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Slow Cooker Million Dollar Pasta Recipe

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star 4.7 from 23 reviews
  • Author: Maya
  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 3 hours 20 minutes
  • Total Time: 3 hours 35 minutes
  • Yield: 6 servings
  • Category: Main Course
  • Method: Slow Cooking
  • Cuisine: American

Description

Slow Cooker Million Dollar Pasta is a creamy, cheesy, and comforting one-pot meal combining ground beef, a trio of cheeses, Italian seasoning, and marinara sauce cooked slowly to perfection. This easy-to-make dish layers uncooked pasta with sauce, meat, and cheese mixture, then simmers in a slow cooker until tender and bubbly, topped with melted mozzarella for a satisfying family dinner.

Ingredients

Scale

Meat

  • 2 lbs lean ground beef

Cheese Mixture

  • 1 (8 oz) block cream cheese, softened
  • ½ cup sour cream
  • 1 cup ricotta cheese
  • 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
  • 1 ½ teaspoons garlic powder

Sauce and Pasta

  • 2 (24 oz) jars marinara sauce, divided
  • 1 (24 oz) jar water (use empty sauce jar to measure)
  • 1 (16 oz) box bowtie pasta (uncooked)
  • 2 ½ cups shredded mozzarella cheese

Instructions

  1. Cook Ground Beef: Place the ground beef in a large skillet, season with salt and pepper, crumble it while cooking until fully browned. Drain excess grease and set the cooked beef aside.
  2. Prepare Cheese Mixture: In a medium-sized bowl, combine cream cheese, sour cream, ricotta, Italian seasoning, and garlic powder. Mix well until the mixture is smooth and creamy. Set aside.
  3. Layer Sauce and Pasta: Pour half of one jar of marinara sauce into the bottom of the slow cooker, spreading evenly to the edges. Sprinkle half of the uncooked bowtie pasta over the sauce. Pour the remaining half of the jar of marinara sauce over the pasta evenly.
  4. Add Water and Ground Beef: Fill the empty marinara sauce jar with water and pour half of this water over the layered ingredients in the slow cooker. Sprinkle half of the cooked ground beef on top.
  5. Add Cheese Mixture and Remaining Pasta: Spoon all of the prepared cheese mixture evenly over the ground beef layer. Then layer the remaining uncooked pasta over the cheese mixture.
  6. Top with Sauce, Water, and Beef: Pour the second full jar of marinara sauce over the top pasta layer. Gently pour the remaining half jar of water over the sauce. Finish by layering the remaining cooked ground beef on top.
  7. Cook in Slow Cooker: Cover the slow cooker with the lid and cook on low heat for 2 hours and 30 minutes. After this time, check if the pasta is fully cooked by testing its tenderness; if not, cook for an additional 30 minutes.
  8. Add Mozzarella and Melt: Once the pasta is cooked through, sprinkle the shredded mozzarella cheese evenly over the top layer. Cover again and cook for about 20 minutes or until the cheese is fully melted and bubbly.
  9. Serve: Scoop the Million Dollar Pasta from the slow cooker and serve, making sure each serving contains layers of pasta, sauce, beef, and cheese for the full flavor experience.

Notes

  • Use lean ground beef for less grease and a healthier dish.
  • If you prefer, substitute ricotta with cottage cheese for a lighter texture.
  • Feel free to add chopped vegetables like bell peppers or mushrooms for additional flavor and nutrition.
  • If you don’t have a slow cooker, you can bake the layered dish in a covered casserole dish at 350°F for about 1 hour, stirring halfway through.
  • Be careful when pouring water; evenly distribute it to ensure pasta cooks thoroughly without becoming mushy.
  • Allow the dish to rest for 5-10 minutes after cooking for easier serving and better flavor melding.

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1 serving
  • Calories: 550 kcal
  • Sugar: 8 g
  • Sodium: 750 mg
  • Fat: 30 g
  • Saturated Fat: 15 g
  • Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
  • Trans Fat: 0.5 g
  • Carbohydrates: 45 g
  • Fiber: 4 g
  • Protein: 35 g
  • Cholesterol: 90 mg

Find it online: https://bakingwithmaya.com/slow-cooker-million-dollar-pasta-recipe/