Slow Cooker Ground Beef Recipes

Slow Cooker Ground Beef Recipes are super easy. This is a quick and easy Italian-style one pot supper that only gets better the longer you cook it.

Lean ground beef is simmered with herbs and Italian spices, garlic and plenty of tomato sauce. You can add more or less of the seasonings to suit your taste, but don't skimp on the tomato - the long, slow simmering brings out all the richness and flavor.

This recipe is finished with bow tie pasta, shredded mozzarella and Parmesan cheese.

To make it company-special, we add spinach. Because we promised an easy preparation, it calls for frozen spinach. It has to be really, really, really well drained.

It just might be easier to use a 10 or 12 ounce bag of cleaned spinach, chopped and lightly steamed and added in at the last minute.

It will hold its nice green color and taste fresh.

Slow Cooker Ground Beef Recipes

Italian Style Bow Tie Supper

1 1/2 pounds lean ground beef
2 cans (8 ounces) tomato sauce
1 can (14.5 ounces) stewed tomatoes, coarsely chopped
1 large yellow onion, chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 envelope (1 ounce) dry Italian seasoning mix
1 teaspoon dried oregano
Kosher salt and ground black pepper
1 package (16 ounces) bow tie pasta, cooked according to package directions
1 package (10 ounces) frozen spinach, thawed and very well drained
1 1/2 cups mozzarella, shredded
1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, grated

Season the beef with the kosher salt and black pepper. Heat a large skillet and add the beef, chopped onion and minced garlic. Saute until the meat is no longer pink and the onion is soft. Drain the meat and transfer it to a slow cooker.

Whisk together the tomato sauce and the stewed tomatoes. Add the Italian seasoning and oregano, then pour this mixture over the ground beef, cover the pot and cook on low for 5 to 6 hours. It's o k if it goes longer, just don't let it get too thick.

When you are ready to serve, turn the pot to high. Stir in the cooked bow tie pasta, spinach and the shredded mozzarella. Sprinkle the grated Parmesan over the top and don't stir it. Let the ingredients simmer for about 15 minutes, just until everything is heated through. Everyone will get a bit of Parmesan cheese when the pasta is ladled into warm bowls.

Food For Thought - This supper is perfect for dressing up. You can add a cup of sliced fresh mushrooms to the skillet when you saute the meat and onions.

Add a cup of dry red wine to the mixture and let everything simmer in the skillet until the wine has reduced a little.

A small sprig of fresh rosemary will enhance the Italian flavors of this recipe, and will make your kitchen smell like it's in Rome!

Good to Know - Try a pasta variation, like fusili spirals or medium sized shells. They will all hold the sauce well and are easy to manage at a pot-luck or buffet.