Crock pot Rotel pasta makes a great weeknight dinner or potluck item because it's easy, hearty, and so delicious. Ground beef, onions, bell peppers, and macaroni shells are combined with a cheesy tomato sauce to make a dish that satisfies everyone.
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When it comes to weeknight dinners, you can beat anything loaded with beef, cheese, and macaroni shells. Dishes like this pasta with Rotel and slow cooker hamburger hash are frequent fliers on our family's dinner table, and it's no wonder why. When you can make something so easy and hearty, why wouldn't you?
If you love creamy chicken dishes, you’re also going to love my yummy Crock Pot Chicken Spaghetti, creamy Jalapeno Popper Chicken, and this classic Slow Cooker Lemon Herb Chicken.
Why You’ll Love Pasta With Rotel
- Budget-Friendly: Like so many of my recipes, this dish is made with just a few simple, affordable ingredients.
- Easy: It's a crock pot dish, so you know it's easy!
- Hearty: This is a beefy, cheesy dish loaded with pasta, so everyone leaves the table full and satisfied.
- Great for Meal Prep: It's freezer-friendly and reheats well, making it perfect for meals later on.
Ingredients
- Ground Beef: Ground beef is the heart of the dish, adding flavor, protein, and heft. You can easily substitute it with ground turkey for a dish lower in saturated fat.
- Vegetables: Onions and bell peppers are classic vegetable pairings with beef, especially in bakes or casseroles.
- Rotel: Rotel tomatoes add a kick of flavor with their signature diced green chilies.
- Cheese: Mild cheddar and Velveeta make this dish extra cheesy and rich.
See the recipe card at the end of the post for a full list of ingredients and their exact quantities.
Flavor Variations
- Spicy: Add red pepper flakes or cayenne for a kick of heat.
- Tex-Mex: Use chorizo in place of ground beef for a south-of-the-border flavor.
- More Vegetables: Try adding mushrooms, corn, or canned beans for more flavor and texture.
- Onions: Use different types of onions to add a different layer of flavor to your dish. Yellow onions tend to be the sweetest. White onions are less so but mild. Red onions are tangy and have a pronounced bite.
How To Make Crock Pot Rotel Pasta
1: Brown the ground beef in a skillet. Drain and add it to the crock pot.
2: Add the vegetables, seasonings, Rotel tomatoes, and cheese. Then, cover and cook until the dish is completely heated through and the cheeses have fully melted.
3: Cook the macaroni shells according to the package directions for al dente just before the beef mixture is finished.
4: Add the milk and pasta and mix until fully coated. enjoy!
- Brown the ground beef in a skillet. Drain and add it to the crock pot.
- Add the vegetables, seasonings, Rotel tomatoes, and cheese. Then, cover and cook until the dish is completely heated through and the cheeses have fully melted.
- Cook the pasta according to the package directions for al dente just before the beef mixture is finished.
- Add the milk and pasta and mix until fully coated. enjoy!
Hint
Your ground beef is fully cooked when it's no longer pink. DO NOT cook it any longer or it will get tough and rubbery.
Storage
Refrigerate this dish for up to 4 days in an air-tight container. For longer storage, freeze it for up to 3 months in an air-tight, freezer-safe container or heavy-duty freezer bag with as much air removed as possible. Defrost in the refrigerator overnight before reheating.
To reheat the dish, place it in a saucepan or pot and cook it over medium-low heat until heated through, stirring occasionally.
What To Serve With Slow Cooker Rotel Pasta
Bread like this focaccia or cornbread is always a good choice for a cheesy, beefy, saucy pasta dish like this Rotel pasta.
Corn on the cob also makes a tasty side that pairs well with the beefy tomato flavor of this pasta, as do these green beans with bacon.
When you're all done with this meal, top off your meal with a sweet treat like this chocolate lava cake or peach cobbler with cake mix.
Tips
- ALWAYS drain your ground beef after cooking it, even if it appears to have no grease. Even lean ground beef releases some fat as it cooks, and you don't want that in your dish.
- Don't add the milk until the end of the recipe. It's how you adjust the thickness of the sauce. Add more or less, depending on your preference.
- It's very important to cook the pasta only to al dente. It needs a bit of firmness to hold together when it's mixed into the dish.
Frequently Asked Questions
Rotel tomatoes blend diced tomatoes with green chilies and a special spice blend to deliver lots of flavor with just a touch of heat. This combo makes it a delicious addition to all kinds of recipes.
Velveeta is a cheese product that melts exceptionally well and gets very creamy. Combining it with the mild cheddar creates a cheesy layer to the sauce that's smooth and creamy rather than grainy or gloppy.
You sure can. Any short pasta will work. Try to choose a noodle that has some kind of texture to help the sauce adhere to it.
More Crockpot Pasta Recipes
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Slow Cooker Rotel Pasta
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 medium yellow onion diced
- 1 medium green pepper diced
- 2 teaspoons garlic minced
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 (10 ounce) can Rotel diced tomatoes and green chilies
- 16 ounces Velveeta cheese
- 8 ounces mild cheddar cheese cubbed
- ½ cup milk
- 16 ounces medium shell pasta
Instructions
- In a large skillet, brown the hamburger until it is fully cooked. Drain off excess fat and add to the crock pot.
- Add onion, green pepper, garlic, black pepper, Rotel tomatoes, Velveeta, and cheddar cheese. Mix until well combined.
- Cover and cook on low or for 2 hours.
- Cook pasta to al dente per directions on the package. Drain and set aside.
- Add milk and pasta, then mix until fully coated, and enjoy!
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.
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