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Slow Cooker Baked Ziti Recipe

Slow Cooker Baked Ziti Recipe

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star 4.8 from 754 reviews
  • Author: Kimberly
  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 4 hours
  • Total Time: 4 hours 15 minutes
  • Yield: 8 servings 1x
  • Category: Main-course
  • Method: Slow Cooking
  • Cuisine: Italian-American
  • Diet: Vegetarian

Description

This Slow Cooker Baked Ziti is a hearty, comforting pasta dish that requires minimal prep and delivers all the flavors of classic baked ziti—without turning on the oven. Layers of tender ziti, rich tomato sauce, creamy ricotta, and gooey melted mozzarella make this an easy, crowd-pleasing main course perfect for weeknight dinners or casual gatherings.

Ingredients

Units Scale

Pasta & Cheese

  • 1 pound (450g) uncooked ziti pasta
  • 2 cups (450g) ricotta cheese
  • 2 cups (200g) shredded mozzarella cheese, divided
  • 1/2 cup (50g) grated Parmesan cheese

Sauce & Seasonings

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 medium onion, finely chopped
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 pound (450g) ground Italian sausage or ground beef
  • 1 (24-ounce/680g) jar marinara sauce
  • 1 (15-ounce/425g) can tomato sauce
  • 1 teaspoon dried basil
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
  • Salt and black pepper, to taste

Finish & Garnish

  • Fresh basil or parsley, chopped (for garnish)

Instructions

  1. Prep the Meat and Vegetables: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the chopped onion and cook until softened, about 3-4 minutes. Stir in garlic and cook for another 30 seconds until fragrant. Add the ground Italian sausage (or beef) and cook until browned, breaking up with a spoon as it cooks. Drain excess fat if needed.
  2. Mix the Sauces: To the skillet with the meat, add marinara sauce, tomato sauce, dried basil, oregano, red pepper flakes (if using), salt, and pepper. Stir to combine and let it simmer for about 2 minutes. Remove from heat.
  3. Prepare the Ricotta Mixture: In a medium bowl, combine ricotta cheese, 1 cup of the mozzarella cheese, and grated Parmesan. Mix until evenly blended.
  4. Layer the Ingredients in Slow Cooker: Spray the inside of your slow cooker with nonstick spray. Spread a thin layer of the meat sauce on the bottom. Add half the uncooked ziti pasta, then spread half of the ricotta mixture over the pasta. Top with a third of the remaining meat sauce and a handful of mozzarella. Repeat with the rest of the pasta, the remaining ricotta mix, another third of the sauce, and some more mozzarella. Finish with the last of the meat sauce and the remaining mozzarella on top.
  5. Cook: Cover and cook on LOW heat for 3.5 to 4.5 hours, or until the ziti is tender but not mushy. Avoid opening the lid during cooking for best results.
  6. Rest and Serve: Turn off the slow cooker and let the ziti sit for 10-15 minutes to let the sauce thicken and flavors combine. Garnish with chopped fresh basil or parsley before serving warm.

Notes

  • For a vegetarian version, omit the sausage or beef and add sautéed mushrooms or spinach.
  • You can use penne or rigatoni instead of ziti if needed.
  • Don’t pre-cook the pasta; the slow cooker will cook it perfectly through.
  • Check pasta after 3.5 hours to ensure it doesn’t overcook.
  • Customize by adding veggies like bell peppers, zucchini, or spinach in the layering process.

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1/8 recipe
  • Calories: 470
  • Sugar: 7g
  • Sodium: 940mg
  • Fat: 21g
  • Saturated Fat: 10g
  • Unsaturated Fat: 9g
  • Trans Fat: 0g
  • Carbohydrates: 47g
  • Fiber: 3g
  • Protein: 25g
  • Cholesterol: 61mg

Find it online: https://newsvks.com/slow-cooker-baked-ziti-recipe/