Crock Pot Italian Sausage Pasta is one of those set-it-and-forget-it dinners that saves busy nights. Made with simple store-bought sauces, minimal prep, and hands-off slow cooking, it delivers bold flavor without extra effort.
If you love easy pasta dinners, you'll also want to try this Crock Pot crack chicken pasta for another comforting meal.
Recipe at a Glance
- Flavor: Creamy tomato-based sauce with savory Italian sausage and tender vegetables
- Effort Level: Dump-and-go slow cooker meal with minimal prep
- Time Commitment: Just 10 minutes of hands-on time, then let the crock pot do the work
- Best For: Busy weeknights, family dinners, and low-stress comfort meals
- Pasta Tip: Cook pasta separately to keep it perfectly al dente
- Serve With: Garlic bread, a crisp green salad, or roasted vegetables
When I want a comforting pasta dinner without spending hours at the stove, I rely on this Crock Pot sausage pasta to save the day! Between the Alfredo sauce, pasta sauce, and Italian sausage, it turns into a rich, satisfying meal with almost no hands-on work and flavors that are kid-friendly and familiar.
Looking for more family-friendly, easy weeknight recipes? You'll love my Crock Pot chicken pot pie and pink sauce pasta recipe.
Why You Will Love This Recipe
This dish is everything you want from a slow cooker pasta meal. It's comforting, hands-off, crowd-pleasing, and especially great if you love slow cooker recipes with Italian sausage that feel hearty without being complicated.
- Minimal prep with store-bought sauces
- Family-friendly and filling
- Perfect for busy weeknights or lazy weekends
Ingredients
- Italian Sausage: Use mild or hot Italian sausage depending on your heat preference. Links hold their shape well during slow cooking and slice cleanly at the end. If you enjoy Italian sausage, you'll love this tortellini soup with sausage recipe.
- Alfredo Sauce: This adds creaminess without needing heavy cream or extra cheese.
- Pasta Sauce: A basic marinara or tomato-basil sauce balances the richness of the Alfredo.
- Bell Peppers & Onion: These add flavor, color, and a little sweetness as they cook down in the sauce.
- Rigatoni: Short pasta works best because it holds the sauce well and mixes easily with the sausage.
- Mozzarella Cheese: Added at the end for a melty finish without becoming oily.
See the recipe card below for exact ingredient amounts, nutritional information, and detailed instructions.
Variations
- Gluten-Free Option: Use your favorite gluten-free pasta and cook it separately before stirring it into the sauce.
- Spicy Version: Use hot Italian sausage and add a pinch of red pepper flakes for extra heat throughout the sauce.
- Vegetable-Loaded: Add sliced mushrooms, zucchini, or a handful of spinach during the slow cooking stage to boost flavor and add more texture. For a veggie-loaded meal, be sure to try my slow cooker cabbage roll soup next.
- Lighter Option: Swap in turkey Italian sausage and use a light Alfredo sauce to reduce richness without losing flavor.
- Extra Creamy: Stir in about ¼ cup of cream cheese before adding the pasta to create a thicker, richer sauce and a more indulgent creamy Italian sausage pasta.
How to Make Crock Pot Italian Sausage Pasta
Making this slow cooker sausage pasta is easy and hands-off. With just a few simple steps, the slow cooker does all the work while you prepare the pasta and get ready to serve a hearty, family-friendly meal.
- Step 1: Build the Sauce. Add the Alfredo sauce, pasta sauce, and Italian seasoning to the slow cooker, then stir until smooth.
- Step 2: Add the Sausage and Veggies. Add the Italian sausage, bell peppers, and onion to the sauce, stirring to coat everything evenly.
- Step 3: Slow Cook. Cover and cook until the sausage is fully cooked and tender.
- Step 4: Finish with Pasta and Cheese. Slice the sausage, add it back along with the cooked pasta, then top with cheese and cook just until the cheese is melted. For a sweet finish, serve alongside my crock pot bread pudding for dessert.
Expert Tips
- Flavor Boost: Brown the sausage first if you want extra depth of flavor, though it's not required.
- Perfect Pasta: Cook the pasta separately to avoid mushy noodles and to maintain the ideal texture.
- Gentle Mixing: Stir gently when adding the pasta to the sauce to prevent it from breaking apart.
- Storage & Freezing: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days or freeze for up to 2 months.
Serving Suggestions
- Serve this pasta with Italian sausage as a weeknight dinner with fresh focaccia bread and a simple salad.
- It's perfect for family dinners or potlucks since it stays warm in the slow cooker. Pair it with green beans, then finish with apple cobbler for a sweet treat.
Recipe FAQs
Yes, you can prepare the sauce and sausage ahead, refrigerate, then reheat and add freshly cooked pasta before serving.
Reheat in the microwave in 30-60 second intervals, stirring and adding a splash of milk or sauce if needed. You can also warm the pasta and sausage over low-medium heat in a skillet or saucepan.
You can use ground Italian sausage instead of links. Brown it first and drain any excess fat before adding it to the slow cooker. Links give slightly more texture when sliced, but ground sausage also works great.
Short pasta shapes like rigatoni, penne, or rotini work best because they hold the sauce and mix easily with the sausage and vegetables. Cooking the pasta separately ensures it stays al dente and avoids mushiness.
More Delicious Sausage Crock Pot Recipes
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Crock Pot Italian Sausage Pasta
Equipment
Ingredients
- 16 ounce bottle Alfredo sauce
- 16 ounce bottle pasta sauce
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 5 Italian sausage links
- 1 medium green bell pepper seeded and sliced
- 1 medium red bell pepper seeded and sliced
- 1 medium yellow onion sliced
- 1 pound rigatoni or small pasta
- 1 cup mozzarella cheese grated
Instructions
- Add the Alfredo sauce, pasta sauce, and Italian seasoning to the slow cooker. Then mix until well combined.
- Place the Italian sausage, bell peppers, and onion in the sauce and toss to coat.
- Cover and cook on high for 2½-3½ hours or low for 4-5 hours.
- Cook the pasta to al dente according to the package directions. Then drain and set aside.
- Remove the sausage and slice it into ¼-inch thick rounds. Then add the sausage and cooked pasta into the sauce and toss to coat.
- Top with cheese, cover, and cook for 10 minutes or until the cheese is melted.
Notes
- Combine both sauces thoroughly before adding the sausage for even flavor.
- Keep pasta separate until the end to maintain texture.
- Slice the sausage after cooking for cleaner cuts.
- Melt cheese gently to avoid overcooking the pasta.
Nutrition
*Nutrition information is an estimate. It may vary based on ingredients, brands, and changes in cooking methods listed in the recipe. If you need exact ingredient numbers, I recommend calculating them with your preferred nutrition calculator.
Ryan Allen says
Cooking the sausage in the sauce adds so much flavor the the dish and this is one of my family's favorite pasta recipes.