Slow Cooker Million Dollar Pasta
A creamy and delicious pasta dish cooked in a slow cooker, perfect for busy families or gatherings.
Ingredients
Meat and Dairy Ingredients
- 2 lbs lean ground beef Can substitute with Italian sausage for flavor.
- 8 oz cream cheese, softened
- ½ cup sour cream
- 1 cup ricotta
- 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
- 1 ½ teaspoons garlic powder
- 2 ½ cups shredded mozzarella cheese For topping.
Sauce and Pasta Ingredients
- 2 24 oz jars marinara sauce, divided Use your favorite brand.
- 1 24 oz jar filled with water To ensure even cooking.
- 1 16 oz box bowtie pasta (uncooked) Can substitute with other pasta shapes.
Instructions
Preparation
- Cook the ground beef in a large skillet. Season with salt and pepper, and cook until browned. Drain the excess grease and set aside.
- In a medium bowl, mix cream cheese, sour cream, ricotta, Italian seasoning, and garlic powder until smooth.
Layering in the Slow Cooker
- Pour half of a jar of marinara sauce into the slow cooker and spread it evenly.
- Sprinkle half of the uncooked bowtie pasta over the sauce.
- Pour the remaining half jar of marinara sauce onto the pasta.
- Fill the empty sauce jar with water and pour half of this water over the pasta and sauce.
- Sprinkle half of the cooked ground beef over this layer.
- Spoon the cream cheese mixture evenly over the beef and layer with the remaining pasta.
- Pour the second jar of marinara sauce evenly on top and pour the remaining half jar of water over everything.
- Top with the remaining cooked ground beef.
Cooking
- Cover the slow cooker and cook on low heat for 2 hours and 30 minutes.
- Check if the pasta is tender; if not, continue cooking for an additional 30 minutes.
- Once pasta is fully cooked, sprinkle mozzarella cheese on top, cover again, and cook for another 20 minutes until cheese melts.
- Scoop out and serve with garnishes if desired.
Notes
For added nutrition, you can incorporate sautéed vegetables like bell peppers or spinach. Suitable for vegetarian version.