This Slow Cooker Beef and Tortellini recipe marries the textures of slow-cooked tender beef with al dente tortellini. Add in an amazing tomato-based sauce, and you have a satisfying meal that's perfect for the whole family.
If you are a meat lover, this slow cooker meal is for you. I have some major carnivores in my house. Feeding growing beef eaters can get expensive. This dish was developed with that in mind.
"I made this yesterday, and everyone loved it! I'm not much of a cook, so it was super exciting to make something and everyone went back for seconds!"
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This easy recipe is a family favorite! It has something for everyone. To get started you will need these simple ingredients:
- stew meat
- marinara sauce
- beef broth
- diced tomatoes
- dried Italian seasoning
- garlic powder*
- onion powder
- salt
- ground black pepper
- fresh cheese tortellini
- shredded mozzarella
- Grated parmesan - optional garnish
What is stew meat, exactly??
Beef that is labeled "stew beef" is generally cut into smaller chunks. It is made up of small pieces that the butcher had left over when cutting larger pieces of tougher meats. I love to use this type of meat in my slow cooker for several reasons:
- It is one of the most cost effective meats to serve
- It is already cut up so it saves a step with recipes like this one.
- It is perfect for slow cooking because it can cook all day - turning into tender beef as it goes.
There are tons of great slow cooker recipes that use stew meat. Some favorites are: Spanish beef stew, Korean beef bulgogi, Hawaiian beef & pineapples, and tomato beef barley soup.
Preparing Your Slow Cooker
- Coat your slow cooker with a non-stick spray or oil before cooking
- Oil works better than spray for some non-stick surfaces (check your slow cooker's manual)
- Olive oil and avocado oil are my go-to oils for coating.
- You can also use a slow cooker liner for even easier clean-up.
Get Cooking
- ✼ Place stew meat in your greased slow cooker
- ✼ Add in all remaining ingredients EXCEPT tortellini and cheese
- ✼ Stir to combine
- ✼ Cover and Cook on low heat for 8 - 10 hours (preferred for best results) or high for 4-5 hours
- ✼ 15 - 30 minutes prior to serving, stir in tortellini and mozzarella cheese
- ✼ Cover and cook until tortellini is al dente (this takes about 20 minutes in my slow cooker)
- ✼ Top with grated parmesan cheese and fresh basil (optional) and enjoy!!
🍽Serving suggestions
- Serve this great crock pot dish with a simple side salad and some crusty bread.
- Garlic bread is an iconic pairing with this dinner recipe.
- A hot vegetable is the perfect side for this dish as well. Whole cauliflower, Maple Vanilla Carrots, green beans, and Garlic Parmesan Mushrooms are some favorites.
- Sweet Corn Spoonbread also makes a great side for this slow cooker tortellini recipe.
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🔁Substitutions
- Freshly minced cloves of garlic can be swapped for garlic powder for an extra garlicky punch
- Use chicken broth in place of beef broth if that is what you have on hand
- If you want to add some heat, try adding some red pepper flakes.
- Use your favorite red sauce in place of marinara. Tomato basil pasta sauce is a great option in this recipe.
- Frozen tortellini can be used in place of fresh. Just keep an eye on it while cooking, as it may take a few minutes longer to cook through.
- Fresh ravioli and gnocchi can both be used in place of the cheese-filled tortellini.
- Other flavors make a great substitute for cheese tortellini pasta. My entire family loves it with mushroom tortellini!
If you love this recipe...
Please let me know in the comment section below!
Storing
Store leftovers of this easy dinner in an airtight container or zipper-top bag. It will last for 3-4 days in the refrigerator.
Or, Freeze leftovers for 3-4 months. The tortellini in this dish may get a little soft and/or break apart some when reheating, particularly if frozen.
Note
Be sure to fully defrost in the refrigerator before gently reheating in the microwave
😉 Tips from my kitchen
- Be sure to use fresh or frozen pasta when making this pure comfort food dish. Dried cheesy tortellini will absorb extra liquid and may become mushy.
- In the market for a new crockpot? I love mine!
- Easy dinner idea: use a slow-cooker liner when making this dish. You will have almost zero clean-up to deal with.
- Don't forget to turn on and PLUG IN your slow cooker!!
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📖 Recipe
Slow Cooker Beef and Tortellini
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Print Pin Rate SaveAll nutrition information shown here is automatically generated and should be considered an estimate. If you follow a specific diet, please calculate your own values to ensure accuracy.
Equipment
- 3.5 quart slow cooker or larger
Ingredients
- 1 -1.5 lbs beef stew meat
- 2 cups marinara sauce
- 2 cups beef broth
- 15.5 oz can diced tomatoes
- 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
- 2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
- 20 oz fresh or frozen cheese tortellini
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella
- grated parmesan optional garnish
- fresh basil optional garnish
Instructions
- Add 1 -1.5 lbs beef stew meat, 2 cups marinara sauce, 2 cups beef broth, 15.5 oz can diced tomatoes, 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning, 2 teaspoon garlic powder, 1 teaspoon onion powder, ½ teaspoon salt, and ½ teaspoon ground black pepper to a greased slow cooker and stir to combine
- Cook on low for 8-10 hours or high for 4-5 hours.
- 15 - 30 mintues prior to serving, 20 oz fresh or frozen cheese tortellini and 1 cup shredded mozzarella to slow cooker and stir to combine. Try to submerge tortellini as much as possible in slow cooker liquid.
- cover and cook on low until tortellini is fully cooked
- Top with grated parmesan and chopped fresh basil and enjoy!
Final Step
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Notes
Nutrition
All nutrition information shown here is automatically generated and should be considered an estimate. If you follow a specific diet, please calculate your own values to ensure accuracy.
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