Slow-Cooker Beef and Pasta

Here’s a really simple meal to throw to together that’s pretty kid friendly too. It has beef, pasta, tons of flavor, cheese and spinach.

I felt like having some meaty pasta and decided to try it out in the slow cooker. Usually I’ll make the meat sauce and let the flavors marry once it sits in the fridge. The longer it sits, the better it gets so I figured this process could also be done in the slow cooker.

Slow-Cooker Beef and Pasta

Prep Time 15 min
Total Time 7 hr 15 min
Servings 4

Slow-Cooker Beef and Pasta

Ingredients

• 1 lb beef stew meat
  
• 1/2 cup chopped onion
  
• 1 can (14 oz) artichoke hearts, drained, chopped
  
• 1 jar (4.5 oz) Green Giant™ sliced mushrooms, drained
  
• 1 can (14.5 oz) diced tomatoes, undrained
  
• 1 cup fresh spinach
  
• 1 tablespoon drained capers
  
• 1 tablespoon dried minced garlic
  
• 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
  
• 1 teaspoon salt
  
• 1 teaspoon sugar
  
• 1 1/2 cups uncooked penne pasta
  
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
  
• Fresh ground pepper, if desired
  
• 1/2 cup shredded Parmesan cheese

Directions

Spray 3 1/2- to 4-quart slow cooker with cooking spray. In cooker, mix all ingredients except pasta, oil, pepper and cheese.
Cover; cook on Low heat setting 7 to 9 hours.
About 15 minutes before serving, make pasta as directed on package. Stir pasta, oil and pepper into beef mixture. Serve with cheese.