Easy Slow Cooker Recipes like this Ravioli Casserole are a busy mom’s best friend! Prep the ingredients ahead of time and a cozy, family-friendly dinner will be ready and waiting for you at the end of the day!
This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Horizon Organic. The opinions and text are all mine.
Low Prep Slow Cooker Meals
Instead of scrambling at the last minute, I rely on make-ahead options like my Cheddar-Crusted Chicken & Broccoli Casserole or easy slow cooker recipes to make the evening rush just a little bit smoother. The key is finding simple options that come together quickly, but that still fuel my family with plenty of nutritious ingredients.
For this particular recipe, I asked my two younger boys to pick a couple of our last red bell peppers from the garden. When kids grow (and harvest) their own food they are so much more likely to eat it, and it can never hurt to add a few more veggies to the meal!
In addition to the peppers and tomatoes, this dinner is full of protein — thanks to extra-lean ground beef and one of our kitchen staples: Horizon Organic Part-Skim Shredded Mozzarella Cheese. The pre-shredded cheese is a great shortcut for preparing weeknight dinners, and you can’t go wrong with this combination of simple, kid-friendly flavors!
Tip to Prep Ahead
I like to cook my ground beef ahead of time (on the weekend, in the morning, or even well in advance and freeze it). That way, on a crazy day, I can just toss the cooked meat and the rest of the ingredients into the slow cooker and dinner is basically done (you don’t even have to thaw the ravioli)!
Since this particular recipe only requires a few hours in the Crock Pot, you can turn it on when your kids get home from school and then head off to the soccer fields, to ballet class, or to your other evening activities. When you come home starving a short while later, you will find a cheesy one-pot meal ready and waiting!
I call it a “casserole,” but this is actually a lot like lasagna. Instead of traditional lasagna noodles, I use layers of ravioli for a delicious twist. When you lift the lid off of your slow cooker, you will find gooey, melty cheese covering perfectly-cooked pillowy ravioli and meaty marinara sauce.
This is the type of supper that will nourish your family with ingredients that you can feel good about…and it will make them forget the fast food drive-thru altogether!
Top Tips for Making this Slow Cooker Ravioli Casserole
- I used “mini” ravioli because they’re easier for the kids to eat. If you choose to use large ravioli, you may need to increase the cooking time by about 30 minutes.
- The ravioli is frozen and you do not have to thaw it our before adding to the slow cooker.
- You can cook this ravioli casserole on high or low depending on when you need it.
- Store leftovers in a suitable container in the fridge.
My Ravioli Casserole is comforting, it’s simple, and best of all: it’s one of those easy slow cooker recipes that will make you a dinnertime Super Mom!
More Slow Cooker Recipes You Might Like:
- Turkey & Pesto Slow Cooker Lasagna
- Slow Cooker Sloppy Joes
- Slow Cooker Cowboy Pork and Beans
- Healthy Slow Cooker Chili
- Slow Cooker Pulled Pork
Did you make this recipe?
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Easy Slow Cooker Recipes: Slow Cooker Ravioli Casserole
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 24 ounce jar marinara sauce
- 1 24 ounce package frozen cheese ravioli, uncooked (you do NOT need to thaw the ravioli before placing it in the slow cooker)*
- 1 lb. extra lean ground beef can substitute with ground turkey or chicken
- 1 small onion finely diced
- 1 red bell pepper finely diced
- 2 teaspoons minced garlic
- 1 6 ounce package Horizon Organic Shredded Mozzarella Cheese
- ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- Optional: chopped fresh basil for garnish
Instructions
- In a large skillet, sauté beef, onion, bell pepper, and garlic over medium-high heat until meat is no longer pink. Season with salt and pepper and drain any fat from the skillet.
- Spray a large slow cooker with cooking spray. Spread 1 cup of marinara into the bottom of the prepared pot.
- Top marinara with half of the ravioli, half of the cooked meat mixture, and half of the mozzarella. Add another layer of the remaining sauce, and top with the rest of the ravioli, the rest of the meat, and the rest of the mozzarella.
- Cover the slow cooker with the lid and cook on high for 2-3 hours, or on low for 4-5 hours.
- Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese and garnish with basil before serving.
Notes
- *I used “mini” ravioli because they’re easier for the kids to eat. If you choose to use large ravioli, you may need to increase the cooking time by about 30 minutes.
- The ravioli is frozen and you do not have to thaw it our before adding to the slow cooker.
- You can cook this ravioli casserole on high or low depending on when you need it.
- Store leftovers in a suitable container in the fridge.
Nutrition
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This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Horizon Organic. The opinions and text are all mine.
This is my kinda comfort food, love it!