Here’s a Slow Cooker Cheesy Beef Pasta that’s rich, comforting, and super easy—perfect for busy days when you want dinner ready with minimal effort.
🧀 Slow Cooker Cheesy Beef Pasta
Ingredients (serves 4–6)
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 small onion, diced
- 2–3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 (24 oz) jar marinara or pasta sauce
- 1 (14.5 oz) can diced tomatoes, drained
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- ½ tsp paprika
- Salt & pepper, to taste
- 2 cups beef broth
- 2 cups uncooked pasta (penne, rotini, or shells)
- 1½–2 cups shredded cheese (cheddar, mozzarella, or Italian blend)
- ½ cup heavy cream or milk (optional, for extra creaminess)
- Optional: red pepper flakes or fresh parsley
Instructions
- Brown the beef (important):
- In a skillet, cook ground beef with onion until browned.
- Drain excess grease.
- Add garlic and cook 30 seconds more.
- Add to slow cooker:
- Transfer beef mixture to slow cooker.
- Stir in pasta sauce, diced tomatoes, Italian seasoning, paprika, salt, pepper, and beef broth.
- Slow cook:
- Cover and cook on LOW for 4–5 hours or HIGH for 2–3 hours.
- Add pasta:
- Stir in uncooked pasta.
- Cover and cook 30–40 minutes on HIGH, stirring once halfway, until pasta is tender.
- Make it cheesy:
- Stir in cheese and cream (if using).
- Cover and cook another 5–10 minutes, until melted and creamy.
- Serve:
- Garnish with parsley or red pepper flakes if desired.
Tips & Variations
- Extra cheesy: Stir in cream cheese or Velveeta for ultra-creamy texture.
- Tex-Mex twist: Use taco seasoning and add corn or black beans.
- Veggie boost: Add mushrooms, bell peppers, or spinach at the end.
- Prevent mushy pasta: Don’t add pasta until the last 30–40 minutes.
This dish turns out creamy, cheesy, and hearty, with tender pasta and savory beef—true comfort food with slow cooker ease.
If you’d like, I can also give you a one-pot stovetop version or a dump-and-go freezer-friendly version.
