Description
A comforting one-pot meal combining pasta, meat sauce, and creamy cheese, all cooked in a slow cooker.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb (450 g) ground beef (or turkey for a lighter option)
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 (24 oz / 680 g) jar of marinara sauce
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- Salt and black pepper, to taste
- 8 oz (225 g) cream cheese, softened
- 1 cup (240 g) ricotta cheese or cottage cheese
- 1 cup (100 g) shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/2 cup (50 g) grated Parmesan cheese
- 12 oz (340 g) penne or rigatoni pasta, cooked al dente
- 1 cup (100 g) shredded mozzarella cheese (for topping)
Instructions
- In a skillet, brown the ground beef over medium heat. Once nearly cooked, add the diced onion and minced garlic. Cook for about 1 minute until fragrant.
- Stir in the marinara sauce, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Let it simmer for about 5 minutes to blend the flavors.
- In your slow cooker, first spread a layer of the meat sauce at the bottom. Add half of the cooked pasta on top of the sauce.
- Spoon half of the cheese mixture over the pasta, spreading gently to cover.
- Repeat the layers: meat sauce, pasta, cheese mixture, and finish with a final layer of meat sauce on top.
- Close the lid, set your slow cooker to low, and let it cook for about 4 hours. Near the end of the cooking time, top with the remaining mozzarella cheese and allow it to melt.
Notes
This dish can be made ahead of time. Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3-4 days, or freeze for later.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 240 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 600mg
- Fat: 20g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 40g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 30g
- Cholesterol: 70mg
Keywords: Crock Pot, Pasta, Dinner, Comfort Food, Family Meal