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–+ servings

Slow Cooker Meat Pasta

Print Recipe
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 2 hours
Course Main Course
Cuisine American, Italian
Servings 8 servings

Ingredients
  

  • 1 lb Italian sausage
  • 1 lb Ground beef
  • 2 Jars pasta sauce about 26oz each, more or less
  • 1 lb pasta like penne or rigatoni
  • 2 tsp Italian seasoning
  • 1 16oz container of cottage cheese small curd, not runny
  • 1 cup Italian blend cheese or mozzarella more or less depending on preference

Instructions
 

  • Start by browning the meat in a large skillet. Both the Italian sausage and ground beef. Season with salt. This should take about 10 minutes. Add the pasta sauce and give it a good stir and simmer.
  • While the sauce is simmering, blend the cottage cheese. This helps it seamlessly blend into the sauce.
  • Layer 1/3 of the sauce (eyeballed). Pour in the bag of pasta. Half of the remaining sauce, then the cottage cheese then the rest of the sauce. Cook on low for 2 hours (or less), checking around an hour 30 to make sure it doesn't overcook. I keep it slightly al dente because it will still cook in the slow cooker even with the heat off. Mine is usually done at an hour 30.
  • Once it's cooked, give it a good stir. Top with mozzarella or Italian cheese blend and cover for a few minutes to get the cheese melted. Serve and enjoy. Store leftovers in the fridge for 5 days.
Keyword baked pasta, crockpot, meat sauce, slow cooker
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