Description

This Crockpot Pizza Pasta is a comforting, easy-to-make dish that combines the flavors of a classic pizza with hearty pasta. Ground beef, marinara sauce, and Italian seasonings create a rich sauce that cooks slowly with rotini pasta in the crockpot, topped with melty mozzarella, cheddar cheese, and turkey pepperoni for the perfect crowd-pleasing meal.

Ingredients

Scale

Meat and Cheese

1 pound lean ground beef (93% lean)
2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
20 slices turkey pepperoni

Pasta and Sauce

12 ounces uncooked rotini pasta
24 ounces marinara sauce
1 cup low-sodium beef broth

Vegetables and Seasonings

1 small yellow onion, finely chopped
1 green bell pepper, diced
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper

Optional

1/2 cup sliced black olives or mushrooms

Instructions

Brown the Beef: In a skillet over medium heat, brown the ground beef while seasoning it with garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Once cooked through, drain any excess fat and set the beef aside.
Combine Ingredients in Crockpot: In a 6-quart crockpot, add the cooked beef, marinara sauce, beef broth, finely chopped yellow onion, diced green bell pepper, and Italian seasoning. Stir all ingredients together until well combined.
Add Pasta and Pepperoni: Stir in the uncooked rotini pasta to coat it evenly with the sauce mixture. Then, place half of the turkey pepperoni slices on top of the mixture.
Cook on Low: Cover the crockpot and cook on low heat for 3 to 4 hours. Stir the pasta halfway through the cooking time to prevent sticking and check the doneness of the pasta.
Add Cheese and Finish Cooking: When the pasta is tender and fully cooked, sprinkle the shredded mozzarella and cheddar cheese evenly on top. Add the remaining pepperoni slices. Cover and cook for an additional 15–20 minutes until the cheese is melted and bubbly.

Notes

You can add ½ cup of sliced black olives or mushrooms for extra flavor and texture.
Be sure to stir the pasta halfway through cooking to ensure even cooking and prevent sticking.
If you prefer, you can use turkey sausage or regular pepperoni instead of turkey pepperoni.
Cooking times may vary slightly depending on your crockpot model.
For a lower-sodium option, use a no-salt-added marinara sauce and low-sodium broth.

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 3 hours 30 minutes
Category: Main Dish
Method: Slow Cooking
Cuisine: Italian-American

Keywords: crockpot pizza pasta, slow cooker pasta, easy dinner, comfort food, ground beef pasta