Slow Cooker Baked Penne

Serving of bake penne with cheese and sausage in front of crockpot.

Layers of penne, cheese and sauce cook together to cheesy perfection in the slow cooker. With just a few minutes of prep and no need to boil the pasta first, this hearty meal is ready when you are.

Prep Time10

Cook Time3

Total Time10

Servings: Servings

Author: Carlee

Ingredients

1 lb. Italian sausage
24 oz. cottage cheese
2 large eggs
½ teaspoon garlic salt
¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
48 oz. marinara sauce
½ cup water
16 oz. uncooked penne pasta or favorite shape
8 oz. shredded mozzarella cheese

Instructions

Brown 1 lb. Italian sausage and set aside.
In a medium bowl, combine 24 oz. cottage cheese, 2 large eggs, ½ teaspoon garlic salt, ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper and ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese.
Grease crockpot insert then layer a little marinara sauce in the bottom.
Scatter half of the 16 oz. uncooked penne pasta over the sauce.
Top with cottage cheese mixture and sausage. Then add remaining pasta.
Top with remaining sauce. Then shake ½ cup water in the jars to get the remaining sauce out of the jars. Add to the slow cooker.
Sprinkle 8 oz. shredded mozzarella cheese over the top.
Cover slow cooker and cook on high for about 3 hours or until the pasta is cooked to your liking.
Let rest for 10 minutes and then enjoy.

Notes

If you are using Italian sausage links, you can just cut them into bite sized pieces. Otherwise brown bulk Italian sausage into crumbles.

Nutrition

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