Description
Crock Pot Million Dollar Pasta is a cheesy pasta dish made with ground turkey, rigatoni, and a blend of cheeses, all cooked in a slow cooker for a delicious and easy meal.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound ground turkey
- 1 large onion, chopped
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 (28-ounce) can diced tomatoes
- 1 (15-ounce) can marinara sauce
- 1 (6-ounce) can tomato puree
- 2 teaspoons dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
- 1 (16-ounce) box rigatoni pasta
- 1 cup cottage cheese
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
- 1/2 cup grated Romano cheese
- Fresh parsley, for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- In a large skillet over medium heat, cook the ground turkey along with the chopped onion and minced garlic until the turkey is browned and cooked through. Drain any excess fat.
- Pour the turkey mixture into the slow cooker. Add the diced tomatoes, marinara sauce, tomato puree, oregano, garlic powder, and crushed red pepper flakes. Mix everything together thoroughly.
- Set the slow cooker to low and let it cook for 4 hours to allow the flavors to meld.
- After 4 hours, stir in the dry rigatoni pasta, ensuring it’s well coated with the sauce. Cover and let it cook for an additional 30 minutes, or until the pasta is al dente.
- Once the pasta is ready, gently fold in the cottage cheese and half of the cheddar cheese, mixing until evenly distributed. Sprinkle the remaining cheddar and Romano cheese on top.
- Cover the slow cooker again and cook on low for another 15-20 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
- Serve warm, garnished with fresh parsley if you like a pop of color.
Notes
- For a vegetarian version, replace the ground turkey with lentils or mushrooms.
- Feel free to add in your favorite vegetables, such as zucchini or mushrooms, for added flavor and nutrition.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 4 hours 30 minutes
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Slow Cooker
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 500
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 800mg
- Fat: 26g
- Saturated Fat: 12g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 38g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 30g
- Cholesterol: 90mg