Description
Creamy Beef Pasta Delight offers a comforting blend of tender beef and rich pasta. Hearty ingredients meld together for a satisfying meal perfect for family dinners. You’ll savor each delicious bite.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 lbs (907 g) ground beef
- 16 oz (454 g) cavatappi pasta
- 2 jars (24 oz/680 g) spaghetti sauce
- 24 oz (710 ml) water
- 8 oz (227 g) cream cheese, softened to room temperature
- 2 cups (226 g) shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1 cup (250 ml) ricotta cheese
- ½ cup (120 ml) sour cream
- 1 tsp minced garlic
- 1 tsp dried parsley
Instructions
- Meat Preparation: Sizzle ground beef in a skillet until perfectly browned and crumbled, meticulously draining excess fat to ensure a crisp, lean texture.
- Creamy Fusion: Whisk cream cheese, sour cream, ricotta, minced garlic, and parsley into a silky, aromatic blend that promises rich, velvety depth.
- Foundation Layer: Spread half a jar of spaghetti sauce across the crock pot base, establishing a robust flavor cornerstone for the dish.
- Pasta and Sauce Integration: Distribute cavatappi evenly over the sauce, then pour remaining spaghetti sauce and an equivalent water volume to create a moisture-rich cooking environment.
- Layered Assembly: Strategically arrange ground beef and dollop the creamy cheese mixture between pasta layers, building a complex flavor profile with each addition.
- Slow Cooking Transformation: Cover and cook on low heat for 2-3 hours, allowing ingredients to harmonize and pasta to reach perfect tenderness.
- Final Flourish: Culminate the dish by blanketing the surface with shredded mozzarella, melting into a golden, irresistible crown that elevates the entire culinary creation.
Notes
- Meat Browning Technique: Thoroughly brown ground beef to develop deep flavor and eliminate excess fat, ensuring a crisp texture and preventing watery results.
- Cheese Mixture Consistency: Whisk cream cheese, sour cream, and ricotta until completely smooth to prevent lumpy sauce and create a luxurious, creamy texture.
- Liquid Balance: Use equal parts sauce and water to prevent dry pasta while maintaining ideal moisture without making the dish too soupy.
- Melting Cheese Tip: Add mozzarella in the final stages to achieve a perfectly golden, stretchy top layer that adds visual appeal and extra richness.
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 3 hours
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 7
- Calories: 570
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 980 mg
- Fat: 30 g
- Saturated Fat: 15 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 45 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 32 g
- Cholesterol: 100 mg