Description
Indulge in this decadent, layered slow-cooker casserole that brings restaurant-quality richness to your family dinner table. Featuring robust, fennel-spiced beef or turkey sausage, tender spaghetti noodles, and a signature creamy layer of cream cheese and sour cream, this dish simplifies the classic baked pasta experience. By slow-cooking everything together, the noodles absorb the savory marinara sauce for perfect flavor in every bite. It is an effortless, hands-off meal that eliminates the mess of boiling water and delivers consistent, creamy results every single time.
Ingredients
1 lb Italian beef or turkey sausage
48 oz marinara sauce
1.5 cups water
1 lb spaghetti (dry)
8 oz cream cheese, softened
1 cup sour cream
2 tbsp Italian seasoning
2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
Fresh parsley for garnish
Instructions
Brown the Italian sausage in a skillet over medium-high heat, crumbling into small pieces.
In the slow cooker basin, combine half of the marinara sauce and half of the water.
Add half of the dry spaghetti noodles, breaking them if necessary to fit.
In a bowl, mix the softened cream cheese, sour cream, and Italian seasoning.
Spread the cream cheese mixture over the pasta layer.
Add the remaining spaghetti, followed by the remaining marinara sauce, the rest of the water, and the browned sausage.
Cover and cook on low for 3 hours or until the pasta is tender.
Sprinkle with mozzarella cheese during the last 15 minutes of cooking until melted.
Garnish with fresh parsley before serving.
Notes
Use high-quality beef or turkey Italian sausage to maintain the authentic flavor profile without pork. Ensure the cream cheese is at room temperature for easy mixing. You may adjust the water volume slightly if you prefer a thicker sauce or have a very thick noodle type. Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
- Prep Time: 15
- Cook Time: 180
- Category: Dinner Recipes
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: Italian-American