Description
Hearty Crock Pot Creamy Beef Pasta Delight brings comfort and flavor to family dinners with minimal effort. Slow-cooked tender beef and rich, velvety sauce will make you crave seconds at the first delicious bite.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Protein:
- 2 pounds (907 grams) ground beef
Cheese and Dairy:
- 8 ounces (227 grams) block cream cheese, softened to room temperature
- 1 cup (250 milliliters) ricotta cheese
- ½ cup (120 milliliters) sour cream
- 2 cups (226 grams) shredded mozzarella cheese
Pasta and Sauce:
- 16 ounces (454 grams) cavatappi pasta
- 2 (24 ounces/680 grams) jars spaghetti sauce
- 24 ounces (710 milliliters) water
- 1 teaspoon minced garlic
- 1 teaspoon dried parsley
Instructions
- Transform ground beef into a crispy, seasoned foundation by sizzling it in a skillet until perfectly browned and crumbled. Eliminate excess fat through careful draining.
- Craft a luxurious cheese blend by whisking cream cheese, sour cream, ricotta, minced garlic, and parsley into a smooth, harmonious mixture.
- Create the first architectural layer in your slow cooker by spreading half a jar of spaghetti sauce across the bottom, establishing a robust flavor base.
- Construct the initial pasta stratum by carefully distributing cavatappi across the sauce, ensuring even coverage.
- Pour the remaining spaghetti sauce and an equivalent amount of water over the pasta, creating a moisture-rich environment for cooking.
- Strategically distribute half of the prepared ground beef across the developing layers, followed by delicate dollops of the creamy cheese mixture.
- Continue building your culinary landscape by adding the remaining cavatappi, another layer of sauce, and water.
- Crown the creation with the final portion of seasoned ground beef.
- Initiate the slow cooking process, covering the crock pot and allowing the ingredients to meld together on low heat for 2-3 hours.
- Verify pasta tenderness around the two-hour mark, gently stirring to integrate flavors.
- Conclude the dish by blanketing the surface with a generous layer of shredded mozzarella, letting it melt into a golden, irresistible topping.
Notes
- Optimal Slow Cooking: Creamy beef pasta requires precise timing to prevent overcooking, so monitor the dish closely after 2 hours to ensure pasta reaches perfect al dente texture.
- Cheese Mixture Magic: Blending cream cheese, sour cream, and ricotta creates an incredibly rich, velvety sauce that elevates the entire pasta dish with luxurious creaminess.
- Drainage is Key: Always drain excess grease from ground beef to prevent a greasy final dish and maintain a clean, appetizing flavor profile.
- Liquid Balance: Adding half a jar of water helps cook the pasta evenly and prevents dryness, ensuring each bite remains moist and flavorful.
- Melting Cheese Technique: Spreading shredded mozzarella on top and allowing it to melt briefly creates a gorgeous golden-brown cheese layer that adds irresistible visual appeal and extra flavor.
- Make-Ahead Friendly: This recipe can be prepared in advance and stored in the refrigerator, making it perfect for busy weeknight meals or meal prepping.
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 3 hours
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 540
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 950 mg
- Fat: 28 g
- Saturated Fat: 13 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 49 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 32 g
- Cholesterol: 100 mg