Crowd-Pleasing Cheesy Ground Beef Crockpot Pasta
This easy slow cooker pasta is rich, cheesy, and perfect for feeding a crowd. With simple ingredients and minimal effort, it’s a guaranteed hit for any gathering.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 4 hours 10 minutes (on LOW) or 2 hours 10 minutes (on HIGH)
- Total Time: 4 hours 25 minutes (on LOW) or 2 hours 25 minutes (on HIGH)
- Yield: 8 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb (450g) Ground Beef (80/20 recommended)
- 1 Medium Yellow Onion, diced
- 3 Cloves Garlic, minced
- 1 (24 oz / 680g) Jar Marinara Sauce
- 1 (14.5 oz / 411g) Can Diced Tomatoes, undrained
- 1 (8 oz / 226g) Block Cream Cheese, softened
- 2 Cups (200g) Shredded Mozzarella Cheese
- 1 Cup (100g) Shredded Cheddar Cheese
- 1 Teaspoon Dried Oregano
- 1 Teaspoon Salt
- 1/2 Teaspoon Black Pepper
- 1/2 Teaspoon Red Pepper Flakes (optional)
- 1 lb (450g) Short Pasta (Penne, Rigatoni, or Ziti)
- Fresh Parsley or Basil, chopped (for garnish)
Instructions
- Brown the beef in a large skillet over medium-high heat until fully cooked, about 6-8 minutes. Drain excess fat, leaving about 1 tablespoon in the pan.
- Add diced onion to the pan with the beef and cook for 2-3 minutes until softened. Add minced garlic and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant.
- Transfer the beef and onion mixture to a 6-quart or larger slow cooker.
- Add marinara sauce, diced tomatoes (with juices), oregano, salt, black pepper, and red pepper flakes (if using). Stir to combine.
- Place the block of cream cheese on top of the sauce. Do not stir.
- Cover and cook on LOW for 4 hours or on HIGH for 2 hours, until the sauce is bubbling and the cream cheese has melted.
- About 15 minutes before serving, cook the pasta in salted water according to package directions until al dente. Drain well.
- Add the drained pasta to the slow cooker. Sprinkle mozzarella and cheddar cheese on top. Gently stir until the cheese is melted and the pasta is evenly coated.
- Let the dish rest on the ‘warm’ setting for 5-10 minutes before serving. Garnish with fresh parsley or basil.
Notes
Cook pasta separately and add at the end to avoid mushiness. Use freshly shredded cheese for best melting. Let the dish rest on ‘warm’ before serving to thicken the sauce.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving (approxima
- Calories: 650
- Fat: 30
- Carbohydrates: 55
- Protein: 35
Keywords: crockpot pasta, cheesy ground beef pasta, slow cooker pasta, easy pasta recipe, crowd-pleasing pasta, ground beef crockpot recipe