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Slow Cooker Kofta Casserole

This slow cooker kofta casserole is a flavorful Mediterranean inspired dish where meat patties cook with potatoes and tomatoes. Whole30 compliant, this comfort food can also be baked in the oven.

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Updated 2020

I love finding inspiration on social media. I saw a baked version of this on PitaChickBites‘s Instagram page and I knew right away it would make a good slow cooker recipe and I was right. Thank you so much Joyce for inspiring this recipe. I will forever refer to it as Joyce’s kofta casserole in my household

layred, raw kofta patties, potatoes, and tomatoes in the slow cooker

Ingredients For Kofta Casserole

  • Ground Meat: I like to use ground beef or ground lamb. 
  • Potatoes: Nothing fancy here, plain old russet potatoes.
  • Tomatoes: Your favorite tomato but one that will give you uniform slices.
  • Seasonings: Mediterranean inspired seasonings. I’ll be honest…there’s a lot. Substitute where it makes sense or use a store-bought blend. 

layred, raw kofta patties, potatoes, and tomatoes in the slow cooker

How To Make Kofta Casserole 

Making this meat & potato casserole take a bit of prep. This is more prep than even I am used to. But I promise you the end result will be worth it. 

Slow Cooker

  1. Spray the slow cooker with cooking spray.
  2. In a large bowl, mix together kofta ingredients. Form kofta into even size patties using approx 1/4 cup of mixture per patty.
  3. Arrange kofta patties, potatoes, and tomatoes in the slow cooker, alternating each one.
  4. In a small bowl mix together sauce ingredients. Pour sauce on top of the food in the slow cooker.
  5. Cook HIGH 3-4 hours or LOW 6-8.

Oven

  1.  Preheat oven to 425F. Follow instructions below to form kofta patties and make the tomato sauce. For the tomato sauce, mix in 1 can water (use tomato can).
  2. Spray a 9×13 casserole dish with cooking spray. Arrange kofta patties, potatoes, and tomatoes in the dish, alternating each one. Pour the sauce on top.
  3. Bake 10-15 min. Turn heat down to 385F. Cover the casserole dish tightly with foil and bake for approximately 60 minutes, maybe more depending on the size of your potatoes & meat patties.
layered, raw kofta patties, potatoes, and tomatoes in the slow cooker with tomato sauce on top

before

What Is Kofta

Kofta is ground meat mixed with onion and spices that’s shaped into patties or meatballs and cooked. It is is eaten in cuisines across the world; Mediterranean cuisines, Indian, Middle Eastern, all have serve their own variations. Kefta, kafta…it’s sometimes spelled differently depending on which region of the world is making it but the basic concept remains the same: flavorful meat patties or meatballs.

layered, cooked kofta patties, potatoes, and tomatoes in the slow cooker with tomato sauce on top

after

What Type Of Ground Meat To Use

As with most of my recipes, I encourage you to use the protein of your preference. I like to use ground beef or ground lamb with this recipe. 

What Type Of Potatoes To Use

Normally I recommend a waxy potato for slow cooking because they hold their shape better during the long cooking process. With this recipe I like to use russet (Idaho) potatoes. I find their easier to work with and because the potatoes are stacked against the kofta and tomato slices, they still hold their shape. 

side view of layered, cooked kofta patties, potatoes, and tomatoes in the slow cooker with tomato sauce on top

Tomato Sauce

This recipe has been updated from when I originally posted it a year and a half ago. Originally I used 8 ounces of tomato pastes.  It’s now updated to use 15 ounces to seasoned tomato sauce. If you bake this in the oven, add in 1 can of water as well. I kept the seasonings in the tomato sauce simple by only adding garlic, salt, and pepper. This is another area of the recipe where you can get creative. 

Slow Cooker Kofta Casserole (Paleo,Whole30) in a bowl

Making It Fit In Your Slow Cooker

I used a 3.5-quart Crock-Pot Casserole Crock Slow Cooker hence why I was able to make my kofta casserole into nice rows. If you’re using an oval slow cooker then obviously yours will look different. If so, you might need to cut some of your potatoes into slightly different shapes and sizes to get them to properly fit. How many kofta meatball patties & slices of tomatoes and potatoes you need will ultimately depend on the size & shape of your slow cooker and how thick you slice. I needed more when I made this using my casserole-shaped slow cooker than when I made it in my oval 3.5-quart slow cooker. Same quart size but the different shape means I need more tomatoes & potatoes. For your 1st time making this, it might be a bit of trial and error.

layered, cooked kofta patties, potatoes, and tomatoes in the slow cooker with tomato sauce on top & row of kofta missing

FAQs & Tips

  • How thick you slice your potatoes & the size of your meat patties will dictate how long this recipe takes to cook. 
  • You’ll know it’s done with the potatoes are tender.
  • This is great by itself with a side salad or green vegetable. You can also serve this over rice (regular or cauliflower).
  • Leftover casserole will last up to 4 days in the refrigerator. Store in an air-tight container.
  • I used  a 3.5-quart Crock-Pot Casserole Crock Slow Cooker for this recipe.

close up side view of plated Slow Cooker Kofta Casserole (Paleo,Whole30)

Other Casserole Recipes

Shrimp Boil

Salsa Verde Chicken

Cheesy Ravioli Meatball

Cheeseburger

Print
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layered, cooked kofta patties, potatoes, and tomatoes in the slow cooker with tomato sauce on top

Slow Cooker Kofta Casserole

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

5 from 3 reviews

  • Total Time: 4 hours 25 minutes
  • Yield: Serves 4

Ingredients

Units Scale
  • 4 large (approximately 2 pounds) potatoes, peeled & sliced into 1/4-inch rounds
  • 4 large (approximately 2.5 pounds) tomatoes & sliced into 1/4-inch rounds

KOFTA

  • 2 pounds ground meat
  • 1 small onion, diced
  • 2 garlic cloves, minced
  • 2 tablespoons parsley
  • 1 tablespoon coriander
  • 2 teaspoons cumin
  • 1 1/2 teaspoon salt (or more)
  • 1 teaspoon pepper
  • 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
  • 1/2 teaspoon mint
  • 1/2 teaspoon paprika

SAUCE

  • 15 ounces tomato sauce
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1/2 tsp pepper
  • 1 garlic cloves, minced

Instructions

Slow Cooker

  1. Spray the slow cooker with cooking spray.
  2. In a large bowl, mix together kofta ingredients. Form kofta into even size patties using approximately 1/4 cup of mixture per patty.
  3. Arrange kofta patties, potatoes, and tomatoes in the slow cooker, alternating each one.
  4. In a small bowl mix together the sauce ingredients. Pour sauce on top of the food in the slow cooker.
  5. Cook HIGH 3-4 hours or LOW 6-8.

Oven

  1.  Preheat oven to 400F. Follow instructions below to form kofta patties and make the tomato sauce. For the tomato sauce, mix in 1 can water (use tomato can).
  2. Spray a 9×13 casserole dish with cooking spray. Arrange kofta patties, potatoes, and tomatoes in the dish, alternating each one. Pour the sauce on top.
  3. Bake 10-15 min. Turn heat down to 385F and bake for approximately 60 minutes, maybe more depending on the size of your potatoes & meat patties.
  • Author: Shannon Epstein
  • Prep Time: 40 minutes
  • Cook Time: 4 hours

Nutrition

  • Serving Size:
  • Calories: 613
  • Sugar: 23.7 g
  • Sodium: 917.3 mg
  • Fat: 8.2 g
  • Saturated Fat: 3.6 g
  • Carbohydrates: 77.4 g
  • Fiber: 14.4 g
  • Protein: 58.7 g
  • Cholesterol: 135.6 mg

 

Slow Cooker Kofta Casserole (Paleo,Whole30) in a bowl

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Slow Cooker Kofta CasseroleSlow Cooker Kofta Casserole
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Jessica

Tuesday 19th of July 2022

This looks wonderful! Can you please tell me more of the ways you use your casserole slow cooker for whole30 meals? I have an oval slow cooker but I’m intrigued by the casserole shape.

Shannon Epstein

Wednesday 20th of July 2022

Thank you! I use the casserole slow cooker for anything that would normally be baked in the oven. Breakfast Casseroles, cooking bulk chicken breasts or thighs, one-pan meals, casserole-type meals. There are a few cons: It's a large appliance. It's larger than a regular 9x13 & it takes up a lot of space. It's also fairly heavy. The main downside is that it is a manual slow cooker. As far as I know, they do not make an automated crockpot in the casserole shape. I hope that helps!

Emma

Sunday 23rd of August 2020

This was a perfect and filling meal for Whole 30! I used one lb of ground beef and one lb of turkey. It worked out perfectly! I will definitely make again.

Jorie

Tuesday 23rd of June 2020

This recipe is simple and delicious! A new staple on our menu! Love love love!!!!

Kari

Wednesday 10th of June 2020

This was an easy, comforting and delicious dish on a rainy day. My whole family loved it!