Slow Cooker 4-Ingredient Pasta Kensington

With just a handful of ingredients and the slow cooker doing most of the work, you get tender pasta shells wrapped in rich brown gravy and beefy flavor, the sort of humble, filling dish that feels right at home in a Midwestern kitchen.

Unbalanced

% Daily Values based on a 2,000 calorie diet

Step 1

In a skillet over medium heat, cook the ground beef and chopped onion until the beef is browned and the onion is softened. Drain off any excess fat.

Step 2

Transfer the beef mixture to the slow cooker and stir in the condensed French onion soup and 2 soup cans of water until well combined.

Step 3

Cover and cook on low for 3 to 4 hours so the flavors can blend.

Step 4

Stir in the dry pasta shells, cover again, and cook on high for 30 to 40 minutes, stirring once or twice, until the pasta is tender and most of the liquid has thickened into a gravy.

Step 5

Give everything a final stir and spoon it into a serving dish. Let it sit for 5 minutes before serving so the gravy settles around the shells.