Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 jar (24 ounces) marinara sauce
- 3 cups uncooked rotini or penne pasta
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- Optional: 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- Optional: 1/2 cup cream cheese
- Optional: 1 cup diced bell peppers or mushrooms
- Optional: Salt and black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Heat a large skillet over medium heat and cook the ground beef for 6 to 8 minutes until browned and fully cooked. Drain excess grease.
- Transfer the cooked beef to the slow cooker.
- Add the marinara sauce, uncooked pasta, and Italian seasoning. Stir well to combine.
- Cover and cook on low for 4 to 5 hours, stirring once or twice during cooking if possible.
- Check the pasta during the final hour to ensure it is tender but not overcooked.
- Sprinkle the shredded mozzarella cheese evenly over the top.
- Cover again and cook for another 20 to 30 minutes until the cheese is melted and gooey.
- Serve hot with extra Italian seasoning or chopped parsley if desired.
Notes
- Rotini, penne, shells, or rigatoni all work well in this recipe.
- For extra creaminess, stir in cream cheese during the final 15 minutes.
- Ground turkey or chicken can replace ground beef for a lighter version.
- Add vegetables like mushrooms, spinach, zucchini, or bell peppers for more texture and nutrition.
- Start checking the pasta around 4 hours to avoid overcooking.
- Serve with garlic bread or salad for a complete meal.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 4 hours 30 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Slow Cooker
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Halal
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 510
- Sugar: 8g
- Sodium: 860mg
- Fat: 23g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 11g
- Trans Fat: 1g
- Carbohydrates: 43g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 31g
- Cholesterol: 82mg
