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–+ servings

Cozy Cabin Bowl

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A warm and creamy slow-cooker comfort dish featuring sautéed mushrooms, tender short pasta, and a cheesy cream sauce that’s perfect for cozy evenings.
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Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 4 hours
Total Time 4 hours 20 minutes
Servings: 6 servings
Course: Comfort Food, Main Course
Cuisine: American, Hearty
Calories: 450
Ingredients Method Nutrition Notes

Ingredients
  

For sautéing
  • 1 tablespoon butter for sautéing
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
Aromatics
  • 1 medium yellow onion, finely chopped
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
Mushrooms
  • 16 ounces fresh mushrooms, sliced (cremini or white)
Seasoning
  • 1 teaspoon salt adjust to taste
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper adjust to taste
  • 1 teaspoon dried thyme
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried parsley optional
Base
  • 3 cups low-sodium vegetable broth (or chicken broth)
  • 8 ounces uncooked short pasta (penne, rotini, shells) works best for this recipe
Cream Sauce
  • 1 cup heavy cream (or half-and-half for lighter)
  • 4 ounces cream cheese, cut into cubes and softened
  • 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • 1 tablespoon cornstarch optional, for thickening
  • 2 tablespoons cold water if using cornstarch
Garnish
  • Chopped fresh parsley for garnish (optional)

Method
 

Preparation
  1. Melt butter with olive oil in a skillet over medium heat.
  2. Add the chopped onion. Cook 3–4 minutes until softened.
  3. Stir in minced garlic. Cook 30 seconds until fragrant.
  4. Add sliced mushrooms. Sprinkle with some of the salt and pepper. Cook 5–7 minutes until mushrooms release liquid and brown lightly.
  5. Transfer the onion-mushroom mix into your slow cooker.
  6. Add thyme, dried parsley (if using), remaining salt and pepper, and the broth. Stir gently.
Cooking
  1. Cover. Cook on LOW 3–4 hours or on HIGH 1½–2 hours.
  2. Add uncooked short pasta, pushing it so it’s mostly submerged in the broth. Cover and cook on HIGH 25–40 minutes. Check pasta after 20–25 minutes to avoid overcooking.
  3. When pasta is tender, switch cooker to LOW or WARM. Stir in heavy cream, softened cream cheese, and Parmesan until smooth and silky.
  4. If you prefer a thicker sauce, whisk cornstarch with cold water to make a slurry and stir it into the cooker. Cook on HIGH 5–10 minutes until sauce thickens.
  5. Taste and adjust seasoning. Serve warm with extra Parmesan and chopped parsley.

Nutrition

Serving: 1gCalories: 450kcalCarbohydrates: 40gProtein: 12gFat: 28gSaturated Fat: 17gSodium: 800mgFiber: 2gSugar: 2g

Notes

Sauté mushrooms until brown to concentrate flavor. Soften cream cheese beforehand for a smoother melt into the sauce. For alternate flavors, consider adding spinach or protein.
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