“When I joined the Weight Watchers At Work program here back in 2006, I was always looking for new and healthy recipe ideas,” says corporate receptionist Nancy Hanson. “I came across this in one of the ‘Weekly’ publications that are handed out at our meetings. I thought my lasagna days were over once I joined Weight Watchers, so I got excited when I saw this recipe.”

Not only was it lower in calories than regular lasagna, she says, she was also thrilled to see she could make it in her slow cooker — which saves a step, because then you don’t have to cook the noodles first.

“So I tried it, and the results were amazing,” says Nancy, who has shared the recipe with others as well and even made it for this past Mother’s Day. “Yes, I cooked — but this was something I had prepared the night before, so all I had to do was turn it on, cook, and serve, leaving me more time to spend with my kids. Everyone enjoyed it!”

Weight Watchers slow-cooker lasagna
Ingredients
1 pound uncooked lean ground beef
1 small onion, chopped
1 medium garlic clove(s), minced
28 oz canned crushed tomatoes
15 oz canned tomato sauce
1 tsp salt
1 tsp dried oregano
½ tsp dried basil
¼ tsp small crushed red pepper flakes, or to taste
1 cup part skim ricotta cheese
1½ cup part skim shredded mozzarella cheese, divided
6 dry lasagna noodles, no cook
½ cup shredded Parmesan cheese

Preparation
Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add beef, onion and garlic. Cook, stirring often and breaking up meat as it cooks. Drain.

Stir in crushed tomatoes, tomato sauce, salt, oregano, basil, and crushed pepper flakes. Simmer 5 minutes to allow flavors to blend.

In a bowl, mix ricotta and 1 cup of mozzarella cheese. Spoon 1/3 cup beef mixture into a 5-quart slow cooker. Break 3 lasagna sheets in half and arrange over beef, top with half ricotta mixture. Repeat with another layer and finish with remaining 1/3 beef mixture.

Cover slow cooker and cook on low setting for 4–6 hours. Remove cover, turn off heat, and season to taste if desired.

In a small bowl, combine remaining ½ cup mozzarella cheese and ½ cup Parmesan cheese. Sprinkle over beef mixture. Cover and set aside until cheese melts and lasagna firms up, about 10 minutes.

Yields 1/6 of dish per serving. Servings are 8 WW Smart Points each.

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