Try this easy Pizza Pasta Bake in the slow cooker for rave reviews from your family. Add all the pizza toppings you love!

crockpot pizza pasta casserole

This is such a simple recipe, really, but my family absolutely loved it. I mean, who doesn’t like pizza?! But the best part is, you can totally customize the ingredients, just like your favorite type of pizza.

I love that I can just toss the ingredients in the slow cooker, and it does all the work for me. A perfect recipe for a busy weeknight!

INGREDIENTS NEEDED TO MAKE THIS PEPPERONI PIZZA PASTA BAKE:

DIRECTIONS TO MAKE THIS PEPPERONI PIZZA PASTA BAKE:

1. Prep slow cooker with cooking spray.
2. Add diced tomatoes to slow cooker.
3. Top with cooked pasta.
4. Top with mozzarella cheese. If you prefer, you can add pizza toppings (veggies, cooked sausage, etc), and then add the cheese.
5. Top with sliced pepperoni.
6. Cover and cook on low for 1-2 hours, or until cheese has melted.
7. Serve with any other pizza toppings your family loves!

Start by prepping your slow cooker, then add 1 can of diced tomatoes. Top with cooked pasta (I used rigatoni), and then add shredded mozzarella cheese. An Italian-style blend would also work. Finish off with pepperoni and Italian seasoning.

And that’s it! A couple hours to heat through, and your pasta dish is ready! I like to serve it with more pizza toppings, like mushrooms and bell peppers, but you could also add those toppings to the slow cooker, right under the cheese layer.

I love easy meals like this to have in my weeknight rotation. Yummy, filling, and family-friendly. Let’s dig in!

handy tools to make this pizza pasta bake even easier:

• crockpot – timer, intelligent cooking, huge
• pasta bowls – look great, jazz up an easy meal, dishwasher safe 

frequently asked questions

Do I have to cook pasta before baking?

You don’t have to, but the uncooked pasta will soak up all the sauce and make your dish very dry. Your alternative to cooking this pasta is to use this simple no-cook method of precooking the pasta. Just soak the pasta in warm salted water before adding it to the other ingredients and sliding the mixture into the oven. Presoaking is a way to begin hydrating the pasta and washing away some of its starch, even as the salt in the water pre-seasons the pasta.

Can you put uncooked pasta in the crockpot?

Yes, you can cook pasta in a slow cooker. The key is to make sure the pasta is added at the end of the cook time so that it doesn’t absorb too much liquid and get mushy. Typically pasta is added to the slow cooker about 15-20 minutes before the end of the cooking time.

Can you keep pasta warm in crockpot?

You can! Cook the pasta as you would in boiling water. Then drain the pasta, add to the slow cooker with a little oil and sauce/water. Then keep it on low and be sure to stir often and replenish liquid as needed. 

Looking for more easy slow cooker recipes? Check out these Southwestern Slow Cooker Stuffed Peppers!