Crockpot Pizza Pasta Recipe
This comforting Crockpot Pizza Pasta combines the rich flavors of lean ground beef, marinara sauce, Italian seasoning, and melted cheeses with rotini pasta, all cooked slowly to perfection in a crockpot. Topped with turkey pepperoni and optional veggies, it’s an easy, crowd-pleasing meal with minimal prep and hands-off cooking.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 3 hours 30 minutes
- Total Time: 3 hours 45 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
Meat and Dairy
- 1 pound lean ground beef (93% lean)
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 20 slices turkey pepperoni
Pasta and Sauce
- 12 ounces uncooked rotini pasta
- 24 ounces marinara sauce
- 1 cup low-sodium beef broth
Vegetables and Seasonings
- 1 small yellow onion, finely chopped
- 1 green bell pepper, diced
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
Optional Ingredients
- 1/2 cup sliced black olives or mushrooms
Instructions
- Brown the Beef: In a skillet over medium heat, brown the ground beef, seasoning it with garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Once cooked, drain excess fat and set the beef aside.
- Combine Ingredients in Crockpot: In a 6-quart crockpot, add the browned beef, marinara sauce, beef broth, finely chopped onion, diced green bell pepper, and Italian seasoning. Stir well to combine all ingredients evenly.
- Add Pasta and Pepperoni: Stir in the uncooked rotini pasta to ensure it is evenly coated with the sauce mixture. Then, layer half of the turkey pepperoni slices on top of the mixture.
- Cook Slowly: Cover the crockpot and cook on low heat for 3 to 4 hours. About halfway through cooking, gently stir the mixture and check the pasta for doneness to ensure it is cooked through.
- Add Cheese and Final Pepperoni: When the pasta is tender, sprinkle the shredded mozzarella and cheddar cheeses over the top, add the remaining turkey pepperoni slices, cover the crockpot again, and cook for an additional 15 to 20 minutes until the cheese has melted and is bubbly.
Notes
- If you prefer more vegetables, add black olives or mushrooms for extra flavor and texture.
- Using low-sodium broth and seasoning helps control the salt content for a healthier meal.
- Be sure to stir the pasta halfway through cooking to prevent sticking and to check pasta doneness.
- This recipe works best with a 6-quart crockpot for optimal cooking time and capacity.
- Leftovers can be refrigerated for up to 3 days and reheated gently on the stovetop or microwave.
Keywords: crockpot pizza pasta, slow cooker pasta, pizza pasta casserole, easy crockpot recipes, ground beef pasta, comfort food
Find it online: https://zestywithzane.com/crockpot-pizza-pasta-recipe/
