Description
This Homemade Crockpot Ground Beef Pasta is a comforting, easy-to-make one-pot meal perfect for busy days. Ground beef simmers slowly with tomatoes, Italian seasoning, and pasta in a crockpot, creating rich and hearty flavors. Finished with creamy heavy cream and a blend of mozzarella and Parmesan cheese, this dish is a delicious family-friendly dinner with minimal hands-on time.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat and Oil
- 1.25 lbs ground beef
- 1 tbsp oil
Vegetables and Aromatics
- 1/2 cup onion, diced
- 5 garlic cloves, finely minced
Sauces and Liquids
- 24 oz marinara sauce (such as Rao’s Homemade)
- 1.25 cups diced tomatoes
- 3.5 cups water
- 3/4 cup heavy cream
Seasonings
- 1.5 tsp Italian seasoning
- 3/4 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
Pasta and Cheese
- 2 cups pasta (such as rotini or penne)
- 1 cup mozzarella cheese, shredded
- 3/4 cup Parmesan cheese, freshly grated
Instructions
- Prepare the beef: Heat the oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add the ground beef and diced onion, cooking until the beef is browned and the onion is softened, about 5-7 minutes. Drain excess fat if needed.
- Add aromatics and seasoning: Stir in the minced garlic and cook for an additional 1 minute until fragrant. Transfer the beef mixture to the crockpot.
- Add liquids and seasoning to crockpot: Pour in the marinara sauce, diced tomatoes, water, Italian seasoning, salt, and black pepper. Stir well to combine all ingredients evenly.
- Add pasta: Stir the uncooked pasta into the crockpot, ensuring it is submerged in the sauce and liquid mixture.
- Cook in crockpot: Cover and cook on low for 5 hours. The pasta will absorb the liquid and become tender while flavors meld.
- Finish with cream and cheese: After cooking, stir in the heavy cream, shredded mozzarella, and grated Parmesan cheese until the cheeses melt and the sauce is creamy and smooth.
- Serve: Taste and adjust seasoning if needed. Serve warm, garnished with extra Parmesan or fresh herbs if desired.
Notes
- You can substitute ground beef with ground turkey or chicken for a lighter option.
- If you prefer a thicker sauce, reduce the water to 3 cups.
- For a dairy-free version, omit the heavy cream and cheeses or use plant-based alternatives.
- Fresh herbs like basil or parsley can be added before serving for extra flavor.
- Use gluten-free pasta to make this recipe gluten-free.
- Make sure to stir the pasta well into the crockpot to avoid clumping.
