Crock-Pot Beef Ragu with Penne and Ricotta

Crock-Pot Beef Ragu with Penne and Ricotta –  a hearty and effortless comfort meal!  So many delicious flavors are layered into this almost-one-pot dish… tomatoes, red wine, carrots, onion, tomato paste, garlic, fresh rosemary, and thyme.  This dish is sure to become a new family favorite!

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What is ragu?

Ragù is a meat-based sauce, typically served with pasta.  Traditionally, it includes pieces of meat often beef roast, brisket, or pork roast that are cooked slowly on low heat in a braising liquid that has a tomato and or wine base.

Crock-Pot Beef Ragu With Penne And Ricotta, oh how I love you!  Let me count the ways…

1. You cook yourself – thank you!
2. You’re effortless – again gratzi! 🙂
3. You’re meaty and hearty and tomato-saucy – yum!
4. There’s so much of you – I can eat for days and days!
5. Meat, meat, and more meat… seriously, protein overload!
6. You’re gluten-free – if I want you to be.  I love choices!
7. The clean-up is sooo simple… a saucepan, a crock-pot, and a spoon – done!

I should stop now because I want you to actually make this dish sometime this century!

This braised beef ragu recipe is comfort food at its best… cozy and warm and soo filling.  You could probably turn the heat off in your house because this dish is on fire!  In the best way possible.

If you love your slow cooker as I do here are some other delicious recipes to try.

Delicious Slow Cooker Recipes

1. Low Carb Slow Cooker Italian Beef
2. Shredded Mexican Chicken (Instant Pot + Slow Cooker)
3. Slow Cooker Beef Barbacoa
4. Slow Cooker Creamy Southwest Chicken Soup
5. Slow Cooker Goulash

I must warn you if you make this your husband or significant other may actually rub your feet, buy you gifts, & shower you with flowers.  

Trust me… the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach – by way of hearty, juicy meat!  No joke, ladies – they are protein fiends (carnivorous maximus).

Seriously, if you want your sweetheart to clean the gutters, rake some leaves, or whatever you’ve put on his honey-do list that he doesn’t know exists… make him this slow cooker beef ragu!  

I know they say “happy wife = happy life,” but I say, “happy man = happy, happy clan!”

It is part of who they are… let’s embrace it!  

God created them to hunt, gather and provide… and enjoy the spoils of their labor.  Serve them copious amounts of meat regularly and your life will be dreamy.  

They won’t ask about that Macy’s bag hiding in the trunk, or those new shoes you’re wearing, or how much your nails cost… no, my friend they will be in a carnivore coma.  

AND completely unconscious and oblivious.  So go ahead… draw a bath, turn on House Hunters International or Fixer Upper, and prop your feet up cause you’re not doing dishes tonight or any other night this week!  

What can I say?  I’m a team playa’ … I’m lookin’ out for all my gurllls – and guys for that matter!

How to Make Beef Ragu in the Slow Cooker

So you start by braising a beef bottom or top round roast for 2-3 minutes a side in a saucepan over medium-high heat.

Set it aside and add the tomatoes, red wine, carrots, onion, tomato paste, beef or chicken stock, bay leaves, garlic, salt and pepper, fresh rosemary, and thyme into your favorite crock-pot

.  Give it a stir then add your roast.  

Turn the crockpot on high heat and cook for 5 hours.

The meat should be fall-apart tender when it’s finished cooking.  Remove the roast from the crockpot and pull using two forks.  

And be sure to remove any fat in the liquid that you see.

Slice your mushrooms, and add some olive oil to your large saucepan…

… and then cook them for 3-4 minutes a side over medium-high heat.

Next, pour the cooking liquids from the crock pot over the mushrooms in the saucepan, remove the bay leaves, and continue to cook.

When it starts to simmer add the pasta.  

And cook for 10-12 more minutes and then add the meat.

So top this yumminess with some grated parmesan.

Add some chopped parsley and fold it all together.

Serve this Crock Pot Beef Ragu with a nice dollop of ricotta cheese – yum!

This Crock-Pot Beef Ragu is perfect for those nights when you need a hearty bowl of comfort food.  Full of flavor and yummy goodness – it’s sure to be a new family favorite!

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Yield: 10 servings

Crock-pot Beef Ragu With Penne And Ricotta

Crock-Pot Beef Ragu with Penne and Ricotta – a hearty and effortless comfort meal!

Prep Time
20 minutes

Cook Time
6 hours

Total Time
6 hours 20 minutes

Ingredients

• 2 lb beef round center cut, bottom roast
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 24 ounces canned diced tomatoes
• 1 cup red wine
• 2 carrots, thinly sliced
• 1 onion, diced
• 4 tablespoons tomato paste
• 1 cup Beef or Chicken Stock
• 2 bay leaves
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 3 teaspoons salt and pepper
• 8 ounces uncooked pasta, (such as penne)
• 8 ounces mushrooms, cleaned and thinly sliced
• 3 sprigs of rosemary, finely chopped
• 5 sprigs of fresh thyme, finely chopped
• ½ cup ricotta cheese, for garnish
• Parmesan cheese, for garnish
• 3 tablespoons chopped parsley, for garnish

Instructions

1. Season the meat with 1 teaspoon salt & 2 teaspoons pepper, then braise on all sides.
2. Add all ingredients into crock-pot except for the pasta, ricotta, Parmesan, and mushrooms. Cook on high for 5-51/2 hours.
3. Remove meat from the crock-pot, let it cool slightly, and pull and set aside (remove any fat from the liquid and discard).
4. Cook mushrooms in a large saucepan with 1 tablespoon of olive oil for 3 minutes a side.
5. Then add all the juice from the crock pot into the saucepan, remove the bay leaves and bring to a simmer. Now add the uncooked pasta and cook for 10-12 minutes or until pasta is done to your liking (stir occasionally to ensure the pasta cooks evenly).
6. Add the pulled meat to the sauce and pasta, and cook until heated about 2-3 minutes. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese.
7. Serve with dollops of ricotta cheese and enjoy!!!

Notes

You can buy tomato paste in a tube rather than a can. This is a good way to keep it on hand in the fridge and there’s no waste.

If you go with canned tomato paste I recommend freezing the paste you don’t use in small freezer bags or freezer-safe containers measured into tablespoons. This will also eliminate waste and you’ll have it available whenever you need it.

If the sauce is too thick you can add some beef or chicken stock to the sauce to loosen it up.

Nutrition Information

Yield

10

Serving Size

10 ounces

Amount Per Serving

Calories 337Total Fat 12.5gSaturated Fat 4.7gUnsaturated Fat 0gCholesterol 77.7mgSodium 142.8mgCarbohydrates 24.4gFiber 3.6gSugar 4.7gProtein 20g