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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What can I use as a substitute if I’m taking out ricotta cheese?
Most folks substitute ricotta cheese with cottage cheese.
You can also use Marscapone cheese, rather than cottage.
Marscapone would be a replacement for cream cheese. I wouldn’t substitute cottage cheese. Just use the ricotta.
Can I also make this in a pressure cooker? Does anyone know the timing at heat level for that?
I haven’t tested it yet in a pressure cooker. Perhaps someone on here has though and can help!
This food is amazing!
Thanks so much Bry!
Didnt have cavatappi..hopefully rotini will work?…have u tried other pastas
Can this be made with spaghetti noodles?