Slow Cooker Ground Beef Casserole Recipe

Ground beef pasta cooking in a crock pot.

Slow Cooker Ground Beef Casserole Recipe

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.

Course dinner, Main Course

Cuisine American

Prep Time 10

Cook Time 5

Total Time 5 10

Servings

Calories 395kcal

Equipment

6-quart Crock Pot
large skillet
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

Get Recipe Ingredients

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.

Nutritional information is approximate and was calculated using a recipe nutrition label generator and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used. It does not include any toppings.

Nutrition