Main Dishes

Crock Pot Baked Ziti

Crock Pot Baked Ziti is perfectly meaty and cheesy. This slow cooker Italian favorite is a real crowd pleaser. Only

  • Serves 8
  • Prep 20 minutes
  • Cook 2 hours
  • Total 2 hours

crock pot recipesitalianpasta

Jump to the recipe
Crock Pot Baked Ziti

Only takes 2 1/2 hours to cook on HIGH. There’s 3 kinds of cheese (mozzarella cheese, ricotta, and Parmesan cheese) and plenty of meat. Serve with a green salad with Creamy Italian Dressing and Pepperoncini Garlic Bread for a full on Italian comfort meal.

This recipe is so easy. No need to precook the pasta and jarred pasta sauce forms the base of an easy and tasty sauce.

HOW TO MAKE CROCK POT BAKED ZITI:

(More detailed instructions in recipe card below.)

Brown the ground beef or sausage with the onion in a nonstick skillet, breaking the meat apart as it cooks. Add the garlic, seasonings, pasta sauce, and tomato sauce and set aside.

In a medium bowl, stir together the ricotta cheese, egg, basil, Parmesan cheese, and 1 cup of shredded mozzarella cheese. This mixture is going to add so much creamy goodness!

Pour 1/3 of the sauce into the bottom of a greased 6-quart slow cooker. Scatter 1/3 of the uncooked ziti on top followed by 1/2 of the ricotta cheese mixture. Repeat with another layer of sauce, ziti, and all of the remaining ricotta mixture. Top with remaining ziti and sauce.

Baked Ziti in a slow cooker

Cover and cook on HIGH for 2 1/2 hours or on LOW for 4 to 6 hours. Be careful not to overcook or the ziti will taste soggy. Remove the lid and sprinkle the remaining mozzarella cheese on top. Cover just long enough to melt the cheese.

Storage

Leftovers will keep in the refrigerator for 4 to 5 days.

Crock Pot Baked Ziti in a black slow cooker being scooped with a serving spoon.

Pin this now to find it later

Try These Other Slow Cooker Pasta Recipes

Close-up of Slow Cooker Baked Ziti

Recipe

Crock Pot Baked Ziti

Crock Pot Baked Ziti is perfectly meaty and cheesy. This slow cooker Italian favorite is a real crowd pleaser.

  • Serves 8
  • Prep 20 minutes
  • Cook 2 hours
  • Total 2 hours

Ingredients

  • 1 pound ground beef or ground sausage
  • 1 medium onion (diced)
  • 1 minced garlic clove or 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
  • 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 2 (24-ounce) jars pasta sauce
  • 1 (15-ounce) jar tomato sauce
  • 1 (15-ounce) container ricotta cheese
  • 1 large egg
  • 2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil
  • 1/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
  • 3 cups shredded mozzarella cheese, divided
  • 1 (16-ounce) box ziti

Instructions

  1. 1

    Place a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add ground beef and onion. Break meat apart as is cooks. Cook until no longer pink and then add garlic, Italian seasoning, crushed red pepper flakes, salt, pasta sauce and tomato sauce. Remove from heat.

  2. 2

    In a medium bowl, stir together ricotta cheese, egg, basil, Parmesan cheese, and 1 cup of mozzarella cheese.

  3. 3

    Pour 1/3 of sauce into the bottom of a greased 6-quart slow cooker. Scatter 1/3 of the uncooked ziti on top.

  4. 4

    Spoon 1/2 of the ricotta cheese mixture over the ziti.

  5. 5

    Repeat another layer of sauce, ziti, and the remaining ricotta mixture.

  6. 6

    Repeat with remaining ziti and then the remaining sauce. Cover and cook on HIGH for 2 1/2 hours.

  7. 7

    Remove lid and sprinkle the remaining 2 cups of cheese on top. Cover with the lid just long enough to melt the cheese. Serve.

Equipment

  • 6-quart slow cooker

Nutrition

  • Calories509 kcal
  • Carbohydrates45 g
  • Protein29 g
  • Fat23 g
  • Saturated Fat11 g
  • Polyunsaturated Fat1 g
  • Monounsaturated Fat8 g
  • Trans Fat1 g
  • Cholesterol99 mg
  • Sodium513 mg
  • Potassium352 mg
  • Fiber2 g
  • Sugar3 g
  • Vitamin A372 IU
  • Vitamin C1 mg
  • Calcium286 mg
  • Iron2 mg

More recipes

Eight more recipes from the rest of the kitchen.