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–+ servings

Slow Cooker Meat Pasta

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

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

Method
 

  1. 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.
  2. While the sauce is simmering, blend the cottage cheese. This helps it seamlessly blend into the sauce.
  3. 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.
  4. 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.
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