❤️ Introduction
This Slow Cooker Cheesy Beef & Bowtie Pasta is an absolute crowd-pleasing, dump-and-go comfort food dream! Farfalle (bowtie) pasta, savory ground beef, and Ro*Tel tomatoes cook together in a velvety, rich sauce made from cream of chicken soup, Velveeta, and cream cheese until everything is bubbling, ultra-creamy, and packed with flavor. 🤤
🛒 Ingredients
- The Main Ingredients:
- 1 lb (450 g) ground beef, pre-cooked and crumbled
- 12 oz (340 g) uncooked Barilla Farfalle (bowtie) pasta
- 1 can (10.5 oz / 298 g) Campbell’s Cream of Chicken soup
- 1 can (10 oz / 283 g) Ro*Tel Diced Tomatoes & Green Chilies (undrained)
- 8 oz (225 g) Velveeta cheese, cut into cubes
- 4 oz (113 g) Philadelphia cream cheese, cut into cubes
- 1 cup (240 ml) milk or beef broth (to help cook the pasta)
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- Fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)
👩🍳 Instructions
- Prep the slow cooker: Lightly grease the inside of a 6-quart slow cooker with non-stick spray or butter.
- Add ingredients: Place the pre-cooked ground beef and uncooked farfalle pasta directly into the slow cooker. Add the cubed Velveeta and cream cheese, the undrained can of Ro*Tel tomatoes, and the cream of chicken soup.
- Pour liquid: Pour the milk (or beef broth) over the top, along with the garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Give a quick, gentle stir to combine the liquids and cheeses slightly.
- Slow cook 🔥: Cover with the lid securely and cook on:
- LOW for 2½–3 hours
- or
- HIGH for 1½–2 hours
- (Note: Check the pasta around the 1½ hour mark to ensure it is tender, as slow cooker temperatures can vary.)
- Mix and melt: Once cooking time is complete and the pasta is tender, stir everything thoroughly. The melted Velveeta and cream cheese will blend with the soup and tomatoes into a thick, glossy, ultra-creamy cheese sauce coating every bowtie.
- Serve: Spoon hot into bowls, garnish with a sprinkle of fresh chopped parsley, and dig in!
⭐ Tips for the BEST Results
- 🧀 Cube the cheeses: Cutting the Velveeta and cream cheese into small cubes before adding them to the slow cooker ensures they melt down evenly and smoothly into the sauce.
- 🍅 Don’t drain the Ro*Tel: The juices from the canned tomatoes and green chilies provide essential liquid and flavor for cooking the raw bowtie pasta right inside the crockpot.
- 🥛 Adjust consistency: If the sauce looks too thick while stirring at the end, splash in an extra ¼ cup of warm milk to loosen it up.
🍽️ What to Serve With It
- 🥗 A crisp, fresh garden salad with Italian dressing
- 🧄 Warm garlic knots or buttery cheesy bread
- 🫛 Steamed broccoli or roasted asparagus
🧊 Storage & Freezing
- Refrigerator: Store leftovers in an airtight container for 3–4 days. Reheat individual portions in the microwave with a splash of milk, as the pasta will absorb more sauce as it sits.
- Freezer: Freezing is not recommended because pasta and heavy dairy-based cheese sauces can change texture and separate upon thawing.
📋 Recipe Card
Bowtie Pasta + Ground Beef + Velveeta & Cream Cheese + Ro*Tel = The ultimate creamy, cheesy crockpot comfort food! 🧀🍝🔥