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Cozy Slow Cooker Pasta Tomato

Section: Satisfying Main Dishes for Every Occasion

Throw together rotini or ziti with crushed tomatoes, some tomato paste, and lots of Italian herbs to set up a tasty base right inside your slow cooker. Toss in cottage cheese and shredded mozzarella with your noodles and let everything bubble together for that gooey finish. Topping with Parmesan ramps up the flavor. Gentle cooking means the noodles come out perfect every time. Add a bit of honey if you want a sweeter kick, or try a meaty twist with browned sausage or beef. Go for your best jarred sauce if that's easier. Share warm bowls with people you like.

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Published By Ioana
Updated on Thu, 15 May 2025 22:41:54 GMT
Une assiette de spaghetti maison avec des tomates et des herbes. Bookmark
Une assiette de spaghetti maison avec des tomates et des herbes. | ioanacooks.com

Nothing beats the comfort of homemade pasta cooked right in the slow cooker all in one pot with a deeply flavorful tomato sauce and melty cheese. This Slow Cooker Pasta is my secret for busy weeknights when everyone wants a hot meal but I do not want to stand over the stove. Just a few minutes of prep in the morning means a cheesy hearty dinner by the time you are home.

I first tried this when my oven died midweek and my family was amazed by how creamy the cottage cheese made the finished pasta. Now it is a regular on our winter rotation and everyone goes for seconds.

Ingredients

  • Crushed tomatoes: add a bright tangy base to the sauce opt for a brand with no added sugar
  • Tomato paste: brings deep richness and helps thicken the sauce choose an Italian brand for best flavor
  • Water: needed to adjust the consistency so pasta absorbs plenty of moisture as it cooks
  • Honey or sugar: adds a touch of sweetness to balance acidity from the tomatoes use pure honey if possible
  • Olive oil: brings silkiness and helps the sauce meld together select a fruity extra virgin olive oil
  • Dried oregano: classic Italian herb gives a savory herbal note be sure it smells fragrant when you open the jar
  • Kosher salt and pepper: essential for depth of flavor taste and season at each stage
  • Red pepper flakes: add a gentle heat use only if you want a mild kick
  • Rotini or ziti noodles: their spirals and tubes grab onto the sauce use your favorite shape but check cooking times for whole grain versus white pasta
  • Cottage cheese: provides creaminess without heaviness look for small curd for best texture
  • Mozzarella cheese: creates that gooey pull in each bite shred your own from a block for extra melt factor
  • Parmesan cheese: fresh grated gives a salty finish always grate at home for best taste

Step-by-Step Instructions

Prepare the Sauce:
Combine crushed tomatoes tomato paste two cups of water olive oil honey oregano salt pepper and red pepper flakes in your slow cooker. Stir thoroughly to blend everything together then cover. Set the slow cooker on low and let the sauce bubble gently for four to five hours allowing all the flavors to meld and deepen.
Add Pasta and Cheeses:
After four to five hours remove the slow cooker lid. Add the remaining one cup of water dry pasta cottage cheese and mozzarella cheese. Stir well so the noodles are evenly coated and the cheese begins to melt into the sauce.
Cook Pasta to Perfection:
Turn your slow cooker to high. Cover and cook for about forty five minutes for whole grain pasta or twenty five minutes for white pasta. Open the lid and give it a stir halfway through to ensure even cooking. Continue until the pasta is perfectly tender and the sauce is thick and cheesy.
Finish and Serve:
Once the pasta is cooked sprinkle the top with freshly grated Parmesan cheese. Scoop generous portions into bowls and serve hot while the cheese is gooey and delicious.
Une assiette de spaghetti maison avec des tomates et des herbes. Bookmark
Une assiette de spaghetti maison avec des tomates et des herbes. | ioanacooks.com

Fresh Parmesan is my favorite topping. The nutty salty flavor takes each bite over the top. My kids always argue over the crispy cheesy bits along the edge of the slow cooker which has become a fun family tradition.

Storage Tips

Store leftovers in a tightly sealed container in the fridge for up to four or five days. For easy lunches reheat individual servings in the microwave with a splash of water to keep the pasta moist. This recipe also freezes well. Cool the pasta completely and freeze in portions for up to two months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before gently reheating.

Ingredient Substitutions

If you do not have cottage cheese use ricotta for a slightly richer creamy result. White or whole grain pasta both work but cooking times vary so check tenderness as you go. You can swap in jarred marinara sauce for the homemade base if you are short on time but the flavor is best with fresh crushed tomatoes and spices.

Serving Suggestions

Serve with a green salad for freshness or add roasted veggies like zucchini or bell peppers right into the slow cooker at the same time as the pasta. Garlic bread makes a perfect side and is great for scooping up extra sauce. For more protein add browned ground beef or sausage when you add the dry pasta.

Une assiette de spaghetti sauce tomate est servie sur une table. Bookmark
Une assiette de spaghetti sauce tomate est servie sur une table. | ioanacooks.com

Cultural Context

Slow cooker pasta recipes grew in popularity as families searched for hands off cooking solutions. This method is inspired by baked ziti but does not require an oven. The slow simmer makes for a deeper tasting sauce and the texture of the noodles rivals classic stove top pasta.

Frequently Asked Questions About Recipes

→ Is it okay to swap out the noodle type?

Totally fine! Penne or rigatoni can stand in for rotini or ziti. Just check the noodles a bit earlier or later since cook times may shift.

→ What other cheese options can I pick?

Ricotta is a great swap for cottage cheese. Any mix of shredded cheese you love will work just as well.

→ How do I keep my pasta from getting soggy?

Check and stir your pasta partway through and don't let it cook too long. Whole grain shapes hold out a little longer than the white ones.

→ Can meat be added to this dish?

For sure! Brown your beef or sausage first, then mix it in when tossing in the pasta and cheese in the cooker.

→ What's the best way to save leftovers?

Seal the rest in the fridge in a container that shuts tight. It'll last for about 5 days. Warm it up easy before enjoying again.

→ Could I just use my go-to jarred tomato sauce?

Absolutely, just swap the homemade sauce parts for your jar, then keep rolling with the steps as updated.

Slow Cooker Tomato Pasta

Rich tomato sauce coats slow-cooked pasta with loads of cheese, making dinner super easy any night.

Time Needed to Prep
5 minutes
Cooking Duration
305 minutes
Overall Time
310 minutes
Published By: Ioana

Category of Recipe: Main Dishes

Preparation Difficulty: Easy to Make

Type of Cuisine: Italian-American

Number of Portions: 8 How Many It Serves

Dietary Preferences: Made for Vegetarians

Ingredients You'll Need

→ Tomato Sauce Base

Ingredient 01 0.5 teaspoon (optional) red pepper flakes
Ingredient 02 0.5 teaspoon black pepper, ground
Ingredient 03 1 teaspoon kosher salt
Ingredient 04 2 teaspoons dried oregano
Ingredient 05 1 tablespoon (15 g) honey or regular sugar
Ingredient 06 1 tablespoon (15 ml) olive oil
Ingredient 07 2 cups (480 ml) water
Ingredient 08 170 g tomato paste
Ingredient 09 794 g crushed tomatoes

→ Pasta and Cheese

Ingredient 10 1 cup (240 ml) water
Ingredient 11 0.25 cup (25 g) Parmesan, freshly grated
Ingredient 12 1 cup (120 g) mozzarella cheese, shredded
Ingredient 13 1 cup (240 g) cottage cheese
Ingredient 14 16 ounces (454 g) ziti or rotini noodles

Steps to Follow

Step 01

Dump the crushed tomatoes and tomato paste in your big slow cooker. Mix in olive oil, water, either honey or sugar, dried oregano, salt, ground black pepper, and those red pepper flakes if you want. Give it all a nice stir so everything blends well.

Step 02

Put on the lid. Let it cook on the low setting for 4 to 5 hours so the flavors have time to hang out and mingle.

Step 03

When those 4–5 hours are up, lift the lid and pour in the rest of the water, the uncooked rotini or ziti noodles, cottage cheese, and mozzarella. Stir it together so the cheese and pasta get mixed into the sauce.

Step 04

Cover it back up. Change the slow cooker to high. Cook for 25 minutes if you’re using regular pasta, or up to 45 minutes if you’ve picked whole grain noodles. Give it a stir halfway through. Pasta should be soft when it’s done.

Step 05

Once the noodles are just how you like them, scatter the Parmesan over everything and scoop it out to eat right away.

Extra Tips

  1. If you don’t want to make sauce from scratch, toss in 794 g jarred sauce and use 240 ml water. Heat on low for an hour, then keep going with the pasta and cheese part.
  2. Swap out cottage cheese for ricotta if you like things extra creamy.
  3. Want it meaty? Brown up some ground beef or sausage and stir it in with the pasta to bump up the protein.
  4. Leftovers? Pop them in a sealed container in your fridge, they’ll be good for 5 days.

Tools You'll Need

  • Slow cooker, at least 5 liters
  • A wooden spoon or a spatula (silicone works great)
  • Cups and little spoons for measuring
  • Parmesan grater

Allergen Information

Carefully check food labels for allergens and consult an expert if you're uncertain.
  • Has dairy (milk and cheese)
  • Pasta contains gluten (wheat)

Nutritional Information (Per Serving)

Remember, these values are for guidance only and shouldn't replace advice from a professional.
  • Calories Per Serving: 357
  • Total Fat: 7 grams
  • Carbohydrate Amount: 58 grams
  • Protein Amount: 16 grams