Slow Cooker Parmesan Garlic Pizza Pasta – Freezer Meal – just dump everything a freezer bag and freeze for a quick meal later. Ground beef, pepperoni, onion, garlic bread seasoning, marinara, water, mozzarella, and pasta. No need to cook the ground beef or pasta ahead of time. It all cooks in the slow cooker. #slowcooker #freezermeal #kidfriendly #crockpot #pasta #pizza #beef
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Pin This RecipeToday is day two in our freezer meal series (Day One – Honey Teriyaki Chicken). This Parmesan Garlic Pizza Pasta is SO delicious! Everything, including the pasta, cooks in the slow cooker. YAY! One different ingredient in this recipe is Garlic Bread Seasoning. Garlic bread seasoning has dried cheese in it. That gives this dish the “parmesan” flavor. I prefer Johnny’s Garlic Bread Seasoning. I buy it at Costco.
How to Make Pizza Pasta Freezer Meal
This recipe is SUPER easy to make. In a gallon freezer bag, place ground beef, spaghetti sauce, garlic bread seasoning, pepperoni, onion, water, and mozzarella cheese. Place the bag in the freezer. When ready to cook, place the contents of the freezer bag in the crockpot, and cook. About 15 minutes before serving, add dried pasta. Top the casserole with some extra mozzarella and parmesan cheese.
- Do NOT cook the ground beef before adding it to the freezer bag. You just put it in the freezer bag raw, and it will cook in the slow cooker with everything else. SO convenient and it makes assembly super easy! You have to trust me on this. I was skeptical when I made it, but it turned out amazing!
- I used Johnny’s Garlic Bread Seasoning. Any garlic and herb seasoning mix will work fine.
- Add the pasta to the slow cooker uncooked. It will cook in the slow cooker in about 15 or 20 minutes.
- There is no need to thaw the contents of the freezer bag before adding it to the slow cooker.
What to Serve with Pizza Pasta
This pizza pasta was crazy good! We both went back for seconds. This makes a good bit of pasta. The leftovers are delicious reheated for lunch or dinner later in the week. We like to serve this pasta with a salad and some garlic bread. Here are a few of our favorite recipes from the blog that go great with this easy Slow Cooker Parmesan Garlic Pizza Pasta Freezer Meal:
Creamy Italiano Salad
Creamy Italiano Salad with Homemade Dressing Recipe – our favorite salad!!! Romaine, tomatoes, thinly sliced seedless cucumbers, sliced banana peppers,…
Garlic Roll Cupcakes
Garlic Roll Cupcakes – great with pasta! Super easy to make with only 4 ingredients! Refrigerated bread sticks, garlic seasoning,…
Italian Green Bean Salad
Italian Green Bean Salad – quick and delicious side dish! Green beans, tomatoes, garlic, olive oil, prosciutto, and mozzarella tossed…
Garlic Parmesan Skillet Bread
Garlic Parmesan Skillet Bread – refrigerated biscuits chopped and tossed in butter, garlic, italian seasoning and parmesan cheese. Baked in…
Slow Cooker Parmesan Garlic Pizza Pasta
Equipment:
Ingredients:
- 1- lb lean ground beef, uncooked
- 1 cup sliced pepperoni
- 1 Tbsp dried minced onion flakes
- 1 Tbsp Garlic Bread Seasoning
- 4 cups marinara/pasta sauce
- 3 cups water
- 1 (8-oz) package shredded mozzarella, divided
- ¼ cup grated parmesan cheese
- 1 (16-oz) box uncooked rotini or other short cut pasta
- 1 gallon size ziplock freezer bag
- 1 sandwich size freezer bag
Instructions:
- Place ground beef, pepperoni, onions, garlic bread seasoning, pasta sauce, water, and half of the mozzarella cheese in a gallon size ziplock freezer bag. Place remaining mozzarella and parmesan cheese in sandwich size freezer bag. Freeze.
- When ready to cook: Remove the sandwich bag of mozzarella and parmesan cheese from the freezer and place it in the refrigerator to thaw.
- Place contents of gallon sized freezer bag into slow cooker. Cook on LOW for 6 hours. Break up meat with spatula.
- Add uncooked pasta. Cook for 15-20 minutes longer, until pasta is cooked. Top with remaining mozzarella cheese. Cover and let cheese melt, 5 minutes.
Notes:
Steph
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Question, if the ingredients aren’t frozen how long would the cook time be?
have you tested this in the instant pot?
I haven’t. My guess would about 5 minutes on high pressure after cooking the meat.
I made it in the skillet today and it was good. Next time I'm going to use Italian sausage.
I made it in the skillet today and it was good. Next time I'm going to use Italian sausage.
I had prepared this freezer meal about a month ago, and finally actually made it this past Friday night when I needed a slow-cooker meal! It turned out great! Everything cooked fine, and I did substitute 97% fat free ground turkey, because that is our family's preference, and it was still very yummy! Cooked up beautifully, and I used elbow macaroni because that is what I had in the cupboard. I was a little skeptic that the pasta would not cook or get mushy, but it was fabulous! A great meal! Thanks!!!
help! My husband tried to put in the crock pot this morning and it wouldn't fit. I thought we have a large crock pot, but it was frozen solid and would not break apart to fit inside. Should I have thawed it out first?
You don't need to thaw out any of the freezer meals before cooking. Just be mindful of how you place the bag in the freezer. You might try sticking them in a bowl or basket to freeze so they are the right shape for you slow cooker.
How long would it take to cook if you didn't freeze it first? And if you cooked the beef beforehand?
about 15-17 minutes. Dump everything in a skillet, bring to a boil, cover and simmer 15-17 minutes. Until pasta is done.
So, everything goes into the crockpot frozen? Wow! Can't get easier than that!
I always drain my browned ground beef. Will this have a lot of grease in it?
I used a lean ground beef and my pasta wasn't greasy
I have trouble cooking pasta in my slow cooker. It always turns into a lumpy pasty clump.
My pasta turned out great. It doesn't take long to cook. Watch it at about 15 minutes so it doesn't over cook and get clumpy.
How is it safe to do the ground beef this way? I was always told that it was dangerous to put raw ground beef in a slow cooker, due to how long it takes for the meat to cook. Is it because it's frozen first?
This sounds delicious and easy! Thanks!