Description
This Crock Pot Italian Sausage Pasta is a hearty and flavorful dish perfect for an easy weeknight dinner. Tender Italian sausages are slow-cooked with a blend of Alfredo and pasta sauces, Italian seasoning, and colorful bell peppers, then combined with perfectly cooked rigatoni and topped with melted mozzarella cheese. The slow cooker does all the work, making it a convenient and delicious comfort meal everyone will love.
Ingredients
Scale
Sauce and Seasoning
- 16 ounce bottle Alfredo sauce
- 16 ounce bottle pasta sauce
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
Protein and Vegetables
- 5 Italian sausage links
- 1 medium green bell pepper seeded and sliced
- 1 medium red bell pepper seeded and sliced
- 1 medium yellow onion sliced
Pasta and Cheese
- 1 pound rigatoni or small pasta
- 1 cup mozzarella cheese grated
Instructions
- Prepare the sauce: Add the Alfredo sauce, pasta sauce, and Italian seasoning to the slow cooker. Mix well until thoroughly combined to create a rich and flavorful base.
- Add sausage and vegetables: Place the Italian sausage links, sliced green and red bell peppers, and sliced yellow onion into the sauce. Toss gently to coat all ingredients evenly.
- Slow cook the mixture: Cover the slow cooker and cook on high for 3 hours and 30 minutes or low for 5 hours until the sausages are fully cooked and the vegetables are tender.
- Cook pasta: Meanwhile, cook the rigatoni pasta according to package directions until al dente. Drain well and set aside to keep the pasta from overcooking in the slow cooker.
- Prepare sausage and combine: Remove the sausages from the slow cooker and slice into ¼-inch thick rounds. Return the sliced sausage and cooked pasta back into the slow cooker and toss to coat everything in the sauce.
- Add cheese and finish cooking: Sprinkle the grated mozzarella cheese evenly over the pasta mixture. Cover and cook for an additional 10 minutes until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
Notes
- Combine Alfredo and pasta sauces thoroughly before adding sausage for consistent and even flavor throughout.
- Keep the pasta separate until the end to maintain its texture and prevent it from becoming mushy.
- Slice the sausage after slow cooking for cleaner, easier cuts and to retain juiciness.
- Melt the cheese gently at the end to avoid overcooking the pasta and keep the dish creamy.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 520 kcal
- Sugar: 7 g
- Sodium: 900 mg
- Fat: 28 g
- Saturated Fat: 12 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 45 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 26 g
- Cholesterol: 75 mg
