Description
A simple, hearty crockpot dinner featuring ground beef, ranch seasoning, pasta, and cheddar cheese. Perfect for busy families looking for an easy, flavorful meal with minimal cleanup.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb (450g) ground beef (85% lean preferred)
- 1 packet ranch seasoning mix (about 1 oz / 28g)
- 2 cups (480ml) beef broth
- 8 oz (225g) dry pasta (rotini, penne, elbow macaroni, or shells)
- 1 cup (120g) shredded cheddar cheese
Instructions
- Brown the beef in a large skillet over medium-high heat for 8-10 minutes until no longer pink. Drain excess fat.
- Transfer the cooked beef to the crockpot. Sprinkle ranch seasoning over the beef and stir to coat evenly.
- Pour in the beef broth and stir gently.
- Cover and cook on low for 4 hours or on high for 2 hours.
- About 15 minutes before crockpot time is up, cook pasta in boiling salted water until al dente. Drain well.
- Turn off the crockpot and add the drained pasta to the beef mixture. Stir in shredded cheddar cheese until melted and combined.
- Serve immediately and enjoy.
Notes
Brown the beef before adding to crockpot for better flavor and texture. Cook pasta separately to avoid mushiness. Stir in cheese off heat to keep it creamy. Leftovers reheat well with a splash of broth. Optional to add frozen peas or chopped bell peppers with pasta for extra veggies.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 4 hours
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: About 1 cup per serv
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 2
- Sodium: 600
- Fat: 15
- Saturated Fat: 6
- Carbohydrates: 30
- Fiber: 2
- Protein: 25
Keywords: ranch beef pasta, crockpot dinner, easy dinner, 5 ingredient recipe, family meal, slow cooker pasta, ground beef recipe