Description

A comforting, slow-cooker meal that combines the tangy flavors of sloppy joes with pasta. It’s a set-it-and-forget-it dinner perfect for busy families, featuring ground beef, marinara, ketchup, and melted mozzarella.

Ingredients

Scale

1 pound 80/20 ground beef
1 medium yellow onion, finely chopped
1 small green bell pepper, diced
1 (24-ounce) jar marinara sauce
1/2 cup ketchup
1 tablespoon yellow mustard
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
1 tablespoon brown sugar
8 ounces dry rotini or penne pasta
1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese

Instructions

Finely chop the onion and green bell pepper.
Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat and brown the ground beef until no longer pink, breaking it up with a spoon. Drain excess grease if desired.
Transfer the cooked beef, onions, and peppers into a 4- to 6-quart slow cooker.
Add the marinara sauce, ketchup, mustard, Worcestershire sauce, and brown sugar. Stir to combine.
Pour in the dry pasta. Stir gently to ensure pasta is submerged. Add 1/4 cup water if not fully covered.
Cover and cook on low for 4 to 5 hours.
About 30 minutes before serving, stir the pasta. If dry, add a splash of water or broth.
Sprinkle shredded mozzarella cheese over the top. Cover and let sit for 5 minutes until cheese is melted and bubbly.
Serve hot with crusty bread or a side salad.

Notes

Do not skip browning the meat for better flavor. Stir the pasta halfway through cooking to prevent sticking. If using gluten-free pasta, reduce cooking time as GF pasta cooks faster. Leftovers can be stored in the fridge for up to 4 days; add liquid when reheating as pasta absorbs sauce.

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 4 hours 30 minutes
Category: Main Course
Cuisine: American

Nutrition

Serving Size: Approximately 1.5 cu
Calories: 650
Sugar: 12
Sodium: 900
Fat: 35
Saturated Fat: 12
Carbohydrates: 55
Fiber: 3
Protein: 30

Keywords: crockpot recipes, sloppy joe pasta, slow cooker dinner, family meals, easy weeknight dinner, ground beef recipes, comfort food