05/10/2026
Crock Pot Bowtie Casserole 🍲
Ingredients:
1 pound lean ground beef or Italian sausage
1 small yellow onion, finely diced
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 jar (24 ounces) of your favorite marinara sauce
1 can (15 ounces) tomato sauce
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1 teaspoon dried basil
1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional, for a little kick)
Salt and black pepper to taste
1 box (16 ounces) bowtie pasta (farfalle)
2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
1 cup ricotta cheese
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped for garnish
Directions:
Brown the ground beef or sausage in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Toss in the diced onion and cook until the meat is browned and the onions are soft. Add the garlic and cook for just another minute until it smells real good. Drain off any excess grease so your casserole doesn't end up oily.
In your slow cooker, stir together the cooked meat mixture, marinara sauce, tomato sauce, oregano, basil, red pepper flakes, salt, and pepper. Give it a good stir to make sure those seasonings are spread all through the sauce.
Cover the crock pot and cook on low for about 3 to 4 hours. You want those flavors to get to know each other and simmer down into a rich, hearty sauce.
About 20 minutes before you're ready to eat, boil a large pot of salted water and cook the bowtie pasta. Now, listen close: cook it just until it's "al dente"—usually 2 minutes less than the package says. It's gonna finish cooking in the crock pot, and nobody likes mushy pasta.
Drain the pasta and fold it gently into the sauce in the slow cooker. Dollop spoonfuls of ricotta cheese all over the top, then use a spoon to swirl it in just a bit so you get creamy pockets of cheese.
Top the whole thing with a generous layer of shredded mozzarella and the grated Parmesan. Cover it back up for about 10 to 15 minutes, or until that cheese is gooey and completely melted.
Sprinkle the fresh parsley over the top for a pop of color. Serve it up hot right out of the crock pot with a side of garlic bread to soak up all that extra sauce.