Back to School with Crock Pot Million Dollar Pasta!

Azure Rountree

Fun, Delicious and Festive

It’s once again time to hit the books, so make mealtime something to look forward to with Crock Pot Million Dollar Pasta. This bowl of deliciousness is made with tender noodles nestled in a creamy pasta sauce, then topped with yummy, melted cheese making it perfect for a packed school lunch or dinner with the family and once your kids have this dish, they will truly feel like they are one in a million!

Crock Pot Million Dollar Pasta

1 pound Ground Beef 1 pound Ground Sausage (casings removed) 1 (8-ounce) package Cream Cheese (softened) 1 cup Ricotta Cheese ½ cup Sour Cream 2 teaspoons Italian Seasoning 1 ½ teaspoons Garlic Powder 1 (24-ounce) jar Rao’s Marinara Sauce 1 (16-ounce) box Cellentani Pasta (uncooked) 2 cups shredded Mozzarella Cheese 1. Brown the ground beef and sausage in a skillet over medium heat, then drain the meat and set it aside.

2. In a medium size mixing bowl, combine the cream cheese, ricotta cheese, sour cream, Italian seasoning and garlic powder, then set it aside.

3. In the bottom of a crock pot, spread a layer of half of the marinara sauce.

4. Next, add an even layer of half of the pasta noodles.

5. Pour the remaining marinara sauce over the pasta noodles.

6. Fill the empty pasta jar with water, then pour in half a jar of the water.

7. Spread a layer of half of the beef and sausage mixture.

8. Drop dollops of the cream cheese mixture over the meat mixture and carefully spread an even layer.

9. Spread an even layer of the remaining pasta noodles over the cream cheese mixture.

10. Pour in the remaining half jar of water.

11. Finally, spread the remaining beef and sausage mixture on top.

12. Cover and cook on low for 2 hours.

13. Uncover, stir the mixture and check the noodles. If they are still not fully cooked, cover and cook an additional 50 minutes.

14. Uncover and check the noodles again and if cooked, layer the mozzarella cheese and cover for 10 more minutes to melt the cheese, then serve.

*Please note that Cellentani Pasta Noodles can be found at Walmart and some grocery stores, but if you can’t find them, you can also use Rotini Pasta Noodles. Just make sure to check the noodles every so often so that they do not overcook. Also, I like to use 4 of the Johnsonville Brats Sausages and just remove the casing before preparing, but you can use whatever sausage you like.

Lastly, if you miss a step or put something in the wrong order, it is no big deal. In the end, it will all get stirred together and come out delicious!

Kid Friendly Recipes from the Kitchen of Azure Rountree is available at The Advance. A portion of the proceeds from every book sold will go to benefit children with special needs.