Description
Crock Pot Baked Ziti is the ultimate comfort food that delivers a warm, cheesy hug with every bite. This easy-to-make dish combines al dente ziti pasta, rich marinara sauce, and a luscious blend of cheeses, all slow-cooked to perfection in your crock pot. Perfect for busy weeknights or cozy gatherings, this recipe is a crowd-pleaser that requires minimal effort yet offers maximum flavor.
Ingredients
Scale
- 12 oz ziti pasta
- 24 oz marinara sauce
- 15 oz ricotta cheese
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 2 tsp Italian seasoning
- 1 lb ground beef or sausage (optional)
Instructions
- Brown the ground meat in a skillet over medium heat and drain excess fat.
- In a bowl, mix ricotta cheese with half of the mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses along with Italian seasoning.
- Layer the crock pot: start with marinara sauce, then half of the ziti pasta, half of the cheese mixture, and more marinara sauce.
- Repeat layering with the remaining ziti, cheese mixture, and marinara; top with leftover mozzarella and Parmesan.
- Cover and cook on low for 4 hours or high for 2 hours without lifting the lid.
- Let it rest for a few minutes before serving; garnish with fresh basil if desired.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 4 hours
- Category: Main
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup (200g)
- Calories: 360
- Sugar: 8g
- Sodium: 720mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 34g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 20g
- Cholesterol: 60mg