Description
Million Dollar Pasta brings creamy, cheesy comfort to weeknight dinners with minimal effort. Rich layers of noodles, ground beef, and melted cheese create a hearty meal home cooks will devour quickly.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb (450 g) ground beef
- 1 (24 oz / 680 g) jar marinara sauce
- 2 cups (200 g) mozzarella cheese, shredded
- 1 cup (240 g) ricotta cheese or cottage cheese
- 8 oz (225 g) cream cheese, softened
- ½ cup (50 g) Parmesan cheese, grated
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 12 oz (340 g) penne or rigatoni pasta, cooked al dente
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- Salt and black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Pasta Preparation: Partially cook pasta until just shy of package instructions, maintaining a firm bite that will prevent overcooking during slow cooking. Thoroughly drain and set aside.
- Sauce Creation: Whisk cream cheese, ricotta, garlic powder, onion powder, and half the mozzarella into a silky, uniform mixture. Integrate marinara sauce, ensuring complete blending for a harmonious flavor profile.
- Layering Foundation: Lightly grease slow cooker interior to prevent adherence. Spread first pasta layer across bottom, then lavishly coat with half the prepared sauce mixture, creating a rich initial foundation.
- Cheese Elevation: Add remaining pasta, followed by remaining sauce. Crown with final mozzarella and Parmesan, generating a decadent cheese canopy that will melt into a luxurious topping.
- Slow Cooking Process: Cover and cook on low for 3-4 hours, or accelerate on high setting for 1.5-2 hours. Monitor until cheese melts completely and sauce reaches a gentle, enticing simmer.
- Serving Finale: Gently fold ingredients to distribute melted cheese and sauce evenly. Plate immediately, presenting a creamy, indulgent pasta dish that promises a sophisticated culinary experience.
Notes
- Master Al Dente Technique: Undercook pasta slightly to prevent becoming mushy during slow cooking, maintaining perfect texture throughout the dish.
- Smooth Sauce Blending: Whisk cream cheese and ricotta thoroughly to eliminate lumps, ensuring a silky, consistent sauce that coats pasta evenly.
- Prevent Sticking Strategy: Generously grease slow cooker with cooking spray or butter to guarantee easy serving and cleanup without pasta clinging to sides.
- Cheese Melting Precision: Cook on low heat for even cheese distribution, allowing mozzarella and Parmesan to create a luxurious, golden-brown top layer without burning.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 3 hours
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 9
- Calories: 59
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 130 mg
- Fat: 3 g
- Saturated Fat: 1 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 6 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 3 g
- Cholesterol: 10 mg