Slow Cooker Cheesesteak Tortellini
This is one of those dinners you’ll be glad to have on hand when the day runs away from you. It’s cheesy, beefy, and loaded with comforting flavor all from your slow cooker. Just set it up and let it do the work while you handle the rest of your day. It’s the kind of meal that tastes like you spent hours cooking when really, you didn’t.
It’s everything you love about a cheesesteak! You’ve got melty cheese, tender beef, and sweet peppers all cooked together in the crock pot and then to top it off mix it with cheese tortellini.
The broth and cream create a rich sauce that brings it all together without being too heavy. And the melted cheese is the perfect stretchy topping. Totally non-traditional and totally delicious!
This is a great recipe for busy weeknights, especially when you don’t want to stand at the stove. It’s also perfect for game days or a potluck when you need something hearty that won’t leave a pile of dishes behind. Just prep it a couple hours ahead of time and you’ve got dinner ready when everyone’s hungry.
Can You Even Cook Tortellini In the Slow Cooker?
Yes, you can!! Cooking tortellini in the slow cooker works well! There are a couple things to keep in mind so it doesn’t overcook or turn mushy in the crock pot.
- Add it at the end: Tortellini only needs about 30 minutes to an hour in the slow cooker on low. Add it toward the end of the cook time so it holds its shape and texture.
- Make sure the liquid is hot. Stirring frozen tortellini into cool liquid can slow down the cooking time.
- BUT keep the heat on low. Stick with low heat instead of switching to high. That helps the pasta stay tender without falling apart.
- Stir it in well. Make sure it’s fully coated in the hot liquid or sauce so it cooks evenly. If it sits on top, it may stay firm or rubbery.
What You Need To Make This Tortellini Dish
Keep frozen tortellini and shredded cheese on hand for quick dinners like this. Pre-sliced onions and peppers or even frozen versions make prep even faster when time is short.
- ground beef
- green bell pepper
- onion
- garlic
- beef broth
- worcestershire sauce
- salt
- black pepper
- frozen cheese tortellini
- shredded provolone/mozzarella blend
- heavy cream
If your schedule’s unpredictable, cook it on low and let your slow cooker switch to the “keep warm” setting until you’re ready to add the tortellini. This helps keep everything tender without overcooking.
Try This Recipe First
Try this recipe on a day when you’re not in a hurry and it doesn’t matter exactly what time you serve dinner. This is because slow cookers and instant pots (used as slow cookers) all cook at different temperatures. Which means you need to know how your slow cooker works with this recipe.
Slow Cooker Cheesesteak Tortellini
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground beef browned and drained
- 1 green bell pepper sliced
- 1 onion sliced
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 2 cups beef broth
- 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tsp salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
- 19 oz bag frozen cheese tortellini
- 8 oz shredded provolone mozzarella blend
- ½ cup heavy cream
Instructions
- Add cooked ground beef, bell pepper, and onion to the slow cooker
- In a mixing bowl whisk together the garlic, beef broth, Worcestershire sauce, salt, and pepper
- Pour the beef broth mixture over the ingredients in the slow cooker
- Cover and cook on low for 3 hours
- After 3 hours add the frozen tortellini and stir to coat
- Cover and cook for another 30 minutes to 1 hour or until the tortellini is cooked through, depending on your slow cooker this can take up to 90 minutes
- Once the tortellini is tender stir in the shredded cheese and heavy cream
- Cover and let the cheese melt for 5 minutes
- Stir and serve warm
