Easy Crock Pot Bowtie Casserole Recipe (Print Version)
A warm, comforting easy Crock Pot bowtie casserole that's perfect for busy weeknights!
# Recipe Info:
Prep Time: 15 Minutes minutes
Cook Time: 4 Hours minutes
Total Time: 19 minutes
Servings: 6 Servings
Difficulty: Beginner
Cuisine: Italian-American
Dietary: Contains dairy, meat
# Ingredients:
→ Main Ingredients
01 -
Bowtie Pasta
02 -
Ground Beef
03 -
Marinara Sauce
04 -
Cream Cheese
→ Seasonings & Spices
05 -
Onion
06 -
Garlic
→ Garnish & Toppings
07 -
Cheddar Cheese
→ Optional Extras
08 -
Crushed Red Pepper
09 -
Spinach
# Instructions:
01 -
First things first, boil that bowtie pasta! I always forget to salt the water (oops!). Let it cook until al dente—nobody wants mushy pasta! Just picture the steam rising, and the smell of that salt water. It’s like magic!
02 -
While the pasta's cooking, get that beef browning in a pan. The sizzle? Pure joy! Seriously, I could just stand there inhaling it. Just make sure you drain off any excess fat before adding it to the Crock Pot. Trust me, it makes a difference!
03 -
In your beloved Crock Pot, combine the drained pasta, beef, marinara, and diced onion and garlic. Stir it like you mean it! This is where the magic starts to happen—just think about how cozy it’ll be!
04 -
Now, add in the cream cheese. At first, it might look a bit weird, but as it melts, it’ll become this dreamy creamy sauce. I usually get impatient and try to stir too soon—my bad! But just let it sit for a few minutes.
05 -
Once everything is well mixed, sprinkle that cheddar on top. I could just eat it straight from the bag, to be real! But it’s gotta go into the Crock Pot to get all melted and gooey—seriously, it’s a game changer.
06 -
Cover and cook on low for about 4 hours. The smell will be divine! Just try not to peek too often, or you’ll ruin the magic. It’s hard, I know!
# Notes:
01 -
Don’t skip the sauté step for the onions and garlic-it makes a world of difference! That cream cheese? Yeah, make sure it’s softened first. I made the mistake of forgetting once and had little chunks everywhere. Let it rest for a few minutes after cooking to thicken up nicely!
# Tools You'll Need:
01 -
Crock Pot
02 -
Pot for boiling pasta
03 -
Skillet for browning meat
# Nutrition Facts (Per Serving):
Calories: 450
Total Fat: 23g
Total Carbohydrate: 36g
Protein: 24g