Crock Pot Million Dollar Pasta has layers of sauce, pasta, beef and a special cream sauce all topped with melty, gooey mozzarella cheese!
CROCK POT MILLION DOLLAR PASTA
If there is one thing I could eat over and over and never get tired of – it’s pasta. My son and I love it (especially this Crock Pot Million Dollar Pasta recipe I am sharing today!) My husband – not so much. He’s weird. Who doesn’t like pasta? So what happens is I end up making a big batch (because hey – the other people in the house still like it!) and we end up having a lot leftover. 
VIDEO INCLUDED BELOW:
DO I NEED TO BOIL THE NOODLES FIRST?
Nope! You do not have to boil the pasta noodles first – woo hoo! A yummy, creamy, flavorful sauce with tender pasta all topped with a gooey, melty cheese. Worth it’s weight in gold 😉 For me, pasta is the perfect leftover food. So I don’t mind if I have lots leftover. This recipe is made all in one pot (yay for less dirty dishes!) but it also takes your traditional pasta and sauce meal to something just a bit more special.
WHAT YOU’LL NEED:
ground beef
cream cheese
sour cream
ricotta cheese
garlic
parsley
spaghetti sauce
water,
cavatappi, cellentini or macaroni pasta
mozzarella cheese
HOW TO MAKE CROCK POT MILLION DOLLAR PASTA:
Brown and crumble ground beef (season with salt and pepper.) Drain excess grease and set aside.
In a medium bowl, mix together cream cheese, sour cream, ricotta cheese, minced garlic and parsley.
In the bottom of a 6 quart (or larger) slow cooker, add half a jar of spaghetti sauce. Evenly layer half the box of the cavatappi pasta on top of sauce. Pour remaining jar of spaghetti sauce over noodles. Pour on half a jar of water.
Then layer half the cooked ground beef mixture over top.
Dollop the entire cream cheese mixture evenly as possible over the beef layer. Do not stir.
Evenly layer the rest of the cavatappi pasta on top of the cream cheese layer.
Top with remaining jar spaghetti sauce. Pour another half jar of water on top of spaghetti sauce. Finally, layer the rest of the cooked ground beef on top. Cover and cook on low for about 3-4 hours. After cooking, gently stir mixture. Then layer with 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese. Cover for an additional 15-20 minutes (until cheese is melted.)
Then dig in!
Store any leftovers in airtight containers in the refrigerator.
Enjoy!
Originally published: October 2016
Updated & republished: June 2019
CROCK POT MILLION DOLLAR PASTA
Ingredients
- 2 lbs ground beef
- 1 (8 oz) block cream cheese softened
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 1 cup ricotta cheese
- 1 tsp minced garlic
- 1 tsp dried parsley
- 2 (24 oz) jars spaghetti sauce divided use
- 1 (24 oz) jar water
- 1 (16 oz) box cavatappi pasta
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
Instructions
- Brown and crumble ground beef (season with salt and pepper.) Drain excess grease and set aside.
- In a medium bowl, mix together cream cheese, sour cream, ricotta cheese, minced garlic and parsley.
- In the bottom of a 6 quart (or larger) slow cooker, add half a jar of spaghetti sauce.
- Evenly layer half the box of the cavatappi pasta on top of sauce.
- Pour remaining jar of spaghetti sauce over noodles.
- Pour on half a jar of water.
- Then layer half the cooked ground beef mixture over top.
- Dollop the entire cream cheese mixture evenly as possible over the beef layer. Do not stir.
- Evenly layer the rest of the cavatappi pasta on top of the cream cheese layer.
- Top with remaining jar spaghetti sauce
- Pour another half jar of water on top of spaghetti sauce.
- Finally, layer the rest of the cooked ground beef on top.
- Cover and cook on low for about 3-4 hours.
- Stir mixture, then layer with 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese.
- Cover for an additional 15-20 minutes (until cheese is melted.)
Video
Nutrition
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Hello, just wondering how cottage cheese would be in replace of ricotta cheese. Thoughts?
Hi Maranda, It should work fine in this recipe. I have a recipe for Crock Pot Lasagna that uses cottage cheese and it comes out great!
Thanks so much!
I was wondering if I could make this recipe ahead of time? For example, put all ingredients in the crock pot and leave in in the refrigerator until I’m ready to cook it?
I was wondering this also. Did you try it?
Could you freeze this and then cook it?
I haven’t tried it. It’s hard to say because you are putting in the noodles uncooked. I don’t think it would cook properly from frozen…
This sounds absolutely delicious. I have a question about the number of servings. The recipe states that it serves 6, however it calls for 2 pounds of ground beef. That seems a lot for just 6 servings. Is the number of servings listed correct?Thank you for sharing such great recipes!
Will this work as well with a jarred Alfredo sauce. We don’t care for red sauce.
This looks so delicious!! There’s only two of us. Could this recipe be cut in half? Thanks
Can elbow macaroni be used instead of cavatappi?
Making this for dinner tonight…..how long if I cook it on high?
I haven’t tested it on high yet Xiomara. You could try cutting the time in half. You have to be careful with burning though.
My kids LOVE this pasta! The 8 year old asked me yesterday to make “that thing with the noodles I really like” lol I used 1lb of ground beef and 1lb of ground sausage the first time i made it and it was so good that I’m not gonna change it. I also just throw in whatever small pasta I have on hand at the time. Tonight we are using halloween shapes!
Nothing makes me happier than to hear when the kiddos love a recipe! Thank you so much Jessica!!
Can this recipe be made the night before and be kept in the refrigerator?
I set up the crockpot the night before and cooked it the next afternoon. Only use 1/2 a jar of water and dont put it in until you start cooking it. Also I would suggest seasoning with salt both when cooking your meat and before you add the mozzarella cheese.
Is there another replacement for ricotta instead of cottage cheese?
Thank you.
Maybe mascarpone cheese? You may want to add a tad bit of salt to the mascarpone because it’s more of a sweeter style cheese.
Can I use a different type of pasta? Like a garbanzo bean based pasta or a lentil based one? Thank you! It looks delicious!
Thank you for the super easy, throw together, delish meal. Has anyone tried this this with 1 part red sauce & 1 part white garlic sauce OR 2 parts white garlic sauce with chicken, broccoli or broccolini and parmesan? Just curious. I like to make my lasagna like my hubby’s grandmother from Italy/Sicily with either all red OR half white garlic and half red sauce with fresh chiffonade basil on top symbolizing the Italian flag. Might be good with some mushrooms and finely chopped olives too :).
I love the mix of the two sauces. Now I’m drooling. Ha! I think you could totally do some chicken, broccoli and white sauce!
Following up…Kids loved it. Made as described just added seasoning salt, dried oregano, dried basil, onion powder, garlic salt and diced onions while cooking the beef. We like spices. Also threw a handful of.mushrooms that I diced and a few teaspoons of white sugar on the top while cooking after it was layered. Took 3 hours in an Instant Pot on slowcooker low vent open. I haven’t heard a word since it was served except “Wow this is the best pasta ever!!!” from “Mr Picky” followed by a quick “Yes” from “Miss I Hate Red Sauce” and my oldest “Mr Garbage Disposal” didn’t even come up for air… just silently hoovered. Guess it must be good. ???????????? Saving this one for sure! Thank you for the new super easy recipe. Can’t wait to try the different variations but this recipe is solid! Love this new way to cook pasta.
I am cracking up Carol! I absolutely loved reading your comment!! Thank you so very much for taking the time to come back and leave all of this great feedback!
Forgot to add that I used shells and it held the sauce and cheese beautifully.
Could I use mostocchioli noodles? Would the cook time be different since noodles are bigger? Thanks
I’m going to make this without the ground meat, but adding spinach. Thoughts?
I never say not to spinach. 🙂
Made this in a 4 QT for dinner and it turned out perfectly, seriously addicting plus my son who normally hates sauce on his pasta was obsessed!!!!
Score one for Mom! Ha! Love hearing that Kirsten! Thank you so much for coming back to leave a comment!