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Slow Cooker Million Dollar Pasta


  • Total Time: 165 minutes
  • Yield: 8 servings 1x
  • Diet: Meat-based

Description

A creamy, comforting pasta dish that combines ground beef with cheeses, cooked effortlessly in a slow cooker.


Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 lbs lean ground beef
  • 1 (8 oz) block cream cheese, softened
  • ½ cup sour cream
  • 1 cup ricotta cheese
  • 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
  • 1 ½ teaspoons garlic powder
  • 2 (24 oz) jars marinara sauce, divided
  • 1 (24 oz) jar filled with water
  • 1 (16 oz) box bowtie pasta (uncooked)
  • 2 ½ cups shredded mozzarella cheese

Instructions

  1. Brown the beef in a skillet, season with salt and pepper, and cook until fully browned. Drain excess grease.
  2. In a bowl, combine cream cheese, sour cream, ricotta, Italian seasoning, and garlic powder until smooth.
  3. Pour half a jar of marinara sauce into the slow cooker.
  4. Layer half of the uncooked bowtie pasta over the sauce.
  5. Pour the remaining half jar of marinara sauce over the pasta.
  6. Fill the empty marinara jar with water and pour half over the pasta.
  7. Add half of the cooked ground beef over the pasta and spoon the cream cheese mixture on top.
  8. Add the remaining pasta, followed by the second jar of marinara sauce and the remaining water.
  9. Top with remaining ground beef.
  10. Cover and cook on low for 2 hours and 30 minutes, then check for tenderness. Cook an additional 30 minutes if needed.
  11. Sprinkle mozzarella cheese on top and cook on low for an additional 20 minutes until melted and bubbly.
  12. Scoop and serve warm.

Notes

This dish is versatile; feel free to use different pastas or add vegetables like spinach or bell peppers.

  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 150 minutes
  • Category: Main Course
  • Method: Slow Cooking
  • Cuisine: American

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1 serving
  • Calories: 600
  • Sugar: 6g
  • Sodium: 800mg
  • Fat: 30g
  • Saturated Fat: 15g
  • Unsaturated Fat: 10g
  • Trans Fat: 0g
  • Carbohydrates: 45g
  • Fiber: 3g
  • Protein: 30g
  • Cholesterol: 90mg

Keywords: slow cooker, pasta, creamy, beef, cheese, easy recipe