Crockpot Pizza Pasta Recipe
This Crockpot Pizza Pasta is a hearty and flavorful one-pot meal combining the convenience of slow cooking with the classic tastes of pizza. Lean ground beef, marinara sauce, and rotini pasta are slow-cooked together with bell peppers and onions, then topped with melted mozzarella, cheddar cheese, and turkey pepperoni for a delicious, family-friendly dinner.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 3 hours 20 minutes
- Total Time: 3 hours 35 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Low Salt
Ingredients
Scale
Meat & Protein
- 1 pound lean ground beef (93% lean)
- 20 slices turkey pepperoni
Pasta & Sauce
- 12 ounces uncooked rotini pasta
- 24 ounces marinara sauce
- 1 cup low-sodium beef broth
Vegetables & 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
Cheese
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
Optional
- 1/2 cup sliced black olives or mushrooms
Instructions
- Brown the ground beef: In a skillet over medium heat, cook the lean ground beef until no longer pink, seasoning with garlic powder, salt, and black pepper. Drain excess fat and set the cooked beef aside.
- Combine ingredients in crockpot: In a 6-quart crockpot, add the cooked ground beef, marinara sauce, low-sodium beef broth, finely chopped yellow 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 until it is fully coated with the sauce mixture. Then layer half of the turkey pepperoni slices on top of the pasta mixture.
- Cook on low: Cover the crockpot and cook on the low setting for 3 to 4 hours. At about the halfway point, gently stir the contents to prevent sticking and check the pasta’s doneness to ensure it cooks evenly.
- Add cheese and remaining pepperoni: Once the pasta is tender and cooked through, sprinkle the shredded mozzarella and cheddar cheese evenly over the top. Add the remaining pepperoni slices on top of the cheese.
- Melt the cheese: Cover the crockpot again and cook for an additional 15 to 20 minutes on low, allowing the cheese to melt completely and the flavors to meld.
Notes
- You can add optional sliced black olives or mushrooms at step 2 for extra flavor and texture.
- Ensure you use a 6-quart or larger crockpot for ample space and even cooking.
- Stir gently halfway through cooking to prevent pasta from sticking to the sides.
- Be cautious with salt as marinara sauce and broth already contain sodium; adjust seasoning to taste.
- This recipe is perfect to prepare ahead of time; just set it on low in the morning and enjoy dinner ready in the evening.
Keywords: crockpot pasta, pizza pasta, slow cooker recipes, easy dinner, ground beef recipes, one pot meals
Find it online: https://dishedbydana.com/crockpot-pizza-pasta-recipe/
