Crockpot Pizza Pasta (Printable Version)

Hearty slow cooker pasta combining Italian sausage, pepperoni, and melted mozzarella for pizza flavors.

# What You'll 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 - 1 (24 oz) jar marinara or pizza sauce
08 - 1 (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
13 - Salt and black pepper, to taste

# How to Make It:

01 - Cook Italian sausage or ground beef in a skillet over medium heat until browned. Drain excess fat.
02 - Add diced onion, bell pepper, and garlic to the skillet. Sauté for 3–4 minutes until softened.
03 - Lightly grease the inside of your slow cooker with cooking spray or oil.
04 - Transfer cooked meat and vegetables to the crockpot. Add uncooked pasta, marinara sauce, diced tomatoes with juices, Italian seasoning, red pepper flakes, salt, and pepper. Mix thoroughly to combine.
05 - Sprinkle half the shredded mozzarella over the mixture, then arrange pepperoni slices evenly on top.
06 - Cover and cook on LOW for 3.5 to 4 hours, until pasta is tender. Check at 3 hours to prevent overcooking.
07 - During the last 15 minutes, sprinkle remaining mozzarella and Parmesan cheese over the top. Re-cover and allow cheese to melt completely.
08 - Serve hot, garnished with extra Parmesan or fresh basil if desired.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • The pasta absorbs all those pizza flavors while it cooks, creating something more than the sum of its parts
  • Set it and forget it means dinner practically makes itself while you handle everything else
02 -
  • Checking at the 3 hour mark is not optional because different slow cookers run at different temperatures
  • The pasta absorbs liquid as it cooks so if it seems dry at the start, do not add more water
03 -
  • Gluten free pasta works but check it earlier since it cooks faster than regular pasta
  • Use a slow cooker liner for cleanup that takes approximately ten seconds

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