Slow Cooker Beef Ragu Pasta Meal Prep

Slow Cooker Beef Ragu Pasta Meal Prep is an effortless and hearty meal to be enjoyed for lunch or dinner. Gluten-Free. 

Can you tell we have been on a kick with recipes that are easy and made in the Crock-Pot? Basically, these kinds of recipes are ideal for people less enthusiastic about cooking. Or if you just don't want to spend a lot of time on the weekend chopping, prepping, and all the rest. Here's the deal. This beef ragu does its thing in your kitchen on a Sunday afternoon while you go about your business. This ragu makes your house smell awesome, and then dinner is ready for that night. Or for meal prepping.

This Slow Cooker Beef Ragu Pasta Meal Prep recipe is super easy, but still has all of the rich, hearty flavors of a classic ragu. It is served over a high-protein, gluten-free pasta for a complete meal for lunch or dinner. This comforting dish will appeal to the whole family. It feels filling and nostalgic, which is a winning combo for us.

How to Make Slow Cooker Beef Ragu Pasta

Everything goes in your slow cooker. This beef ragu earns the award for the fastest description we've ever written for a dish.

But seriously, there's one exception, and that's the pasta. Resist the temptation to do your pasta in the slow cooker. It just won't work. That's why you make the pasta separately. This kind of appliance just doesn't exactly excel at starches like pasta and rice, with a few exceptions.

Slow Cooker Beef Ragu Pasta Meal Prep Ingredients

• 1 (1.5-pound) sirloin cap roast
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• Salt and pepper
• 1 (28-ounce) can crushed tomatoes
• 1 cup beef broth
• 3 garlic cloves, sliced
• 1 onion, chopped
• 2 carrots, chopped
• 1 teaspoon dried thyme (or 5 sprigs fresh thyme)
• 3 dried bay leaves
• 1 pound Banza pasta
• Grated Parmesan cheese or cheese powder and chopped parsley for serving, optional

How to Store Beef Ragu

Meal prep as directed. This beef ragu is so hearty, it will keep for about five days or so. Reheat in the microwave or on the stovetop. (Hint: Dishes with pasta do better reheated on the stovetop in a little bit of extra sauce or water. The microwave can make pasta gummy).

Freeze any beef ragu pasta leftovers in freezer-safe containers or zip-close bags.

How to Serve Slow Cooker Beef Ragu Pasta

We like serving this not only with pasta, but with some fresh kale or spinach mixed into the dish at the last minute. The heat from the dish will soften the greens, so don't think of it as quite like adding a salad to your pasta.

Substitutions and Alterations

• You could use a pork shoulder if this dish, for something different.  The pork will be fall-apart tender and delicious.
• Regular pasta can be used instead of chickpea/gluten-free pasta.
• Serve over rice, whether it's cauliflower, white, or brown rice, instead of pasta. Just cook the rice at the same step in the recipe instead.

READ MORE: Need a reason to use your slow cooker? How about 31 Slow Cooker Meal Prep Recipes? 

Make all the meals!! Slow cooker meal prep recipes save time and taste SO GOOD! No dry meat here