Description
A hearty and flavorful Crock Pot Italian Sausage Pasta combining creamy Alfredo and robust pasta sauce with Italian sausage and bell peppers, slow-cooked to perfection, then tossed with rigatoni and mozzarella cheese for a comforting main course meal.
Ingredients
Scale
Sauce
- 16 ounce bottle Alfredo sauce
- 16 ounce bottle pasta sauce
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
Meat and Vegetables
- 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
Pasta and Cheese
- 1 pound rigatoni or small pasta
- 1 cup mozzarella cheese, grated
Instructions
- Combine sauces: Add the Alfredo sauce, pasta sauce, and Italian seasoning to the slow cooker. Mix well until fully combined to create a flavorful base.
- Add sausage and vegetables: Place the Italian sausage links, sliced bell peppers, and sliced onion into the sauce. Toss gently to coat everything evenly with the sauce.
- Slow cook: Cover the slow cooker and cook on high for 3 hours and 30 minutes or on low for 5 hours until the sausage is cooked through and vegetables are tender.
- Cook pasta: While the slow cooker finishes, cook the rigatoni pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Drain and set aside to maintain the perfect texture.
- Slice sausage and combine: Remove sausage links from the slow cooker and slice them into ¼-inch thick rounds. Add the sausage slices and cooked pasta back into the sauce in the slow cooker. Toss everything together to coat thoroughly.
- Add cheese and finish: Sprinkle grated mozzarella cheese over the top. Cover and cook on low for 10 minutes or until cheese is melted and bubbly, ensuring the pasta doesn't overcook.
Notes
- Combine both sauces thoroughly before adding the sausage for even flavor distribution.
- Keep pasta separate until the end to maintain its firm texture and prevent it from becoming mushy.
- Slice the sausage after cooking to achieve clean, uniform pieces without breaking the links.
- Melt the cheese gently at the end to avoid overcooking the pasta and maintain the dish’s perfect consistency.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 550 kcal
- Sugar: 7 g
- Sodium: 850 mg
- Fat: 28 g
- Saturated Fat: 12 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 48 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 26 g
- Cholesterol: 75 mg
