Description
This Crock Pot Baked Ziti is the ultimate weeknight comfort food—layered with rich tomato sauce, creamy ricotta, gooey mozzarella, and perfectly cooked pasta. Let your slow cooker do the work while you enjoy a cozy, stress-free dinner with the family.
Ingredients
1 (24 oz) jar pasta sauce (or homemade)
12 oz uncooked ziti or penne pasta
1½ cups ricotta cheese
2 large eggs
¼ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese (plus more for serving)
2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil (or 1 tsp dried)
Salt and pepper to taste
Non-stick cooking spray
Instructions
Spray the inside of your slow cooker generously with non-stick spray.
In a large mixing bowl, stir together ricotta cheese, eggs, ¼ cup Parmesan, basil, salt, and pepper.
Spread a thin layer of pasta sauce across the bottom of the slow cooker.
Add a layer of uncooked pasta.
Drop 5 heaping spoonfuls of the ricotta mixture across the pasta.
Sprinkle a layer of shredded mozzarella cheese on top.
Repeat the layers (sauce, pasta, ricotta, mozzarella) two more times.
Finish with a final layer of sauce, mozzarella, and a sprinkle of Parmesan.
Cover and cook on HIGH for 2½ hours, or until the pasta is tender and cheese is bubbly.
Serve hot with additional Parmesan and fresh basil if desired.
Notes
For extra protein, you can add cooked ground beef or Italian sausage between layers.
Don’t stir during cooking—just layer and let it work!
Want a little spice? Add red pepper flakes to the sauce.
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 2 hours 30 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Slow Cooker
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 Serving
- Calories: 430 kcal
- Sugar: 7 g
- Sodium: 780 mg
- Fat: 21 g
- Saturated Fat: 11 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 38 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 20 g
- Cholesterol: 85 mg