Slow Cooker Million Dollar Pasta
A cozy, hands-off dinner combining seasoned ground beef, creamy cheeses, pasta, and marinara, all cooked in a slow cooker for a rich and comforting bake.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 180 minutes
- Total Time: 210 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: Italian
- Diet: Carnivore
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 lbs lean ground beef
- 8 oz cream cheese, softened
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 1 cup ricotta cheese
- 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
- 1 1/2 teaspoons garlic powder
- 2 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese, for topping
- 2 24-oz jars marinara sauce, divided
- 1 24-oz jar, filled with water
- 1 16-oz box bowtie pasta, uncooked
Instructions
- Brown the ground beef until no longer pink.
- Mix the cream cheese, sour cream, ricotta, and dried seasonings until smooth.
- Layer uncooked pasta, half the sauce, and spoonfuls of the cheese mixture in the slow cooker.
- Add browned beef and the remaining sauce, then pour in water for even cooking.
- Cook on low for 120 to 180 minutes, or high for 90 to 120 minutes, until pasta is tender.
- Top with shredded mozzarella, cover briefly, and let cheese melt before serving.
Notes
Using leaner beef keeps the sauce from becoming greasy. Softened cream cheese blends faster and prevents lumps.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 503
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 600mg
- Fat: 27g
- Saturated Fat: 14g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 40g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 30g
- Cholesterol: 80mg