BONNIE'S SLOW COOKER PENNE

BONNIE'S SLOW COOKER PENNE image

Provided by BonniE ! @ReikiHealsTheSoul

Categories Pasta

Number Of Ingredients 16

cooking spray
16 ounces penne pasta, uncooked, (i used graffalo)
2 cans each, 24 ounce spaghetti sauce (i used hunts)
1 container (15 ounce) cottage cheese, small curd
1/4 cup fresh parmesan cheese, grated
3 cups mozzarella cheese, reserve 1 cup
2 large cloves fresh garlic, minced
1/4 cup canned sliced mushrooms, well-drained
¼ cup canned sliced black olives, well-drained.
¼ cup pepperoncini peppers, chopped fine
SEASONINGS
1 teaspoon kosher, coarse ground black pepper
1 teaspoon nature's seasoning salt to taste
1 teaspoon dry leaf basil
GARNISH
¼ cup chopped parsley

Steps:

Spray a 6-quart or larger slow cooker with cooking spray.
Add the pasta, spaghetti sauce, and seasonings.
Mix cottage cheese and parmesan cheese together, and add to the mixture. Add 2 cups of the mozzarella cheese, and stir well to combine. Add the garlic, mushrooms, black olives, and pepperoncini and fold gently into the mixture. Make sure the penne is not visible above the sauce.
Sprinkle top with remaining 1 cup of mozzarella cheese.
Cover and cook on the LOW setting for about 3 hours. Check at 2 ½ hours to see if the penne is done. It will be slightly brown around the edges. If the penne is not done, continue cooking the full 3 hours and check again. The cheese will be melted and the mixture set. Garnish and Serve immediately.
Note: We can have two meals from this recipe and freeze 10 half pint jars for quick lunches.