23 Slow Cooker Pasta Recipes You’ll Love

If you lead a busy life, you’ll appreciate that cooking can often be stressful.

Unfortunately, we don’t all have the time to spend cooking incredible meals every evening – that’s why so many of us have invested in slow cookers.

Most slow cooker recipes take less than fifteen minutes to prepare; all you have to do is throw it in the cooker and leave it for a few hours!

If it’s pasta you’re craving, take a look at our list of slow cooker pasta recipes (see also ‘23 Delicious Pappardelle Pasta Recipes‘) – whether you want hearty, light, or cheesy, we’ve got you covered. 

1. Slow Cooker Lasagne

Let’s start with a classic – slow cooker lasagne. After twenty-five minutes to prep and four hours in the cooker, this lasagne comes out creamy, cheesy, meaty, and warming.

Forget the takeout menu; there’s no craving this recipe can’t satisfy! 

2. Bacon And Ranch Chicken And Pasta

Fancy something a little lighter? This recipe takes ten minutes to prep and just over six hours in the cooker, and we promise it’ll make you appreciate ranch in a whole new way.

With plenty of meat, sour cream, ranch, and seasoning, this is the perfect balance between light, creamy, and moreish. 

3. Creamy Tortellini

Who doesn’t love tortellini? This creamy, slow cooker tortellini hits the spot everytime. It takes fifteen minutes to prep and two and a half hours in the cooker, making it one of the quickest recipes on our list.

Perfect for a rainy day, this tortellini is overflowing with sausage, cheese, spinach, and seasoning… gorgeous! 

4. Pesto Stuffed Shells

These slow cooker pesto stuffed shells are one meal you’ll want to devour over and over again. Sauce, cheese, sauce, and more cheese… and more sauce… our mouths are watering.

With just twenty minutes to prep and an hour and a half to cook, these are also super convenient for those lazy days that demand something moreish. 

5. Slow-Cooker Pasta Bake

Veggies, olives, cheese, ziti, and zucchini… What more could you ask for? This pasta bake has it all, and it’s arguably one of the tastiest slow-cooker bake recipes (see also ‘35 Amazing Crockpot/Slow Cooker Recipes‘) you’ll ever try.

It only takes fifteen minutes to prep and an hour and forty-five minutes to cook and serves four people, so what are you waiting for? 

6. Chicken Parmesan Pasta

Chicken parmesan pasta? Yes, please. This recipe will save you plenty of time and effort, and the chicken turns out so juicy that you’ll be dreaming about it for weeks.

This will take just fifteen minutes to prep and four and a half hours to cook, and it’s loaded with cheese, chicken, herbs, and spices. Enjoy!

7. Slow-Cooker Bolognese

You just can’t beat a bolognese. This slow cooker bolognese will require a LOT of time in your slow cooker (between seven and a half to nine and a half hours, to be precise).

But if you have a busy day ahead, It’ll take just fifteen minutes to prep, and it turns out heavenly. Beef, mushrooms, red wine, and veggies… yum! 

8. Firecracker Chicken Pasta

You won’t want to miss out on this firecracker pasta. Chicken, pasta, cream, pepper, hot sauce, brown sugar… it’s really something else!

With a ten-minute prep time and four hours and forty-five minutes to cook, you’ll have an unforgettable dish to serve the whole family. 

9. Ground Beef And Cheese Pasta

Beef, cheese, and pasta are the ultimate combination, so it’s no surprise that this recipe turns out so good. This is a classic that you really can’t go wrong with.

Creamy, meaty, cheesy, and filling, it takes just ten minutes to prepare and six hours to cook. It yields six servings, too, so go ahead and freeze the leftovers for another day! 

10. Cajun Shrimp Pasta

If you want a summer-style dish, try this cajun shrimp pasta (see also ‘33 Shrimp Dinners That Will Make Anyone Drool‘). Loaded with shrimp, garlic, cream, onion, and plenty of seasoning, this is an intense flavor experience that you’ll want over and over again.

Ten minutes to prep and thirty minutes to cook – it’s as simple as that.

11. Pulled Pork Gnocchi

Gnocchi is one of our favorite pastas, and this recipe uses it beautifully.

It takes twenty minutes to prep and six hours to cook, and it’s FULL of that divine pulled pork, dried gnocchi, cream onion, and seasoning… this is the ultimate slow cooker pasta recipe (see also ‘23 Tastiest Vegetarian Pasta Recipes‘). 

12. Crock Pot Macaroni And Cheese

You can’t go wrong with mac and cheese. Why not try making it in your slow cooker?

This timeless classic is bursting with flavor, including pepper, garlic, Worcestershire sauces, and parsley, and it takes just ten minutes to prep and an hour and a half to cook. Serve with broccoli for a healthy spin. 

13. Beef Stroganoff

Get ready for the ultimate winter warmed with this beef stroganoff. With tender cuts of beef, plenty of mushroom sauce, and a divine creamy texture.

This can be made in just over three hours (twenty minutes to prep and three hours to cook). Simple, tasty, and understated – we know you’ll love it. 

14. BBQ Chicken Pasta

Treat yourself to this BBQ chicken pasta. Perfect for lunch or dinner, this pasta is filled with cheese, chicken, ranch, cilantro, veggies, and of course, that decadent BBQ sauce.

Ten minutes to prepare and eight hours to cook, there’s no crowd this recipe can’t please. 

15. Butternut Squash Pasta

We LOVE butternut squash, and this butternut squash pasta really hits the spot.

Brimming with sausage, cream, cheese, butternut squash, and plenty of herbs and spices, this comes out creamy, tasty, and fresh after around fifteen minutes of prep and eight hours of cooking. Tuck in! 

16. Chicken And Broccoli Lasagna

Lasagne is the ultimate comfort food, and this recipe offers a surprisingly tasty twist with this chicken and broccoli option.

It features plenty of cheese, mushrooms, cream, chicken, and broccoli, but despite its simple ingredients, it delivers a real tasty kick.

Twenty minutes to prep and four hours to cook, just look at those delicious layers! 

17. Cheesy Ham And Noodles

Ham and cheese? We’re sold. These cheesy ham noodles will take you fifteen minutes to prep and just over three hours to cook, and they’re the perfect comfort dish, especially for those colder nights. P.S: the kids will love this! 

18. Lemon Chicken Piccata

Creamy, citrusy, and still slightly savory – we just love this lemon chicken piccata.

This recipe will take you ten minutes to prep and four and a half hours to cook, and it boasts some seriously tasty ingredients, including lightly breaded chicken, garlic, lemon sauce, savory capers, and heavy cream!

Whatever the weather, you can never go wrong with a slow-cooked meal (check out our favorite slow cooker appetizers), and this piccata is perfect for every season! 

19. Olive Garden Chicken Pasta

Are you an olive garden fan? If so, you might want to try creating this olive garden chicken pasta. (top tip: this meal is best served in the sunshine with a large glass of wine for the true olive garden experience!). 

This recipe is loaded with tasty ingredients, including that infamous olive garden dressing, chicken cheese, butter, parsley, cream, and plenty of herbs.

Aside from the olive garden dressing, most of these ingredients are cupboard staples, and this recipe will only take you five minutes to prep and four hours to cook.

Get ready to satisfy the whole family with this olive garden chicken pasta; it’s a real crowd pleaser!

20. Tuscan Chicken Pasta

If you need a hearty, tasty recipe that can be whipped up from simple ingredients, try this slow cooker Tuscan chicken pasta (see also ‘33 Great Recipes For Chicken – Slow Cooker Style!‘).

This recipe is full to the brim with chicken, artichoke hearts, sun dried tomatoes, cream, and plenty of herbs and spices. The end result?

A versatile chicken pasta dish that can be served on its own or with a vibrant and refreshing salad. This pasta will take just five minutes to prep and three to four hours to cook. We love it! 

21. Sausage Pasta

Sausage pasta, anyone? This classic pasta dish always hits the spot, no matter what you’re craving! Delicious, hearty, and super easy to make, this recipe is great for busy families, hectic schedules, and fussy eaters.

This will take you around ten minutes to prepare and four hours to cook, and it’s loaded with sausages, mushrooms, tomato sauce, and lots of herbs and spices. Gorgeous! 

22. Slow Cooker Feta And Tomato Pasta

If you want something a little more refreshing, why not try this slow cooker feta and tomato pasta? This recipe is low effort, inexpensive and meat-free; what’s not to love?!

What’s more, it only takes five minutes to prepare and two hours to cook, which is pretty quick by slow cooker standards!

Loaded with cherry tomatoes, feta, garlic, oregano, basil, balsamic vinegar, pasta, and more, you really need to taste this to believe it. It’s SO good; you’ll never want to eat anything else!  

23. Slow Cooker Taco Pasta

Last on our list is this slow cooker taco pasta. This recipe is easy, cheesy, and slightly naughty – in other words, the perfect lazy dinner.

We just love this slow cooker recipe, and it’s something the whole family can enjoy.

This taco pasta features ground beef, taco seasoning, onion, garlic, peppers, pasta sauce, plenty of cream cheese and cheddar cheese, and dry pasta. It’s simple to create and pretty cheap, too.

This will take you ten minutes to prepare and four hours to cook, and this recipe serves a massive twelve people, so you’ll have plenty of leftovers to keep you going throughout the week! 

Frequently Asked Questions

How Long Does Pasta Take In Slow Cooker? 

On its own, pasta can take anywhere between two to four hours to cook in your slow cooker (see also ‘30 Easy Kid-Friendly Slow Cooker Recipes‘). However, cooking times may vary according to your recipe and the type of slow cooker you’re using. 

Can I Put Dry Pasta In A Slow Cooker? 

Yes, you can cook dry pasta in a slow cooker. There’s usually no need to cook it on the stove before putting it in your slow cooker; if you do this, your pasta can easily overcook and turn out mushy!

Just make sure your pasta is completely covered with liquid or water before you start cooking it in your slow cooker. 

Should You Put Oil In Pasta Water? 

If you’re about to cook your pasta in a slow cooker for the first time, you might be worried about it sticking. However, there’s no truth to the claim that putting oil in your pasta water stops it from sticking together.

In fact, it’s likely to just make it slippery, and it may affect the taste of the rest of your recipe. Instead, we recommend keeping a close eye on your pasta as it cooks in the slow cooker and stir it often to prevent sticking. 

The Bottom Line

There’s just something about pasta. It’s carby, versatile, and the ultimate comfort food.

Whether you want to create something a little naughty, or you want a lighter, guilt-free option, there are plenty of ways to cook pasta – especially in the slow cooker. 

We hope you can take some inspiration from our round-up of our favorite slow cooker pasta recipes (see also ‘26 Amazing Penne Pasta Recipes‘).

We believe there’s something for everyone, regardless of budget, lifestyle, weather, or craving!

These recipes are perfect for busy humans who need a break from the sweat and prep of cooking every once in a while. 

So, get your slow cooker ready, pick a recipe from our round-up and enjoy!