tomato beef pasta - in crockpot?

[sha]

i've been craving comfort food lately & will have a full day tomorrow. we are hoping to put to use one of our wedding gifts: the crockpot! i am considering making shera's mom's tomato beef pasta (a/k/a goulash to me).

could anybody give me an idea of how to convert this to a crockpot recipe?

Tomato Beef Pasta
CLBB, SheRa

1 pound ground beef, (I use ground sirloin)
1 pound pasta, (I use rotini, mom uses elbow macaroni)
1 large bottle (46 ounces) tomato juice
3 tablespoons ketchup
2 teaspoons brown sugar
2 teaspoons chili powder
1 onion, chopped
1 green bell pepper, chopped
to taste salt and pepper
parmesan cheese, grated (optional)

Brown meat and drain fat. Add onion and pepper and sauté for a few minutes, until veggies get tender. Sprinkle on chili powder, brown sugar, salt and pepper. Add ketchup and tomato juice and stir. Pour in pasta and stir to coat.

Simmer, covered, until al dente (about 20 minutes), stirring occasionally to make sure that the juice is cooking the noodles evenly.

Serve, topped with freshly grated Parmesan cheese if desired.

[DmOrtega]

This looks really good.

I'd precook the meat, then in the crockpot, I'd layer the vegetables, meat, everything else except the pasta. Cook on low for 6-8 hours or on high no more than 4 hours (half of the low hours). Then add the pasta during the last hour.

mmmmm .... I have left over tomato juice from another of her crockpot recipes. This reminds me of a dish that my dm made when I was in grade school, many years ago. I will switch out the chili powder for Hungarian or even Spanish Paprika to make it more goulash like. Thank for the idea.

[TraditionsGirl]

Sha, that recipe sounds delicious. I can almost smell it cooking. I haven't used my crockpot in quite awhile. Time to pull it out. Thanks for sharing.

[sha]

since i'm new to the crockpot thing, how should the meat & veggies be layered? meat on bottom? veggies on bottom? liquid in before layer items?

can you tell i'm clueless on this? i'ts not an overly complicated recipe & i could make it the regular way but i am feeling lazy!

& to those who have responded, as shera mentioned when she posted & as i have found out from making it -- it makes a TON! i usually make it, freeze at least half, & still have enough for several meals.

[SheRa]

ooooh if this turns out well in the crockpot, i'd LOVE to try it out! i've been craving that dish again, and it'd be great if it works in the crock :)

[DmOrtega]

Veggies first, then meat, liquids, seasonings. I have been trying to keep the veggies and meat closest to the bottom as a matter of habit. Just throw it in and see what happens. Let us know. :)