🌿 Rosemary Thyme Slow Cooker Pizza Casserole

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Friday nights are a little sweeter when supper is warm, comforting, and full of flavors the family loves. 💛🍕

We love this pizza version of pasta casserole! Tender rigatoni, ground beef and chicken, a smooth homemade tomato sauce, and melted Imo’s Provel cheese make such a cozy meal. Finishing it in the crockpot makes serving convenient—a delicious way to welcome the weekend.

🌿 RosemaryThyme Slow Cooker Pizza Casserole

Serves: 8–10
Slow cooker: 6-quart
Slow cooker time: Approximately 1–2 hours on LOW

🛒 Ingredients

• 1 box (16 ounces) Barilla Rigatoni
• 1 pound 93% lean ground beef
• 1 pound ground chicken
• 2 cans (14.5 ounces each) Great Value Organic No Salt Added Petite Diced Tomatoes, undrained
• 1 can (6 ounces) Hunt’s No Salt Added Tomato Paste
• 2 teaspoons Great Value Organic Italian Seasoning
• ½ cup water, plus more as needed
• ¼ teaspoon black pepper, optional
• 12 ounces Imo’s Provel cheese, shredded and divided

🍲 Directions

1. Add the undrained tomatoes, tomato paste, Italian seasoning, water, and optional black pepper to a blender or food processor. Blend until smooth.
2. In a large skillet over medium heat, cook the ground beef and ground chicken, breaking them into small pieces, until fully cooked. The meat mixture should reach 165°F. Drain excess fat if needed.
3. Stir the smooth tomato sauce into the cooked meat. Bring to a gentle simmer and cook for 10–15 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add a splash of water if needed to keep the sauce slightly loose.
4. Cook the rigatoni according to the package’s al dente directions. Drain, then stir into the hot meat and sauce mixture.
5. Lightly grease the crockpot insert. Add half the rigatoni and meat sauce mixture, then sprinkle with half the Provel cheese. Repeat with the remaining pasta mixture and cheese.
6. Cover and cook on LOW for approximately 1–2 hours, just until hot throughout and the cheese is melted. Begin checking after 1 hour and serve promptly for the best pasta texture.

📝 Recipe Notes

• Assemble with freshly cooked, hot ingredients. The crockpot provides a gentle finish for the casserole.
• Cooking the rigatoni al dente helps it hold its shape during the slow cooker finish.
• Provel adds that familiar St. Louis pizza flavor! Taste the meat sauce before adding any salt, since the cheese contributes salt of its own.
• If making ahead and refrigerating, reheat to 165°F in the oven or microwave before transferring to the crockpot for holding.

🌿 A little RosemaryThyme note

There’s something comforting about gathering around a simple Friday night supper. A warm plate of pizza casserole, a little conversation, and the weekend ahead—sometimes those everyday moments are the ones we treasure most. 💛🏡

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Helene 😊
Rosemary Thyme 🌿
Fall In Love With Home Again 💛🏡
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