topping coconut oil and salt and pepper can be tasty but you can only eat so much of that.  If you haven't tried my Zucchini Casserole recipe and you have lots of Zucchini you really, really should!  It's so good!  And of course this is a super tasty way to use that Zucchini.  If you have lots of squash too especially the Summer Squash I think you could use that easily instead of or with the Zucchini in these recipes.  Also Summer Squash Patties is a favorite around here I'm thinking they would even be good for breakfast kind of like hash brown patties!  Also just try searching "Zucchini" on my blog you will see I use it in lots and lots of my recipes!!!!

 Now for my newest super Tasty way to use up lots of that Zucchini.  I slice it really thin with a vegetable peeler and layer it with the noodles in a super easy crock pot Lasagna.  For those who are Gluten Free you could just use more Zucchini this way and leave out the noodles entirely.  It would be really good.

 I just go around it and slice up lots of little slices until I'm left with mainly just seeds in the middle.
I start with the sauce.  Then I put whole wheat Lasagna noodles in.  More then likely you will have to break them up to have them fit.  Unless of course you have a rectangle shaped crock pot I don't know if they even make those.

Depending on how much sauce I have I will usually put some on top of the noodles too so they will be sure to cook well. (notice I didn't pre-cook them, so SIMPLE) Then I just layer a bunch of Zucchini slices.
Then I add frozen mixed veggies some frozen corn and a little chopped onion.  You could be creative and use what you have and what you like!

I just rotate layering in that way Sauce, noodles with a little more sauce, Zucchini, veggies, and then start over ending with noodles and sauce on top.  Then I let it cook on High for THREE hours.  It's done by then and you don't really want it to go longer then that because then the noodles will get too soft.  Just before it's done I top it with some type of cheese type sauce our favorite is this one.  But I have also been know to be to lazy to make it and just used the Cheezy Sauce I already had made in the fridge diluted with a little rice milk.  It works great too!  Or if you want to keep it super super simple you can leave it off entirely.  Sometimes when Ryan is helping me cook he likes to put sliced olives on the very top I usually don't bother.  It's good either way.


Crock-Pot Veggie Lasagna
1 quart or more of favorite pasta sauce mixed with
1/4 cup of Louisiana Hot Sauce (gives it a little kick but not too hot)
Whole Wheat Lasagna Noodles (I think I use like 9-12, less then a box)
Zucchini and/or Summer Squash sliced thin with vegetable peeler
Frozen Mixed Veggies
Frozen Corn
1/2 onion chopped
1 recipe of Mozzarella Cheese, or sauce of choice or just leave out
 (can layer some inside in you want not just on top)

Layer in Crock-Pot like shown above.  Cook with Crock pot on High for 3 hours.  Note that not all crock pots are the same adjust time and temperature according to your crock pot.



6 comments:

Emily said...

Boy...did I need this recipe a couple of months ago!

Looks lovely Tam...if the squash bugs will let us have more Zuke come spring...I'll be whippin' some of this stuff up!

PS. Your fingernails look lovely AND healthy! ;)

TheShippenFamily said...

That looks so good!

Emily said...

Thanks for this great idea on how to use those summer zucchini, the peeler is such a great way to do it. For us, especially, as we made a traditional lasanga, and the zucchini didn't offend anyone, most never even detected it. Which is where we are at w/ our family.

KMDuff said...

Surprise hit with my husband here. :) He loved it! Kids ate it alright too. Glad to use up some zucchini and other stuff all on hand! :D

Maile said...

Do you cook your noodles? It looks like you add them right in uncooked?

Thanks!

I think this will be tried soon, I have a lot of zucchini in my fridge.

Tammie said...

Nope I just put them right in. With the 3 hours in the crock pot they cook up nicely. Just be sure they are covered with sauce!