Enjoy family-friendly comfort food with my Easy Slow Cooker Ground Beef Casserole recipe. Savory ground beef, tender pasta, and gooey cheese meld together perfectly in your Crock-Pot for a hearty meal that's ready when you are.
This recipe is just as popular as my crowd-pleasing Crock Pot Pizza Casserole, which also has ground beef.
Beefy, cheesy pasta is something I could eat every day. It’s got that hearty and comforting thing going for it, and around my house, the whole family loads their plates high!
Another bonus is that it’s a budget-friendly, large-batch recipe, like my flavorful slow-cooked Mexican Casserole, so I can cook once and eat it at least twice. The only way to go, IMO! 🙂
I can't get over how easy it is to whip this slow cooker casserole together. Once you brown your ground beef, it’s a dump-and-go recipe. It's nice to come home to a comforting meal after picking the kids up from practice.
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Why You’ll Love the Recipe
- Easy
- Family Favorite
- Freezer-Friendly
- Comfort Food
- No Processed Ingredients (like canned cream of mushroom soup)
Ingredient Notes
This easy meal requires a few simple ingredients that I usually keep in my pantry and fridge:
- Ground beef: Beef is what makes this recipe so hearty and delish. Well, along with the pasta 😉
- Onion and red Pepper: I added diced onions and pepper to enhance the depth of flavor.
- Chili powder: This spice gives the dish the right amount of flavor without overpowering it and becoming spicy.
- Other Spices: Granulated garlic is the spice of life. It adds so much to basic dishes. On occasion, I've used 2 cloves of minced garlic in place of granulated garlic. Paprika and dried basil round out the spice profile.
- Diced tomatoes: I like the depth of flavor of fire-roasted tomatoes, but regular diced tomatoes would certainly work.
- Tomato sauce: Not only does the tomato sauce add some tangy yet sweet flavor, but it also adds a little liquid for the pasta to cook in.
- Cream cheese: Yes, I added some irresistible cream cheese to make the recipe nice and creamy.
- Beef broth: The broth is needed to add liquid to cook the pasta.
- Uncooked pasta: I’m partial to elbow macaroni, but you can use penne or any short-cut pasta.
- Shredded cheese: I like to use cheddar or mozzarella cheese, but anything you have on hand can work.
- Salt and black pepper to taste of course.
Garnish: Top with chopped parsley, green onions, chopped tomatoes, and you’re done! It would even be good with a dollop of sour cream!
Substitutions
- Protein: I often lighten the recipe with ground turkey instead of beef, and it’s delicious.
- Pasta: I say use what you have on hand. If you have penne pasta in the cupboard, use that. Any type of shortcut pasta will work.
- Veggies: I’m famous for sneaking veggies in my casseroles! Shredded zucchini, mushrooms, or spinach can enhance the nutritional value and flavor of this casserole.
- Cheese: As a cheese lover, I always have cheddar cheese at the ready, but you can substitute mozzarella, pepper jack, Monterey jack, or a Mexican cheese blend in your Slow Cooker Ground Beef Casserole!
Step-By-Step Instructions to Make This Ground Beef Crock Pot Recipe
- Brown the Ground Beef: In a skillet over medium heat, cook the ground beef with the diced onions and peppers until it's browned and no longer pink (Image 1). Drain excess fat.
- Combine Ingredients: In the slow cooker, combine the browned ground beef mixture, diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, broth, garlic, dried basil, chili powder, paprika, cream cheese, and one cup of cheese (Image 2). Mix everything together until well combined. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Cook: Cover the slow cooker and cook on LOW heat for 4-6 hours or on HIGH heat for 3-4 hours. Cooking times may vary depending on your slow cooker.
- Add Cheese: About 30 minutes before the casserole is done cooking, add the uncooked pasta and sprinkle the remaining cup of shredded cheese evenly over the top of the casserole. Cover and allow to continue cooking.
- Serve: After the cheese is melted and the pasta is cooked to your desired consistency, serve the casserole hot, garnished with chopped fresh parsley, green onions, tomatoes, or grated Parmesan cheese if desired.
Tips and Tricks
- Brown the Beef Well: Browning the ground beef before adding it to the slow cooker adds flavor and helps render out excess fat, so it is an important step. Make sure to break up the meat into small pieces while browning.
- Let It Rest: I advise letting the casserole rest for a few minutes after cooking. This helps the flavors meld together and makes it super easy to serve.
- Make-Ahead: In a hurry to get out of the house? Assemble the ingredients in the slow cooker insert the night before, and refrigerate it. In the morning, bring the crockpot insert to room temp, and simply place it in the slow cooker and start cooking.
Freezer Meal
I’ve made it easy so you can enjoy a delicious crock pot ground beef casserole even on your busiest days, thanks to a handy freezer meal!
- Prepare Ingredients: Follow the recipe instructions up to the point of assembling the casserole in the slow cooker.
- Assemble Freezer Meal: In a large resealable freezer bag or airtight container, add the ingredients except for the cheese and pasta (you’ll add those while cooking).
- Remove Air and Seal: Press out as much air as possible from the bag before sealing it tightly. Alternatively, if using a container, press a piece of plastic wrap directly onto the surface of the casserole before sealing it with the lid. This helps prevent freezer burn.
- Label and Freeze: Using a permanent marker, write the date and cooking instructions on the bag or container. Place the freezer meal flat in the freezer to maximize space.
- Cooking from Frozen: Transfer your freezer meal from the freezer to the refrigerator the night before you plan to cook it. Let it thaw completely in the fridge overnight. Then cook as instructed from step 4, adding your pasta and cheese where indicated.
Storing
Fridge: Store leftover casserole in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. I like to reheat individual portions in the microwave or a covered dish in the oven. If it’s dry, add a little broth and extra cheese.
Freezing Leftovers: Place the cooked casserole in a freezer-safe container for up to 2-3 months. Label and date it. Then, thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.
What to Serve with This Casserole
I’m in love with crisp, tender Roasted Brussels Sprouts, so I often serve them alongside this recipe, but a side salad would also be tasty.
Recipe FAQs
I don’t recommend using frozen ground beef directly in the slow cooker. Thaw it in the refrigerator overnight, or use the defrost setting on your microwave before cooking.
The best thing about this recipe is you don't need to cook the pasta beforehand. It will cook along with the other ingredients in the slow cooker, absorbing the delicious flavors of the sauce as it cooks.
Absolutely! Feel free to adjust the herbs, spices, salt, and pepper according to your personal preferences. It’s good with dill, oregano, or basil.
More Slow Cooker Casseroles
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Printable Recipe
Slow Cooker Ground Beef Casserole Recipe
Equipment
- Spatula or cooking spoon
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef:
- 1 small onion (diced)
- ½ cup red pepper (diced)
- 2-3 teaspoons chili powder
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder or 2 cloves minced garlic
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 ½ teaspoon dried basil
- 1 14.5 ounce can fire roasted diced tomatoes
- 1 15-ounce can tomato sauce
- 3 tablespoons cream cheese
- 2 ½ cups beef broth
- 2 cups uncooked elbow pasta (you can use penne or any short-cut pasta.)
- 2 cups shredded cheese such as cheddar or mozzarella
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Optional toppings: chopped fresh parsley (grated Parmesan cheese)
Instructions
- Brown the Ground Beef: In a skillet over medium heat, cook the ground beef with the diced onions and peppers until it's browned and no longer pink. Drain excess fat.
- Combine Ingredients: In the slow cooker, combine the browned ground beef mixture, diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, broth, cream cheese, garlic, dried basil, chili powder, paprika, and one cup of cheese. Mix everything together until well combined. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Cook: Cover the slow cooker and cook on LOW heat for 4-6 hours or on HIGH heat for 3-4 hours. Cooking times may vary depending on your slow cooker.
- Add Cheese: About 30 minutes before the casserole is done cooking, add the uncooked pasta and sprinkle the remaining cup of shredded cheese evenly over the top of the casserole. Cover and allow to continue cooking.
- Serve: After the cheese is melted and the pasta is cooked to your desired consistency, serve the casserole hot, garnished with chopped fresh parsley, green onions, tomatoes, or grated Parmesan cheese if desired.
Video
Notes
-
- Brown the Beef Well: Browning the ground beef before adding it to the slow cooker adds flavor and helps render out excess fat, so it is an important step. Make sure to break up the meat into small pieces while browning.
-
- Let It Rest: I advise letting the casserole rest for a few minutes after cooking. This helps the flavors meld together and makes it super easy to serve.
-
- Make-Ahead: In a hurry to get out of the house? Assemble the ingredients in the slow cooker insert the night before, and refrigerate it. In the morning, bring the crockpot insert to room temp, and simply place it in the slow cooker and start cooking.
- Storing: Store leftover casserole in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. I like to reheat individual portions in the microwave or a covered dish in the oven. If it’s dry, add a little broth and extra cheese. Freezing Leftovers: Place the cooked casserole in a freezer-safe container for up to 2-3 months.
Susan McDonald says
I am so anxious to try the slow cooker ground beef casserole… However, the ingredients listed along with the instructions for cooking the SLIW COOKER ground BEEF casserole are for a tomato basil soup!! PLEASE help out, as I have fresh tomatoes that I need to use for the Slow cooker ground beef Casserole, and I do not know how much ground beef or how much cream cheese, etc. Thanks so much! Susan from Texas
Ritika Gann says
Hi Susan! I'm so sorry about this - we had a little website glitch. The recipe should be displaying correctly now.
Emily says
When is the beef broth and cream cheese added?
Erin Henry says
Sorry for any confusion, Emily. The broth and cream cheese are added at the beginning with the bulk of ingredients. Just the pasta and additional cheese are added later.
Erin Henry says
Easy to make!
Hilda says
This is a lifesaver! Tender pasta, savory beef, and all the cheese! Perfect for busy days. A new family favorite!
Erin Henry says
I totally agree, Hilda! So easy for busy days! And the flavor is fantastic!
Ali L says
This was dinner last night and it was a huge hit! Mt youngest son already asked me to make it again 🙂
Erin Henry says
My boys love it too! And since it's such an easy recipe, I make it all the time!
Kristyn says
Yum!! This dish is loaded with flavor, hearty, and my kids will actually eat it!! We love it!!