Description

This Crockpot Pizza Pasta is a hearty and delicious one-pot meal combining lean ground beef, rotini pasta, marinara sauce, and melted cheese, all cooked slowly in a crockpot. It’s a convenient and flavorful dish perfect for busy weeknights, bringing together classic pizza flavors in a comforting pasta bake.

Ingredients

Scale

Meat and Protein

1 pound lean ground beef (93% lean)
20 slices turkey pepperoni

Pasta and Sauce

12 ounces uncooked rotini pasta
24 ounces marinara sauce
1 cup low-sodium beef broth

Vegetables and 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 browned, seasoning it with garlic powder, salt, and black pepper. Drain excess fat and set the beef aside.
Combine crockpot ingredients: 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 the ingredients thoroughly.
Add the pasta and pepperoni: Stir in the uncooked rotini pasta, making sure it is evenly coated with the sauce mixture. Place half of the turkey pepperoni slices on top of the pasta mixture.
Cook the pasta mixture: Cover the crockpot and cook on low heat for 3 to 4 hours. Stir halfway through the cooking time to ensure even cooking and check the doneness of the pasta.
Add cheese and remaining pepperoni: Once the pasta is fully cooked, sprinkle the shredded mozzarella and cheddar cheeses evenly over the top. Add the remaining turkey pepperoni slices, cover again, and cook for an additional 15 to 20 minutes until the cheese has melted and is bubbly.

Notes

Use lean ground beef to reduce excess fat and make the dish healthier.
Stir halfway through cooking to prevent sticking and ensure even pasta cooking.
Optional ingredients like black olives or mushrooms can be added along with the vegetables for extra flavor.
If your crockpot runs hot, check pasta doneness earlier to avoid overcooking.
For a lower fat version, substitute turkey pepperoni with regular pepperoni or omit entirely.
Feel free to use gluten-free pasta to make the recipe gluten-free.

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 3 hours 20 minutes
Category: Pasta
Method: Slow Cooking
Cuisine: Italian-American

Keywords: crockpot pizza pasta, slow cooker recipes, easy pasta dinner, crockpot recipes, pizza pasta bake