Crockpot Cheesy Beef Pasta
A creamy and hearty slow cooker dinner featuring seasoned ground beef and tender pasta in a rich marinara sauce.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 360 minutes
- Total Time: 375 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: Italian
- Diet: N/A
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb Ground beef
- 12 oz Short pasta (like rotini, penne, or shells)
- 1 medium Onion, diced (can substitute with onion powder)
- 2 cloves Garlic, minced (or substitute with garlic powder)
- 24 oz Marinara sauce
- 1 cup Beef broth
- 8 oz Cream cheese
- 1 cup Shredded cheese (Cheddar or a blend)
- 1 tbsp Italian seasoning
- 1 tsp Salt
- 1 tsp Pepper
- 1 tsp Paprika or red pepper flakes (optional)
Instructions
- Brown the ground beef in a skillet with the diced onion. Drain the excess grease.
- Add the minced garlic and stir for about 30 seconds.
- Transfer the beef mixture to the crockpot.
- Add the marinara sauce, beef broth, Italian seasoning, salt, pepper, and optional paprika or red pepper flakes. Stir to combine.
- Cover and cook on low for 4 to 6 hours or on high for 2 to 3 hours, until the flavors are combined.
- Near the end of the cooking time, stir in the cream cheese until it melts into the sauce.
- Cook the pasta separately until just barely done.
- Stir the cooked pasta into the crockpot.
- Add the shredded cheese and stir. Cover for a few minutes to let the cheese melt, then serve.
Notes
Serve with garlic bread and a green salad for a complete meal. Leftovers can be refrigerated for 3 to 4 days.