Description
This Slow Cooker Million Dollar Pasta is a creamy, cheesy, and flavorful one-pot meal featuring layers of ground beef, bowtie pasta, marinara sauce, and a rich cream cheese mixture, all slow-cooked to perfection for a comforting dinner.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat and Seasoning
- 2 lbs lean ground beef
- Salt and pepper to taste
Dairy and 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
Sauces and Pasta
- 2 (24 oz) jars marinara sauce, divided
- 1 (24 oz) jar filled with water
- 1 (16 oz) box bowtie pasta (uncooked)
Cheese Topping
- 2 ½ cups shredded mozzarella cheese
Instructions
- Cook Ground Beef: Place the ground beef in a large skillet and season with salt and pepper. Crumble the beef as it cooks and cook until fully browned. Drain the grease and set the beef aside.
- Prepare Cream Cheese Mixture: In a medium bowl, combine the softened cream cheese, sour cream, ricotta cheese, Italian seasoning, and garlic powder. Mix until smooth and well combined. Set aside.
- Layer Sauce and Pasta: Pour half of one jar of marinara sauce into the bottom of the slow cooker and spread it evenly to the edges. Sprinkle half of the uncooked bowtie pasta over the sauce, then pour the remaining half jar of marinara sauce over the pasta layer.
- Add Water: Fill the empty marinara sauce jar with water and pour half of this water evenly over the contents in the slow cooker.
- Add Beef and Cream Mixture: Sprinkle half of the cooked ground beef on top of the water layer, then spoon the entire cream cheese mixture evenly over the beef.
- Repeat Layers: Layer the remaining uncooked pasta on top of the cream mixture, then pour the second jar of marinara sauce over the pasta. Gently pour the remaining water (half jar) over the sauce layer and finish by sprinkling the remaining ground beef on top.
- Slow Cook: Cover the slow cooker and cook on low heat for 2 hours and 30 minutes. Check if the pasta is fully cooked; if not, cook for an additional 30 minutes.
- Add Cheese and Melt: Once the pasta is cooked, sprinkle the shredded mozzarella cheese evenly over the top. Cover again and cook for about 20 minutes until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
- Serve: Scoop the pasta from the slow cooker, making sure to get all layers in each serving, and serve warm.
Notes
- Use lean ground beef to reduce excess grease and keep the dish lighter.
- Make sure the cream cheese is softened to ensure easy mixing with other dairy ingredients.
- If you prefer a thicker sauce, reduce the added water slightly.
- The pasta can be swapped for other short pasta shapes like penne or rotini if desired.
- For added flavor, sprinkle some fresh basil or parsley over the dish before serving.
- Cooking times may vary depending on slow cooker model; always check pasta doneness before finishing.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 580 kcal
- Sugar: 8 g
- Sodium: 700 mg
- Fat: 32 g
- Saturated Fat: 18 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 42 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 28 g
- Cholesterol: 90 mg
