Description

This Crockpot Pizza Pasta combines the flavors of classic pizza with the comfort of a pasta dish. Ground beef, marinara sauce, and Italian seasonings are slow-cooked with rotini pasta, then topped with melted mozzarella and cheddar cheese and turkey pepperoni for a hearty, easy one-pot meal perfect for busy days.

Ingredients

Scale

Meat and Protein

1 pound lean ground beef (93% lean)
20 slices turkey pepperoni

Pasta and Sauce

12 ounces uncooked rotini pasta
24 ounces marinara sauce
1 cup low-sodium beef broth

Vegetables and Seasonings

1 small yellow onion, finely chopped
1 green bell pepper, diced
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper

Cheese

2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

Optional

1/2 cup sliced black olives or mushrooms

Instructions

Brown the beef: Heat a skillet over medium-high heat and cook the ground beef, seasoning with garlic powder, salt, and black pepper. Once browned, drain the excess fat and set the beef aside.
Combine ingredients in crockpot: In a 6-quart crockpot, add the cooked ground beef, marinara sauce, low-sodium beef broth, finely chopped onion, diced green bell pepper, and Italian seasoning. Stir everything to mix thoroughly.
Add pasta and pepperoni: Stir in the uncooked rotini pasta to coat it evenly with the sauce mixture. Then layer half of the turkey pepperoni slices on top of the pasta mixture.
Cook low and slow: Cover the crockpot with its lid and cook on low for 3 to 4 hours. Stir halfway through the cooking time to prevent pasta from sticking and to check for doneness.
Add cheese and remaining pepperoni: Once the pasta is cooked to your liking, sprinkle shredded mozzarella and cheddar cheese evenly over the top. Add remaining turkey pepperoni slices on top of the cheese.
Melt the cheese: Cover and cook for an additional 15 to 20 minutes on low until the cheeses are fully melted and bubbly, then serve warm.

Notes

For added veggies, include 1/2 cup sliced black olives or mushrooms with the other vegetables.
If you prefer a spicier version, add crushed red pepper flakes when seasoning the beef.
Make sure to stir halfway through cooking to avoid pasta sticking or uneven cooking.
Use low-sodium broth and cheese to reduce salt content for a healthier version.
You can substitute ground turkey for beef to make it leaner.
Leftovers store well in the refrigerator for 3 to 4 days and reheat in the microwave or on the stovetop.

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 3 hours 35 minutes
Category: Pasta
Method: Slow Cooking
Cuisine: Italian-American

Keywords: Crockpot pizza pasta, slow cooker pasta, easy crockpot recipes, ground beef pasta, mozzarella cheddar pasta bake