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Slow Cooker 4 Ingredient Pasta Barrow

A quick and creamy pasta dish made with just four ingredients, perfect for busy weeknights or cozy weekends.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 2 hours
Total Time 2 hours 15 minutes
Servings: 6 servings
Course: Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: American, Italian
Calories: 450
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Main Ingredients
  • 12 ounces pasta shells or elbow macaroni
  • 24 ounces pasta sauce 1 jar
  • 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
  • 8 ounces cream cheese, cubed
Optional Ingredients
  • 1 cup cooked crumbled ground beef or browned sausage
  • milk (to loosen the sauce) Add if sauce thickens too much

Method
 

Preparation
  1. Lightly grease the inside of your slow cooker.
  2. Cook the pasta in a large pot of salted water for about 2 minutes less than the package directions. Then drain well.
  3. Add the drained pasta to the slow cooker.
  4. Pour in the pasta sauce and add the mozzarella and cubed cream cheese.
  5. Stir everything together until the pasta is evenly coated.
Cooking
  1. Cover and cook on low for 1 1/2 to 2 hours, stirring once or twice if convenient, until the cheeses are fully melted and the pasta is hot and creamy.
  2. Spoon into bowls and serve hot.

Notes

For a heartier version, stir in cooked crumbled ground beef or browned sausage before slow cooking. If the sauce thickens too much, stir in a splash of milk near the end of cooking to restore a smooth consistency. You can also use any short pasta you have on hand.