Million Dollar Layered Crockpot Pasta
Raw noodles, beef sauce and a cream cheese layer stack in the pot and cook together on LOW for 2 to 3 hours.
Million Dollar Layered Crockpot Pasta
Course: Main CourseDifficulty: Easy8
servings25
minutes2
hours30
minutesRaw noodles, beef sauce and a cream cheese layer stack in the pot and cook together on LOW for 2 to 3 hours.
Ingredients
1 lb ground beef
1/2 cup diced onion
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 jar (24 oz) marinara sauce
1 can (8 oz) tomato sauce
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
8 oz rotini or medium shells, dry
8 oz cream cheese, softened
1 cup small-curd cottage cheese
1/2 cup grated Parmesan
1 tablespoon chopped parsley
2 cups shredded mozzarella
1 cup water
Directions
- Brown the beef with the onion for 6 to 8 minutes, add the garlic for 30 seconds and drain the grease.
- Stir the marinara, tomato sauce, Italian seasoning and water into the beef.
- Mix the softened cream cheese, cottage cheese, Parmesan and parsley in a bowl until almost smooth.
- Spread a third of the beef sauce over the bottom of a greased slow cooker.
- Add half of the dry pasta in one layer and press it into the sauce.
- Spoon half of the cheese mixture over the pasta and spread it to the edges.
- Add another third of the sauce, the rest of the pasta, and the rest of the cheese mixture.
- Finish with the last of the sauce, making sure every noodle is covered.
- Cover and cook on LOW for 2 to 3 hours, and check for tenderness at 2 hours.
- Scatter the mozzarella on top, cover for 10 minutes until melted, and serve.
Notes
- Every noodle needs sauce on top. A dry corner stays hard no matter how long the pot cooks.
Why layering works
Cooking raw noodles in the pot saves a pan, but only if the sauce touches every piece. The marinara and water layers act as the cooking liquid, while the cottage cheese and cream cheese melt in the middle to give a creamy center that tastes like a baked casserole.
Spreading the noodles out evenly, rather than mounding them, gives even cooking.
Swaps and one to skip
Penne or small shells can replace rotini. Ricotta can stand in for cottage cheese. Do not swap in long noodles, which tangle and cook unevenly, and do not use no-boil lasagna sheets here.
What to serve
A green salad with a sharp vinaigrette cuts through the richness. Garlic toast is the other easy side.
Leftovers
It thickens as it cools, so add a splash of water when reheating. Keep it in a sealed container in the fridge for a few days.
Do not stir once the layers are in. Stirring pushes noodles to the surface where they stay dry. Check at the two hour mark and give it the full time only if the noodles still have a bite.
Million Dollar Layered Crockpot Pasta at a glance
- Prep time: 25 minutes
- Cooking time: 2 hours 30 minutes
- Servings: 8 servings
- Ingredients: 13, led by ground beef, diced onion, garlic, jar (24 oz) marinara sauce
Tips for Million Dollar Layered Crockpot Pasta
Every noodle needs sauce on top. A dry corner stays hard no matter how long the pot cooks.
Million Dollar Layered Crockpot Pasta FAQ
How long does Million Dollar Layered Crockpot Pasta take?
Million Dollar Layered Crockpot Pasta takes 2 hours 30 minutes of cooking after 25 minutes of prep.
How many people does Million Dollar Layered Crockpot Pasta serve?
This recipe makes 8 servings.
What do I need to make Million Dollar Layered Crockpot Pasta?
13 ingredients, led by ground beef, diced onion, garlic, jar (24 oz) marinara sauce. Amounts are in the recipe card above.
Part of: 4 Crockpot Noodles Recipes With Ground Beef
