Slow Cooker Monday: Vegetable Pasta

This week’s Crock Pot recipe is a great way to use up any vegetables that have been lingering in your fridge all week. Broccoli, mushrooms, bell peppers, zucchini, onion, squash, etc…toss it all in! I listed the veggies I used, but change it to use whatever is in your kitchen. Add some tomato sauce, whole wheat pasta and shredded Parmesan and you have a tasty, healthy and filling dinner in a flash.

Recipe:

Slow Cooker Vegetable Pasta

• 2 T extra virgin olive oil
• 1 red onion, chopped
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 red bell pepper, chopped
• 1 green bell pepper, chopped
• 1/2 C crimini mushrooms, sliced
• 28 oz. tomato sauce
• 1 t Italian seasoning
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 16 oz. whole wheat rotini noodles
• Shredded Parmesan cheese, for serving

In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium-high heat. Cook onions until soft, then add garlic and cook for a minute until fragrant. Transfer cooked onions and garlic to slow cooker along with the remaining vegetables, tomatoes, Italian seasoning, salt and pepper. Cook on high for 2 hours or low for 4 hours.

When the sauce is almost ready, bring a large stockpot of salted water to a boil. Cook noodles according to package directions, then combine with sauce from slow cooker. Serve with shredded Parmesan cheese.