14 Slow-Cooker Pasta Recipes That Basically Make Themselves

If you're addicted to pasta, you know how it feels to crave a warm, carb-y bowl of goodness topped with your favorite pasta sauce at the end of a long day. We feel you. And let's be honest: It's even better when you don't have to work for it. Wouldn't it be exhilarating if a heaping helping of noodles was waiting for you the minute you walk in the door? Say no more — we're here to tell you that you can cook your go-to comfort food ahead of time with the help of a slow cooker. These Crock-Pot recipes take the hard work out of pasta-making.

Slow Cooker Bacon Macaroni and Cheese: Use both mozzarella and cheddar cheese to make this dish extra-indulgent. (via The Kitchen Is My Playground)

Slow Cooker Vegetable Minestrone: Veggie soup always hits the spot, but on nights when you're extra hungry, adding a little pasta to the mix works wonders. Don't forget a sprinkle of parm before serving. (via The Blond Cook)

Healthier Slow Cooker Baked Ziti: Here's a baked ziti you'll be able to enjoy without needing to take a nap right after. It's lightened up by swapping white pasta for whole wheat and trading ground beef for lean ground turkey. (via Kristine's Kitchen)

Slow Cooker Baked Spaghetti: Cream cheese AND ricotta AND mozzarella in one dish? We are so in. This classic ground beef, cheese, and spaghetti combo may become your new fave filling pasta dish. (via The Magical Slow Cooker)

Slow Cooker Beef and Cheese Pasta: This one is a little less lazy girl-friendly than some of our other options, but it's so delicious, we couldn't leave it out. Make sure to pre-cook the ground beef to get rid of extra fat, and add your spinach last — because no one likes soggy veg. (via The Cooking Jar)

Slow Cooker Cheesy Taco Orzo: We love orzo, the under-appreciated short pasta that looks a little like rice. It soaks up the sauce and spices in this dish like a charm, leaving you craving a second helping after just one bite. (via 365 Days of Slow Cooking)

Slow Cooker Chicken Parmesan Pasta: Mmm, chicken Parmesan. This recipe mixes the flavors of Parmesan cheese, basil, parsley, oregano, and mozzarella to create an amazing Italian-inspired meal. Bonus points for freezing half and reheating it later. (via Damn Delicious)

Slow Cooker Creamy Basil Chicken and Tortellini: Anytime you use tortellini instead of regular dried pasta, you're taking a shortcut to a satisfying meal. Each cheesy bite of stuffed pasta will make your taste buds sing, especially when paired with creamy basil chicken. (via 365 Days of Slow Cooking)

Slow Cooker Creamy Lemon Chicken Spaghetti: Creamy pasta is our go-to comfort food, but all that dairy can be a little heavy. A generous dose of lemon juice, zest, and thinly sliced lemon for garnish brighten things up. (via Food Lovin' Family)

Slow Cooker Lo Mein: Why get unhealthy, salt-laden takeout when you could have a fresh slow-cooker meal prepared the minute you walk in the door? You can use whatever kind of noodles you like in this dish, from linguini to udon to ramen. (via Damn Delicious)

Pesto Sausage Minestrone: If your soups usually come out a little lackluster, here's a trick that always works. A dollop of pesto and some crumbled Italian sausage added to the mix give each spoonful a powerful boost of flavor that'll have you hankering for a bowl of broth for days after. (via The Food Charlatan)

Slow Cooker Spaghetti and Meatball Soup: Love the classic combo of spaghetti and meatballs? This recipe puts it into soup form, making for a lighter and maybe even MORE satisfying dish. (via Plain Chicken)

Slow Cooker Spaghetti Bolognese: You can never go wrong with a tried-and-true crowd-pleaser. Spaghetti bolognese is an ideal dish to make for dinner parties or get-togethers, because pretty much everyone loves it. We won't tell them it was so easy to make. (via Spend With Pennies)

Veggie-Packed Slow Cooker Lasagna: You'll feel good about dinner when you add extra veggies to your lasagna. The added boost of vitamins totally makes up for topping it with an extra handful of cheese, right? (via Kristine's Kitchen)