Description
A comforting slow cooker meal that combines savory beef, creamy cheese, and bright lemon zest for a vibrant twist on classic Philly cheesesteak flavors.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1.5 lbs thinly sliced steak (sirloin or ribeye) or lean ground beef
- 1 large yellow onion, diced
- 1 green bell pepper, chopped
- 1 red bell pepper, chopped
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 12 oz short pasta (rotini, penne, or cavatappi)
- 1 cup low-sodium beef broth
- 8 oz cream cheese, cubed
- 2 cups shredded provolone or mozzarella cheese
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon lemon zest
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 1 tablespoon butter (optional, for sautéing)
Instructions
- Prep the vegetables by washing and chopping the onions and bell peppers into similar-sized pieces. Mince the garlic, zest the lemon, and chop the parsley.
- Optional: Sauté the onions and peppers in butter for 3-4 minutes to enhance sweetness before adding to the slow cooker.
- Combine the chopped onions, peppers, garlic, and beef in the slow cooker. Pour in the beef broth and stir in Worcestershire sauce, salt, pepper, garlic powder, and red pepper flakes.
- Cover and cook on low for 6 to 7 hours until the beef is tender and onions are soft.
- About 40 minutes before serving, stir in the dry pasta. Ensure it is submerged in liquid; add more broth or water if needed. Cover and cook on high for 30-40 minutes until pasta is al dente, stirring halfway through.
- Turn off the heat. Stir in the cubed cream cheese until melted, then fold in the shredded provolone cheese until smooth.
- Stir in the lemon zest and fresh parsley. Taste and adjust seasoning. Serve immediately.
Notes
Add pasta in the last 30-40 minutes to prevent mushiness. If using ground beef, browning it first improves flavor. The lemon zest is crucial for balancing the richness of the cheese and beef. Leftovers store well for 3 days; reheat with a splash of milk or broth to restore creaminess.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 6 hours 40 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl
- Calories: 650
- Sugar: 6
- Sodium: 900
- Fat: 35
- Saturated Fat: 18
- Carbohydrates: 45
- Fiber: 3
- Protein: 30
Keywords: crockpot recipe, philly cheesesteak pasta, slow cooker dinner, easy weeknight meals, comfort food, beef and cheese pasta