Ravioli in the Crockpot

Video below on how to make this true dump in and go crockpot dish

We continue to be in a strange time across the US and the world, and I thought, to do something a little bit differently and change things up a bit, I would have my son co-host this episode of Load of Crock with me on my YouTube channel, I also thought, with so many of us having kids home with us each day, this is also a fun way to show how you can get kids of any age involved in some cooking and in the kitchen with you. But this isn't just for those with kids, as this is a super simple crockpot ravioli, 5 ingredients only, that you can (literally) dump into the crock and forget about for a couple of hours. 

Ingredients/Recipe:

• 2 1/2, 24 oz jars of spaghetti sauce

• 1, 20 oz bag of mozzarella ravioli

• 1-1.5 lbs. of browned hamburger (optional)

• 1/4 cup of shredded parmesan cheese

• 1/2-1 cup of shredded mozzarella cheese

Putting it Together:

Spray your crockpot, sides and bottom, and then add about 1/3 of the spaghetti sauce, just enough to lightly coat the bottom of the crockpot. Following this, dump in the ravioli, the hamburger (if using), and the shredded parmesan cheese. Then, pour in the remaining spaghetti sauce. Mix it all together, and then place on low for 2-2.5 hours.

After this, remove lid and sprinkle the 1/2-1 cup of mozzarella cheese over the top of the dish, then place the lid back and on, and leave on low for another 10-15 minutes, until the cheese is all nicely melted.

Serving

Serve right away if you want the cheese topping to be extra gooey, otherwise, you can move the dish to warm, and eat whenever you are ready. This dish is really great with a side salad and some bread. I would suggest however you like to eat spaghetti when it comes to sides and serving, to generally mimic that.

 Load of Crock Tip(s):

• If you prefer your ravioli to be extra cheesy, simply increase the amount of shredded mozzarella you add at the end, a total personal preference. 

• As noted above, the hamburger is of course optional, you can go without, or you can substitute with veggies (mushrooms and peppers are a great choice) or even add those to the hamburger. Other meats are great with this too, like ground turkey, or a sliced up spicy sausage if you want a little extra kick.

I hope everyone is staying safe, healthy and sane during these times. And hoping that having this simple recipe, and one with which kids can get involved, or, as my son shared in the video, "that you can make with your boys and girls," may help with breaking up the day a little, as we all continue to work together to support and help one another, during these times. Stay safe everyone, and enjoy this crockpot ravioli!