Crockpot Pizza Pasta (Printable Version)
Hearty slow cooker pasta with sausage, pepperoni, and three cheeses bubbling in rich marinara sauce.
# What You Need:
→ Meats
01 - 1 lb Italian sausage or ground beef
02 - 20 slices pepperoni
→ Vegetables
03 - 1 medium onion, diced
04 - 1 green bell pepper, diced
05 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
→ Pantry
06 - 12 oz uncooked rotini or penne pasta
07 - 24 oz jar marinara or pizza sauce
08 - 14.5 oz can diced tomatoes, undrained
→ Dairy
09 - 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
10 - 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
→ Spices & Seasonings
11 - 1 tsp dried Italian seasoning
12 - 1/2 tsp crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
13 - Salt and black pepper, to taste
# How To Make:
01 - In a skillet over medium heat, cook the Italian sausage or ground beef until browned. Drain excess fat.
02 - Add the diced onion, bell pepper, and garlic to the skillet. Sauté 3–4 minutes until softened.
03 - Lightly grease the inside of your slow cooker.
04 - Add the cooked meat and vegetables to the crockpot. Stir in uncooked pasta, marinara sauce, diced tomatoes with juices, Italian seasoning, red pepper flakes if using, salt, and pepper. Mix well.
05 - Top with half the shredded mozzarella, then arrange pepperoni slices over the cheese.
06 - Cover and cook on LOW for 3.5 to 4 hours, or until pasta is tender. Check at 3 hours to avoid overcooking.
07 - In the last 15 minutes, sprinkle with the remaining mozzarella and Parmesan cheese. Re-cover and let the cheese melt.
08 - Serve hot, garnished with extra Parmesan or fresh basil if desired.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- Everything gets dumped in one pot and practically cooks itself while you handle other things
- The flavors meld together in that way only slow cooking can achieve, making each bite taste like it simmered all day
02 -
- Every slow cooker runs differently so start checking at three hours because overcooked pasta turns to mush quickly
- The pasta continues absorbing liquid even after cooking, so if it seems done but still has liquid, that liquid will disappear as it sits
03 -
- Gluten-free pasta works but check it earlier because it tends to cook faster than regular pasta
- Use turkey sausage or leave out the meat entirely and add extra vegetables for a lighter version