Description

This Comforting Crockpot Ground Beef Pasta is a delicious, creamy one-pot meal that combines tender ground beef, savory seasonings, and perfectly cooked pasta all made effortlessly in a slow cooker. With simple ingredients and minimal preparation, this creamy pasta dish features a rich sauce made from heavy cream and parmesan, enhanced by fresh spinach for a nutritious touch. Ideal for busy weeknights, it offers flavorful comfort food with easy cleanup and a hearty, satisfying taste.

Ingredients

Scale

For the Beef Base:

1 lb ground beef (80/20 for better flavor and moisture)
1/2 cup onion (finely diced into 1/4-inch pieces)
2 garlic cloves (minced)
1 tbsp oil

For the Sauce and Pasta:

8 oz pasta (penne or rotini preferred)
4 cups beef broth
1 1/4 cups heavy cream (room temperature, about 70°F)
3/4 cup grated parmesan cheese
1 cup fresh spinach
1 1/2 tbsp Italian seasoning
1 1/4 tsp salt
1 1/4 tsp garlic powder
1 1/4 tsp onion powder
1/2 tsp black pepper
1/4 tsp red pepper flakes

Instructions

Brown the Ground Beef and Aromatics: Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef, breaking it apart with a wooden spoon, and cook until browned and most pink is gone, about 3-5 minutes. Add the diced onion and minced garlic, stirring constantly for another minute until fragrant. This step adds flavor and helps retain moisture during slow cooking.
Transfer to Slow Cooker and Build the Broth Base: Carefully drain excess grease from the skillet, leaving some for flavor. Transfer the beef mixture to your slow cooker. Add beef broth, Italian seasoning, salt, garlic powder, onion powder, black pepper, and red pepper flakes. Stir thoroughly to combine all seasonings and create a richly flavored broth.
Slow Cook the Beef Base: Cover and cook on HIGH for 2-3 hours or on LOW for 4-6 hours depending on your schedule. Cooking longer on low develops deeper flavors and tenderizes the beef perfectly.
Add Pasta, Cream, and Cheese for Final Cook: Switch the slow cooker to HIGH. Stir in uncooked pasta, breaking it slightly so it submerges. Slowly pour in room-temperature heavy cream while stirring to prevent curdling. Sprinkle grated parmesan and stir to combine. Cook uncovered for 45 minutes, stirring occasionally, until pasta is tender and sauce is creamy and thickened.
Finish with Spinach and Serve: Stir fresh spinach into the hot pasta mixture just before serving. The residual heat will wilt the spinach in 1-2 minutes. Stir well and adjust seasonings with salt or pepper as needed. Serve immediately while creamy and hot.

Notes

Do not add pasta at the beginning; adding too early will result in mushy pasta.
Drain excess grease from beef after browning to avoid an oily final dish.
Add cream and cheese near the end to prevent separation and grainy sauce.
Avoid lifting the slow cooker lid during cooking to maintain consistent heat and cooking time.
Substitute ground turkey, chicken, or Italian sausage for beef; adjust seasoning accordingly.
Use short pasta shapes like penne, rotini, or shells for even cooking.
For dairy-free cream, try coconut cream; half-and-half or milk with butter work as lighter alternatives.
Leftovers keep for up to 4 days in the fridge and freeze well for 2 months; reheat with extra broth or cream to restore creaminess.

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 2 hours 45 minutes
Category: Main Dish
Method: Slow Cooking
Cuisine: American

Keywords: crockpot ground beef pasta, slow cooker pasta, creamy beef pasta, easy one-pot meal, comfort food, slow cooked pasta