Crockpot Pizza Pasta (Printable)
Hearty slow cooker pasta topped with pepperoni and melted cheese for an easy dinner.
# What you'll need:
→ Meats
01 - 1 lb Italian sausage or ground beef
02 - 20 slices pepperoni
→ Vegetables
03 - 1 medium onion, diced
04 - 1 green bell pepper, diced
05 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
→ Pantry
06 - 12 oz uncooked rotini or penne pasta
07 - 1 (24 oz) jar marinara or pizza sauce
08 - 1 (14.5 oz) can diced tomatoes, undrained
→ Dairy
09 - 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
10 - 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
→ Spices & Seasonings
11 - 1 tsp dried Italian seasoning
12 - 1/2 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
13 - Salt and black pepper, to taste
# Directions:
01 - Cook Italian sausage or ground beef in a skillet over medium heat until browned. Drain excess fat.
02 - Add diced onion, bell pepper, and garlic to the skillet. Sauté 3-4 minutes until softened.
03 - Lightly grease the interior of your slow cooker.
04 - Transfer cooked meat and vegetables to the crockpot. Add uncooked pasta, marinara sauce, diced tomatoes with juices, Italian seasoning, red pepper flakes, salt, and pepper. Mix thoroughly.
05 - Top with half the shredded mozzarella, then arrange pepperoni slices evenly over the cheese.
06 - Cover and cook on LOW for 3.5 to 4 hours, or until pasta is tender. Check at 3 hours to prevent overcooking.
07 - Sprinkle remaining mozzarella and Parmesan cheese over the top during the last 15 minutes. Re-cover and allow cheese to melt completely.
08 - Serve hot, garnished with additional Parmesan or fresh basil if desired.
# Expert Suggestions:
01 -
- Set it and forget it convenience that lets you go about your day while dinner cooks itself
- All the comfort of pizza night without the hassle of dough or delivery wait times
02 -
- Overcooked pasta in a slow cooker becomes a mushy disappointment, so set that timer and check at 3 hours without fail
- The residual heat continues cooking the pasta even after you turn off the slow cooker, so slightly underdone is actually your goal
03 -
- Spray your slow cooker insert generously before adding ingredients because that cheese layer can create a stubborn cleanup situation
- Using a jarred pizza sauce instead of plain marinara adds extra herbs and spices that make the dish taste more like actual pizza