Cooking Thursday

 Here's a crockpot recipe we had recently.  It's kind of like lasagna in the crock pot!  It's got meat and sauce, a cream sauce, gooey cheese and pasta you don't have to cook ahead. It makes a lot and it is yummy!

Crockpot Million Dollar Pasta

2 lbs ground beef
1 (8 oz) block cream cheese softened
½ cup sour cream
1 cup ricotta cheese
1 teaspoon minced garlic
1 teaspoon dried parsley
2 (24 oz) jars spaghetti sauce divided use
1 (24 oz) jar water
1 (16 oz) box cavatappi or elbw pasta
2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese

Instructions:
Brown and crumble ground beef (season with salt and pepper.) Drain excess grease and set aside.
In a medium bowl, mix together cream cheese, sour cream, ricotta cheese, minced garlic and parsley.
In the bottom of a 6 quart (or larger) slow cooker, add half a jar of spaghetti sauce.
Evenly layer half the box of the pasta on top of sauce.
Pour remaining jar of spaghetti sauce over noodles.
Pour on half a jar of water.
Then layer half the cooked ground beef mixture over top.
Dollop the entire cream cheese mixture evenly as possible over the beef layer. Do not stir.
Evenly layer the rest of the pasta on top of the cream cheese layer.
Top with remaining jar spaghetti sauce
Pour another half jar of water on top of spaghetti sauce.
Finally, layer the rest of the cooked ground beef on top.
Cover and cook on low for about 3-4 hours.
Stir mixture, then layer with 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese.
Cover for an additional 15-20 minutes (until cheese is melted.)