Description
Slow Cooker Million Dollar Pasta is a hearty and creamy comfort food recipe featuring layers of seasoned ground beef, a creamy cheese mixture, marinara sauce, and bowtie pasta, all slow-cooked to perfection and topped with melted mozzarella cheese. This delicious and hands-off casserole is perfect for an easy dinner with minimal prep.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat
- 2 lbs lean ground beef
Cheese Mixture
- 1 (8 oz) block cream cheese, softened
- ½ cup sour cream
- 1 cup ricotta
- 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
- 1 ½ teaspoons garlic powder
Sauce & Pasta
- 2 (24 oz) jars marinara sauce, divided
- 1 (24 oz) jar filled with water
- 1 (16 oz) box bowtie pasta (uncooked)
Topping
- 2 ½ cups shredded mozzarella cheese
Instructions
- Brown the Beef: Place ground beef in a large skillet and season with salt and pepper. Crumble and cook over medium heat until fully browned and no longer pink. Drain excess grease and set the beef aside.
- Prepare Cheese Mixture: In a medium bowl, combine softened cream cheese, sour cream, ricotta, Italian seasoning, and garlic powder. Mix until smooth and well incorporated. Set aside.
- Layer Sauce in Slow Cooker: Pour half a jar of marinara sauce into the bottom of the slow cooker, spreading it evenly to the edges.
- Add First Layer of Pasta & Sauce: Sprinkle half of the uncooked bowtie pasta evenly over the sauce, then pour the remaining half jar of marinara sauce on top of the pasta.
- Add Water: Fill the empty sauce jar with water and pour half of this water evenly over the pasta and sauce layer.
- Add Beef and Cream Mixture: Sprinkle half of the cooked ground beef evenly over the layer, then spoon the entire cream cheese mixture evenly over the beef layer.
- Add Remaining Pasta and Sauce: Layer the remaining pasta on top, then pour the second jar of marinara sauce over the pasta evenly.
- Add Remaining Water and Beef: Gently pour the remaining half jar of water over the top layer to ensure pasta cooks evenly. Finish with the remaining ground beef on the top.
- Cook in Slow Cooker: Cover the slow cooker with the lid and cook on low heat for 2 hours and 30 minutes. Check if pasta is tender; if not, continue cooking for an additional 30 minutes.
- Add Cheese and Melt: Once the pasta is fully cooked, sprinkle the shredded mozzarella cheese evenly over the top. Cover again and cook on low for about 20 minutes or until the cheese melts completely.
- Serve: Scoop portions from the slow cooker making sure to include all layers for a balanced serving. Serve warm and enjoy your creamy, cheesy Slow Cooker Million Dollar Pasta.
Notes
- Use lean ground beef to reduce grease and avoid excess fat in the dish.
- Ensure cream cheese is softened for easy mixing in the cheese mixture.
- Do not precook the pasta; it will cook perfectly in the slow cooker with the added water and sauce.
- If the pasta is not tender enough after the initial cook time, add extra water before continuing to cook.
- For a faster cook time, you can check after 2 hours but the full 3 hours yields the best results.
- Be sure to stir gently or scoop carefully to keep the layered presentation intact.
- This recipe serves 6 generously; serve with a side salad or garlic bread for a complete meal.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 620 kcal
- Sugar: 8 g
- Sodium: 900 mg
- Fat: 35 g
- Saturated Fat: 18 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 45 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 38 g
- Cholesterol: 110 mg
