Print

Slow Cooker Baked Ziti Recipe

Print Recipe

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

4 from 13 reviews

This Slow Cooker Baked Ziti is a warm, hearty Italian-American dish featuring tender ziti pasta cooked in a savory tomato sauce with Italian sausage and a blend of herbs. The dish comes together easily in a slow cooker, making it perfect for a comforting, hands-off dinner that’s rich in flavor and topped with melted mozzarella cheese.

Ingredients

Meat and Vegetables

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 pound Italian sausage (or ground beef or ground turkey)
  • 1 small onion, chopped
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced

Tomato Sauce and Seasonings

  • 28 ounce can crushed tomatoes
  • 15 ounce can diced tomatoes
  • 1 ½ teaspoons Italian seasoning
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1 teaspoon dried basil
  • ¾ teaspoon salt
  • ⅛ teaspoon black pepper
  • 2 ½ cups water

Pasta and Cheese

  • 16 ounces uncooked ziti pasta (or penne pasta)
  • 1 cup (4 ounces) shredded mozzarella cheese

Instructions

  1. Cook the sausage mixture: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the Italian sausage (or substitute with ground beef or turkey) and cook while crumbling the meat for 3-4 minutes. Add chopped onion and cook together until sausage is cooked through. Stir in minced garlic and cook for an additional minute. Drain any excess grease from the skillet.
  2. Prepare sauce in slow cooker: Transfer the cooked meat mixture to the slow cooker. Add crushed tomatoes, diced tomatoes, Italian seasoning, oregano, basil, salt, pepper, and water. Stir everything together thoroughly. Do not add pasta at this stage; the mixture will appear liquidy, but the pasta will absorb the moisture during cooking.
  3. Slow cook the sauce: Cover the slow cooker and cook on high for about 3 hours or on low for about 6 hours, allowing flavors to meld and the sauce to simmer gently.
  4. Add and cook pasta: Stir in the uncooked ziti pasta, pressing it down into the liquid to ensure it’s submerged. Cover and continue cooking on high for 15-25 minutes. Stir once after 15 minutes to promote even cooking of the pasta. Note that pasta cooking time may vary depending on your slow cooker and whether the base was cooked on low or high.
  5. Check pasta and turn off slow cooker: When the pasta is tender, turn off the slow cooker to halt cooking and prevent mushiness.
  6. Add cheese and serve: Sprinkle the shredded mozzarella cheese evenly over the top of the pasta. Cover and let the dish rest for 5 minutes until the cheese melts. Serve hot.

Notes

  • For a leaner option, substitute Italian sausage with ground turkey or chicken.
  • Be sure to check the pasta towards the end of cooking to avoid overcooking and mushy texture.
  • You can add red pepper flakes for a spicy kick if desired.
  • Use penne pasta in place of ziti if preferred; cooking times will be similar.
  • This dish can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days and reheated gently.

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