Description
Million dollar pasta brings comfort and luxury to weeknight dinners with its creamy, cheesy layers. Hearty noodles blanketed in rich sauce promise a delightful meal you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Protein:
- 1 pound ground beef (or Italian sausage)
Pasta and Sauce:
- 12 ounces (340 grams) rigatoni, penne, or ziti (slightly undercooked)
- 1 (24 ounces/680 grams) jar marinara sauce
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste (optional, for richer flavor)
Cheese and Dairy:
- 8 ounces (226 grams) cream cheese, softened
- 1 cup ricotta cheese (or cottage cheese)
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
Seasonings and Herbs:
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- Fresh basil or parsley (for garnish)
Instructions
- Brown ground beef in a skillet, ensuring thorough cooking and removing any accumulated grease for a cleaner flavor profile.
- Infuse the meat with robust marinara sauce, tangy tomato paste, aromatic garlic, and a blend of Italian seasoning to create a rich, layered sauce.
- Season the mixture with salt and pepper, allowing the spices to meld and intensify the overall taste during a brief 5-minute simmering process.
- Transfer the seasoned meat sauce to a slow cooker, spreading it evenly across the base to establish a flavorful foundation.
- Layer cream cheese cubes carefully over the meat sauce, ensuring even distribution to create pockets of creamy goodness throughout the dish.
- Sprinkle shredded mozzarella and parmesan cheeses generously across the top, creating a luxurious, melty cheese blanket.
- Cover the slow cooker and cook on low heat for 2-3 hours, allowing the cheeses to melt completely and the flavors to harmonize.
- Once cooking is complete, gently stir the ingredients to create a uniform, creamy consistency.
- Serve the pasta hot, garnishing with fresh chopped parsley for a vibrant touch of color and added freshness.
Notes
- Choose lean ground beef to reduce excess fat and create a healthier dish for your family.
- Mix different types of ground meat like beef and pork for a more complex, richer flavor profile in the sauce.
- Opt for low-sodium marinara sauce if watching salt intake, allowing you to control seasoning levels precisely.
- Enhance the sauce’s depth by adding a splash of red wine during the simmering process for a gourmet touch.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 4 hours
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 600
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 35 g
- Saturated Fat: 18 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 40 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 30 g
- Cholesterol: 110 mg