Comforting Crockpot Ground Beef Pasta

Dinnertime can feel like a juggling act. Between getting everyone fed and keeping the kitchen from looking like a disaster zone, I’m always searching for meals that practically make themselves. That’s where my crockpot comes in. I can toss everything in during the afternoon and come back to a hot meal that’s ready to go.

This crockpot ground beef pasta has become one of those recipes I make at least twice a month. It’s comfort food that doesn’t require standing over the stove. The pasta cooks right in the pot with the beef and sauce, so there’s no boiling water or extra dishes. Just one pot that does all the work while I tackle homework help or answer emails.

Need a family dinner that’s ready when you are? This is it. Want something creamy and filling without the hassle? Same. The best part is everyone actually eats it without complaining, which feels like a win in my book.

What Kind of Ground Beef Should I Use?

For this crockpot pasta recipe, you’ll want to stick with ground beef that has a bit of fat content – I’d recommend 80/20 or 85/15. The fat helps keep the meat moist during the long cooking time and adds flavor to your sauce. If you go too lean, like 90/10 or higher, your beef might end up a bit dry and the sauce won’t be as rich. You can also swap in ground turkey or ground chicken if that’s what you have on hand, just know that the flavor will be a little milder and you might want to add an extra drizzle of oil to make up for the lower fat content.

Options for Substitutions

This crockpot pasta is pretty forgiving when it comes to swaps:

• Ground beef: You can easily swap ground beef for ground turkey, chicken, or Italian sausage. If using sausage, you might want to cut back on the Italian seasoning since it’s already seasoned.
• Pasta: Most short pasta shapes work here – try penne, rotini, or shells. Just avoid long noodles like spaghetti as they don’t cook as evenly in the crockpot.
• Heavy cream: Half-and-half works fine if you want something lighter, or use full-fat milk with a tablespoon of butter stirred in. For a dairy-free option, coconut cream gives a nice creamy texture.
• Beef broth: Chicken or vegetable broth work just as well. The flavor will be slightly different but still tasty.
• Spinach: Fresh or frozen spinach both work, or swap it out for kale, arugula, or even frozen peas if that’s what you have on hand.
• Parmesan: Grated mozzarella or a blend of Italian cheeses make good substitutes. Just add them at the end so they melt properly.

Watch Out for These Mistakes While Cooking

The biggest mistake with crockpot pasta is adding it too early, which turns it into a mushy, overcooked disaster – always wait until the last 45 minutes and check it at 30 minutes to avoid overcooking.

Another common error is not draining the beef well enough after browning, as excess grease will make your dish oily and unappetizing, so take an extra minute to press out any remaining fat with a paper towel.

Don’t add the cream and cheese at the beginning of cooking or they’ll separate and become grainy – stirring them in during the final stretch keeps the sauce smooth and creamy.

Finally, resist the urge to lift the lid and stir throughout cooking, since each peek releases heat and can add 15-20 minutes to your total cook time.

What to Serve With Crockpot Ground Beef Pasta?

This hearty pasta is pretty filling on its own, but I love serving it with some warm garlic bread or buttery breadsticks for scooping up the creamy sauce. A simple side salad with mixed greens, cherry tomatoes, and Italian dressing helps balance out the richness of the dish and adds a fresh crunch. If you want to keep things easy since you’re already using the crockpot, roasted vegetables like zucchini, bell peppers, or green beans make a great side that you can prep while the pasta cooks. For a lighter option, steamed broccoli or a Caesar salad both pair really nicely with the beefy, cheesy flavors.

Storage Instructions

Store: Keep any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. The pasta will soak up some of the sauce as it sits, so you might want to add a splash of broth or cream when reheating to loosen it back up.

Freeze: This pasta freezes pretty well for up to 2 months in a freezer-safe container. Just know that cream-based sauces can sometimes separate a bit after freezing, but a good stir while reheating usually brings it back together.

Reheat: Warm it up on the stovetop over medium-low heat with a little extra broth or cream to get that creamy texture back. You can also microwave individual portions for 2-3 minutes, stirring halfway through to heat evenly.

Estimated Nutrition

Estimated nutrition for the whole recipe (without optional ingredients):

• Calories: 2200-2400
• Protein: 90-100 g
• Fat: 130-145 g
• Carbohydrates: 140-155 g

Ingredients

For the beef base:

• 1 lb ground beef (I prefer 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 (I always use Barilla penne or rotini for this)
• 4 cups beef broth (I use Swanson for a consistent savory base)
• 1 1/4 cups heavy cream (room temperature, about 70°F to prevent curdling)
• 3/4 cup grated parmesan
• 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

Step 1: Brown the Ground Beef and Aromatics

• 1 tbsp oil
• 1 lb ground beef
• 1/2 cup onion, finely diced
• 2 garlic cloves, minced

Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.

Add the ground beef, breaking it apart with a wooden spoon as it cooks, until it’s browned and most of the pink is gone, about 3-5 minutes.

Add the diced onion and minced garlic, stirring constantly for another minute until fragrant.

I prefer 80/20 ground beef because it has enough fat to stay moist and flavorful during the long slow cook without becoming dry.

Step 2: Transfer to Slow Cooker and Build the Broth Base

• browned beef mixture from Step 1
• 4 cups beef broth
• 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

Carefully pour off any excess grease from the skillet, leaving just enough for flavor.

Transfer the browned beef mixture to your slow cooker.

Add the beef broth, Italian seasoning, salt, garlic powder, onion powder, black pepper, and red pepper flakes.

Stir well to combine all the seasonings evenly throughout the liquid.

This creates your flavorful foundation that will cook slowly and develop deep, savory notes.

Step 3: Slow Cook the Beef Base

• slow cooker mixture from Step 2

Cover the slow cooker and cook on HIGH for 2-3 hours or LOW for 4-6 hours, depending on your schedule.

The longer, slower cook will give you deeper flavor, but HIGH will get you dinner faster.

You want the beef to be very tender and the broth to be richly seasoned by the end of this phase.

Step 4: Add Pasta, Cream, and Cheese for Final Cook

• slow cooker mixture from Step 3
• 8 oz pasta
• 1 1/4 cups heavy cream
• 3/4 cup grated parmesan

Switch the slow cooker to HIGH setting.

Stir in the uncooked pasta, breaking it up slightly so it’s submerged in the liquid as much as possible.

Pour in the room-temperature heavy cream slowly while stirring to distribute it evenly—this prevents curdling.

Sprinkle in the grated parmesan and stir thoroughly until everything is combined.

Cook uncovered for the final 45 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the pasta is tender and the sauce is creamy and thickened.

I always use room-temperature cream for this because cold cream can shock the hot liquid and separate.

Step 5: Finish with Spinach and Serve

• pasta mixture from Step 4
• 1 cup fresh spinach

Stir the fresh spinach into the hot pasta mixture just before serving.

The residual heat will wilt the spinach in about 1-2 minutes.

Give the entire pot a final stir and taste for seasoning, adjusting salt or pepper if needed.

Serve immediately while creamy and hot.

Comforting Crockpot Ground Beef Pasta

Delicious Comforting Crockpot Ground Beef Pasta recipe with step-by-step instructions.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 55 minutes mins

Cook Time 1 hour hr 45 minutes mins

Total Time 2 hours hrs 42 minutes mins

Servings: 6 servings

Calories: 2300

Ingredients Method

Ingredients

  

For the beef base::

• 1 lb ground beef (I prefer 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 (I always use Barilla penne or rotini for this)
• 4 cups beef broth (I use Swanson for a consistent savory base)
• 1 1/4 cups heavy cream (room temperature, about 70°F to prevent curdling)
• 3/4 cup grated parmesan
• 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

Method

 

1. Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef, breaking it apart with a wooden spoon as it cooks, until it's browned and most of the pink is gone, about 3-5 minutes. Add the diced onion and minced garlic, stirring constantly for another minute until fragrant. I prefer 80/20 ground beef because it has enough fat to stay moist and flavorful during the long slow cook without becoming dry.
2. Carefully pour off any excess grease from the skillet, leaving just enough for flavor. Transfer the browned beef mixture to your slow cooker. Add the beef broth, Italian seasoning, salt, garlic powder, onion powder, black pepper, and red pepper flakes. Stir well to combine all the seasonings evenly throughout the liquid. This creates your flavorful foundation that will cook slowly and develop deep, savory notes.
3. Cover the slow cooker and cook on HIGH for 2-3 hours or LOW for 4-6 hours, depending on your schedule. The longer, slower cook will give you deeper flavor, but HIGH will get you dinner faster. You want the beef to be very tender and the broth to be richly seasoned by the end of this phase.
4. Switch the slow cooker to HIGH setting. Stir in the uncooked pasta, breaking it up slightly so it's submerged in the liquid as much as possible. Pour in the room-temperature heavy cream slowly while stirring to distribute it evenly—this prevents curdling. Sprinkle in the grated parmesan and stir thoroughly until everything is combined. Cook uncovered for the final 45 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the pasta is tender and the sauce is creamy and thickened. I always use room-temperature cream for this because cold cream can shock the hot liquid and separate.
5. Stir the fresh spinach into the hot pasta mixture just before serving. The residual heat will wilt the spinach in about 1-2 minutes. Give the entire pot a final stir and taste for seasoning, adjusting salt or pepper if needed. Serve immediately while creamy and hot.