Crock Pot Baked Ziti
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Slow cooker baked ziti is an easy and delicious comfort food recipe with less than 15 minutes of prep time. Make this easy crock pot recipe with Italian sausage, parmesan, mozzarella, and ricotta cheeses a part of your regular weeknight rotation.
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If you’re looking for an easy and tasty, hands-off dish to serve for dinner, then you’ve come to the right place. This delicious crock pot baked ziti recipe is one of my favorites – it’s the perfect combination of melty cheese, creamy noodles, and savory sauce. Plus, while it tastes every bit as good as oven baked ziti, it’s cooked in a slow cooker, which means you don’t need to spend a lot of time fussing over it.
Crock pot recipes are so great for busy week day meals! All you have to do is whisk up the ingredients, toss it into the pot, and voila – you’ll have a delicious meal that the whole family will enjoy!
Why I love this recipe
- it is a quick and easy weeknight dinner, the ingredients go right into the crockpot and it’s hands off from there until dinner time
- this recipe is incredibly cheesy and comforting with creamy ricotta cheese, mozzarella cheese, and filling pasta
- simple but flavorful ingredients, no searching for uncommon ingredients, you probably have everything you need in your kitchen already
Ingredients
- ricotta cheese
- eggs
- salt and pepper
- Italian seasoning
- parmesan cheese
- mozzarella cheese
- ziti
- marinara sauce
- Italian sausage
Step by Step
- Spray inside of the slow cooker with nonstick cooking spray. In a large bowl mix ricotta, 2 eggs, Parmesan cheese, salt, pepper and Italian seasoning and mix together.
- Add half of one jar of marinara sauce on the bottom of the slow cooker then sprinkle some sausage on top of that. Add some uncooked pasta then add 5 drops of the cheese mixture on top. Add another layer of sauce then top with mozzarella cheese. Repeat those steps with more sausage, uncooked ziti, and cheese mixture 2-3 more times.
- Top with marinara sauce and mozzarella cheese. Cook on high for 2 and a half hours.
- Top with parmesan cheese on top and serve!
Tips for best results
- Make sure to cover noodles with the sauce so they cook and absorb the moisture.
- Your pasta will be al dente after the suggested cook time and temperature, cook for 4 hours on the low setting for more softer noodles.
- You can top this dish with parsley or even add some red pepper flakes for even more flavor!
- If you prefer, you can use ground beef instead of Italian sausage
Serving suggestions
Serve with a side of garlic bread or Texas toast and a green salad for a complete meal with this easy recipe.
Storage
Store in an airtight container for 3-4 days in the fridge.
Freeze leftover baked ziti in a freezer safe container for up to 3 months.
FAQs
You can substitute penne for ziti in a baked ziti recipe. They have a similar shape, so the taste and texture will be similar. Just follow the same cooking and baking instructions. You can also use rigatoni which is similar also.
Use an equal amount of cottage cheese as a substitute for ricotta. You can blend the cottage cheese in a food processor or blender for a smoother texture, or simply use it as is.
For an even richer and creamier substitute, combine cottage cheese with a bit of cream cheese. Mix them together until smooth, using a ratio of about 2 parts cottage cheese to 1 part cream cheese.
If you try this recipe please comment and rate it below, I love hearing from you!
Crock Pot Baked Ziti
- Total Time: 2 hours 45 minutes
- Yield: 8 1x
Description
Slow cooker baked ziti is an easy and delicious comfort food recipe with less than 15 minutes of prep time. Make this easy crock pot recipe with Italian sausage, parmesan, mozzarella, and ricotta cheeses a part of your regular weeknight rotation.
Ingredients
- 15 ounces ricotta cheese
- 2 eggs
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon pepper
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1/4 cup Parmesan (grated)
- 16 ounces mozzarella cheese
- 48 ounces marinara sauce (2 jars)
- 12 ounces penne pasta
- 1 pound mild Italian ground sausage (browned)
Instructions
- Spray slow cooker with cooking non stick cooking spray or use a slow cooker liner.
- In a large bowl mix ricotta, eggs, parmesan cheese, salt, pepper and Italian seasoning and mix together.
- Add half of one jar of marinara sauce to the bottom of the slow cooker. Sprinkle one third of the sausage on top of the sauce. Add one third of the pasta then add 5 spoonfuls of ricotta over the pasta. Add more marinara then top with mozzarella cheese. Repeat those steps 2 more times.
- Top with the remaining marinara sauce and mozzarella cheese. Cook on high for 2 and a half hours.
- Top with parmesan cheese on top and serve!
Notes
Store in an airtight container for 3-4 days in the fridge.
Freeze leftover baked ziti in a freezer safe container for up to 3 months.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 2 hours 30 minutes
- Category: main course
- Method: slow cooker
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size:
- Calories: 573
- Sugar: 10.3 g
- Sodium: 1828 mg
- Fat: 22.6 g
- Carbohydrates: 48.1 g
- Fiber: 5.5 g
- Protein: 42.8 g
- Cholesterol: 130.3 mg
Hello, Melissa.
I try to stay away from Nightshade veggies. Is there a white sauce that will work well with this recipe (minus the meat, too)?
my kids loved it!