• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Create Bake Make
  • Home
  • Recipes
    • Biscuits and Cookies
    • Cakes and Muffins
    • Lunchbox Ideas
    • Slices
    • Dinners
    • Desserts
    • Snacks & Treats
    • Cheesecake
    • Breakfast
    • Party Food
    • Easter
    • Christmas
  • Thermomix
    • Thermomix Biscuits
    • Thermomix Cakes and Muffins
    • Thermomix Dinners
    • Thermomix Desserts
    • Thermomix Lunch Box Snacks
    • Thermomix Slices
    • Thermomix Easter Recipes
    • Thermomix Christmas Recipes
  • Food for Kids
  • SHOP
  • About
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • RSS
    • Twitter
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Lunchbox Ideas
  • Dinners
  • Thermomix Recipes
  • Sweet
  • All Recipes
  • Shop
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • Lunchbox Ideas
    • Dinners
    • Thermomix Recipes
    • Sweet
    • All Recipes
    • Shop
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • ×
    • Two Chocolate Snickers Brownies sitting on top of each other.
      Snickers Chocolate Brownies
    • Biscoff Cheesecake
    • Overhead view of corn relish dip in a blue bowl surrounded by crackers.
      Corn Relish Dip
    • Cheese Sauce dripping from a silver spoon into a bowl.
      Thermomix Cheese Sauce
    • Slice of Focaccia on a white bench. In the background are more slices of Focaccia.
      Thermomix Focaccia
    • Two slices of biscoff brownies on top of each other. in the background in a jar of biscoff.
      Biscoff Brownies
    • Side view of Thermomix zucchini slice on a green plate
      Thermomix Zucchini Slice
    • Close up of Curried Eggs topped with chives on a blue plate.
      Curried Eggs
    • Two Margaritas made using a thermomix in glasses garnished with salt and lime.
      Thermomix Margaritas
    • Side view of Cranberry and Brie Puff Pastry Star with a piece of brie removed
      Cranberry and Brie Puff Pastry Star
    • Close up of a piece of Biscoff Fudge on a sheet of baking paper. In the background is more fudge and jar of Biscoff spread.
      Biscoff Fudge
    • Slice of Vanilla Sheet Cake sitting in front of a wire rack.
      Vanilla Sheet Cake
    Create Bake Make / Dinners / Slow Cooker Pasta Bake

    Slow Cooker Pasta Bake

    Published: May 21, 2019 · Modified: Apr 14, 2024 by Lauren Matheson ·

    2399 shares
    • Share
    • Tweet
    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    Looking for the easiest family dinner EVER? My Slow Cooker Pasta Bake is for you! The Meat Sauce is slow cooked over 4 – 6 hours (depending on if you use the low or high temperature function) and then it is simply a matter of adding cooked pasta and sprinkling with cheese.

    This recipe will feed 6 adults or you can freeze the leftovers. Please note this recipe has been updated.

    Side view of pasta bake in a white bowl.

    We’ve been giving our slow cooker a good work out over the past few months (and have been loving this Slow Cooker Curried Beef and Vegetables!) as I’ve been loving how easy it is to put together a yummy family dinner. 

    This recipe feeds A LOT!  It makes enough to easily feed our family of five for 2 -3 meals. Thankfully it’s also super freezer friendly, which makes it a great no fuss mid week meal to pull out of the freezer.  It’s also a great way to pack some extra vegetables into your whole family and you can easily substitute or omit any of the vegetables listed to suit your taste – and also what you have left in your fridge!

    What you will love about this recipe:

    Budget friendly – You can use any type of vegetables you have in the fridge AND you can bulk the meat sauce up with extra vegetables to make a batch go further.

    Set and forget – Once you pop all of the meat sauce ingredients into your slow cooker, you can get on with your day before it is time to add the cooked pasta and cheese.

    Freezer friendly – Store any leftovers in the freezer for an easy meal and enjoy within two months.

    Feeds a crowd – You will get six adult sized serves from this recipe, if you are cooking for children you will get 2 -3 more serves and/or leftovers.

    Overhead view of Slow Cooker Pasta Bake in a white bowl with a block of parmesan cheese next to it.

    Ingredients

    Please note you will find a full list of ingredients and the cooking method in the recipe card below.

    • Beef Mince
    • Pork Mince
    • Passata – substitute with 2 x 400gram tins of crushed tomatoes if needed.
    • Tomato Paste
    • Vegetable Stock – can also use white wine.
    • Brown Onion
    • Garlic – either fresh or minced garlic can be used.
    • Dried Mixed Herbs
    • Sugar
    • Cinnamon
    • Carrots
    • Zucchini
    • Short Pasta – any type of short pasta can be used.
    • Cheese – I used grated tasty cheese for this recipe.

    How to Cook Pasta Bake in a Slow Cooker

    In previous versions of this recipe I have cooked the pasta in the slow cooker with the meat sauce with great success. However results can vary depending on the type/brand of pasta being used which is why I now recommend adding the cooked pasta at the end of the recipe.

    Step 1. Combine the meat sauce ingredients in slow cooker.

    Step 2. Stir to combine.

    Step 3. Cook for 4 hours on high or 6 hours on low.

    Meat sauce in a slow cooker.

    Step 4. Add the cooked pasta and stir to combine. Top with grated cheese and return the lid to the slow cooker to allow the cheese to melt.

    Cooked pasta bake in a slow cooker bowl.

    Recipe Hints and Tips

    You can use any type of short pasta for this recipe. I like to use penne or macaroni.

    Use tinned crushed tomatoes in place of the passata.

    Stir the meat sauce halfway through cooking time to ensure the meat is broken up.

    You can also use any type of vegetables you like for this recipe.

    Freeze leftovers for up to two months.

    overhead view of Slow Cooker Pasta Bake in a white bowl with grated cheese on top. there is a gold fork in the bowl.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Can you put uncooked pasta in a slow cooker?

    Yes you sure can! I have also done this using this recipe.

    Do you need to brown mince before putting in a slow cooker?

    It really depends on what the recipe is that you are making. For this slow cooker pasta bake there is no need to brown the mince first however for other recipes such as slow cooker Mexican mince, I would recommend browning the mince before slow cooking.

    Does Pasta got mushy in a slow cooker?

    Take care not to leave cooked pasta in a slow cooker for an extended period of time as it will start to go mushy.

    gold fork holding up a slow cooker pasta bake.

    You may also enjoy:

    • Slow Cooker Mexican Chicken
    • The Best Slow Cooked Beef Recipe
    • Family Friendly Slow Cooked Beef Casserole
    • Ham, Corn and Cheese Impossible Pie
    • Curried Sausage Pasta
    • Creamy Chicken Pesto Pasta
    • Easy Quiche Lorraine Recipe
    • Easy Thermomix Chicken Curry

    Looking for more?

    You can find more easy dinners and other recipes in our books and eBooks, shop the range here.

    Complete set of 16 ThermoBliss Books.
    Side view of pasta bake in a white bowl.

    Slow Cooker Pasta Bake

    This Slow Cooker Pasta Bake Recipe is the EASIEST Family meal you will ever make! It's packed with veggies, making it a filling meal for everyone. It's also freezer friendly too.
    4.37 from 68 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 15 minutes mins
    Cook Time 5 hours hrs
    0 minutes mins
    Total Time 5 hours hrs 15 minutes mins
    Course Dinner
    Cuisine Australian
    Servings 6 people
    Calories 731 kcal

    Equipment

    • Slow Cooker

    Ingredients
      

    • 500 grams beef mince
    • 250 grams pork mince
    • 2 brown onions grated (approximately 200 grams).
    • 4 cloves garlic crushed
    • 2 carrots grated
    • 1 zucchini grated
    • 3 tablespoon dried mixed herbs
    • 700 grams passata
    • 50 grams tomato paste
    • 250 mls vegetable stock you can also use water
    • 1 teaspoon sugar
    • ½ teaspoon cinnamon
    • 400 grams dried penne pasta You can also use any other type of short pasta
    • 100 grams tasty cheese grated

    Instructions
     

    • Grate all of your vegetables and crush the garlic. Set aside until needed.
    • Place the mince into your slow cooker and use a wooden spoon to break it apart.
    • Add the remaining ingredients (apart from the pasta and cheese)and stir to combine.
    • Turn your slow cooker and cook for 6 hours on low or 4 hours on high.
    • Close to the end of the cooking time, cook the pasta as per the packet instructions.
    • Once cooked, add the cooked pasta and stir gently through. Sprinkle with the grated cheese and replace the slow cooker lid for 5 – 10 minutes or until the cheese has melted.

    Notes

    • You can use any type of short pasta for this recipe. I like to use penne or macaroni.
    • Tinned crushed tomatoes can be used in place of the passata.
    • If you can, give your pasta bake a good stir approximately half way through the cooking time, ensuring the meat has been broken up.
    • You can also use any type of vegetables you like for this recipe.
    • Any leftovers can be frozen for up to two months.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 731kcalCarbohydrates: 72gProtein: 38gFat: 33gSaturated Fat: 13gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 13gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 106mgSodium: 475mgPotassium: 1347mgFiber: 7gSugar: 13gVitamin A: 4486IUVitamin C: 25mgCalcium: 242mgIron: 6mg
    Keyword Slow Cooker Pasta Bake
    Tried this recipe? Please leave a rating and tag me on Instagram! Mention @createbakemake or tag #createbakemake!
    « Cheese and Corn Muffins
    Vegetable Soup | Family Friendly »

    Filed Under: Dinners, Food for Kids

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Julie

      June 27, 2020 at 6:02 pm

      Looks like an awesome recipe!
      What brand of pasta do you recommend to avoid the glugginess mentioned above?
      Thanks

      Reply
      • Lauren Matheson

        July 02, 2020 at 4:20 pm

        Hi Julie, I usually use either Leggos or the woolworths brand pasta 🙂

        Reply
    2. Aysha Dunmore

      April 15, 2020 at 12:56 am

      Please can I ask what size your slow cooker is please? xxxxx

      Reply
      • Lauren Matheson

        April 17, 2020 at 7:16 am

        Hi Aysha, my slow cooker is an 8 litre

        Reply
    3. Wer ruft an

      November 01, 2019 at 7:13 am

      It looks so tasty. Too bad I don’t have slow cooker:( Do you think, that if I put it to the oven the taste will be the same? Those photos really make me apetite to eat that.

      Reply
      • Lauren Matheson

        November 01, 2019 at 11:11 am

        Hi, thank you 🙂 To be honest I’m not sure how it would go in the oven I’m sorry.

        Reply
    4. Liesl

      June 16, 2019 at 8:01 pm

      3 stars
      Mine was also gluggy. I was really hoping it wouldn’t be but it did. Still tasted good though. It was really good after 4.5 hours. I think next time I make it I’m going to cook it for a shorter time. Thanks for sharing Lauren

      Reply
      • Lauren Matheson

        June 24, 2019 at 12:17 pm

        Ahh I’m sorry to hear that Liesl. I hope it works better for you next time x

        Reply
    5. Anna

      May 23, 2019 at 4:30 pm

      I was so looking forward to this but it’s turned out to be one big doughy mess. Think I’ll try again, half the recipe and put pasta in half way through.

      Reply
      • Lauren Matheson

        May 24, 2019 at 6:04 am

        Hi Anna, I’m so sorry to hear this. This has never happened to me before. I’m guessing it may be the brand of pasta that you use? I would suggest adding some extra water/stock to your mixture. I hope it works out for you next time xx

        Reply
      • Lauren Matheson

        May 24, 2019 at 11:56 am

        Sorry just another thought, did you use 4 x 400g tins of chopped tomatoes? Just looking at the formatting of the recipe card I thought maybe you may have thought it was just one 400g tin. I’ve just added a ‘x’ to make is super clear xx

        Reply
    4.37 from 68 votes (67 ratings without comment)

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    Lauren placing sprinkles onto cupcakes in her kitchen

    Hi, I'm Lauren! As a Mum of three VERY hungry boys, I know what it’s like to need dinner on the the table FAST. All of my recipes are made using simple ingredients and you will also find both conventional and Thermomix cooking instructions.

    More about me →

    Lunchbox Snacks

    • three pieces of anzac slice stacked on top of each other.
      Anzac Slice

    • Condensed Milk Cookies Stacked in a pile
      Condensed Milk Cookies | Makes 100 Biscuits!

    • stack of banana pikelets on plate
      Easy Banana Pikelets Recipe

    • 3 Ingredient Marshmallow Rice Bubble Slice sitting on a white decorative platter.
      3 Ingredient Rice Bubble Bars Recipe

    Simple Family Dinners

    • spoon holding a baked chicken parma ball.
      Chicken Parma Balls

    • Creamy Chicken Pie cut in half on plate
      Creamy Chicken Pies | Homemade Chicken Pie Recipe

    • Roast Chicken on wooden board
      Air Fryer Roast Chicken | An Easy Family Friendly Dinner

    • Overhead view of two beef rissoles with a side of coleslaw on a grey speckled plate.
      Beef Rissoles

    Thermomix Recipe Books

    ThermoBliss 11 book complete set

    Browse the full range of books and eBooks here.

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • About Me
    • Privacy Policy

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up! for emails and updates

    Contact

    • email: hello@createbakemake.com

    Copyright © 2024 Create Bake Make

    Please note that the content including images and recipes contained within the Create Bake Make website and recipe books are protected by copyright 2024. Adding and/or sharing of content from the Create Bake Make website or recipe books to third party websites or platforms is prohibited.

    Foodie Pro on the Foodie Pro Theme

    Rate This Recipe

    Your vote:




    A rating is required
    A name is required
    An email is required

    Recipe Ratings without Comment

    Something went wrong. Please try again.