Save This Recipe
Just drop your email here and We'll send it right away!
You know those days when you want something cozy and homemade, but your schedule says “absolutely not”? That’s when this Slow Cooker Baked Ziti saves the day. It’s everything we love about classic baked ziti — melty cheese, tender pasta, hearty sauce — but way less hands-on.
I made this for a weekday dinner once, and my family swore I’d been cooking all afternoon. (Spoiler: I hadn’t.) It’s one of those feel-good, feed-a-crowd meals that tastes like it took hours… because it technically did — just not your hours.
Why You’ll Love It
Hands-off cooking: Your slow cooker does the heavy lifting while you go about your day.
Crowd-pleaser: Melty cheese, rich sauce, and pasta? Nobody says no.
Minimal cleanup: One pot and done — my kind of meal.
Totally adaptable: Sub in your favorite meat, cheese, or sauce — it’s flexible like that.
Key Ingredients (and a few friendly notes)
Ground beef: Adds richness and heartiness. You can totally swap for ground turkey, chicken, or spicy sausage.
Ziti pasta (dried): Holds up well in the slow cooker. No need to pre-cook!
Tomato pasta sauce + tomato sauce: Use your favorite brand — or homemade if you’re fancy like that.
Ricotta cheese: Creamy and classic, but cottage cheese works in a pinch.
Mozzarella: That gooey topping you want in every bite.
Parmesan: Adds a nutty, salty layer of flavor — don’t skip it!
Eggs: Help hold the cheese mixture together.
Fresh basil: Totally optional, but adds a pop of color and flavor.
Salt + pepper: Because everything needs a little seasoning love.
Cooking spray: Trust me, your future self will thank you during cleanup.
Step-by-Step Directions:
Step 1: Prep the Good Stuff
Brown the beef:
In a skillet over medium heat, cook 1 lb of ground beef, breaking it up as it browns. Drain the fat and set it aside.
Mix the cheese layer:
In a bowl, stir together 15 oz of ricotta, 2 eggs, and about ¼ cup chopped fresh basil (or 1 tsp dried). Give it a good mix — it should be smooth and creamy.
Stir up the sauce:
In another bowl, combine one 24 oz jar of pasta sauce and a 15 oz can of plain tomato sauce. Stir until it’s rich and lovely.
Step 2: Layer It Up in the Slow Cooker
Spray the inside of your slow cooker with nonstick spray. It’s a lifesaver.
Layer like this:
A generous layer of sauce (about 2⅓ cups)
⅓ of the uncooked ziti
⅓ of the ricotta mixture
½ cup shredded Parmesan
½ of the cooked beef
Repeat these layers until you run out of ingredients, making sure you finish with a layer of sauce on top.
Step 3: Let It Cook
Cover and cook on HIGH for 2½ to 3 hours. The pasta will soften and soak up all the flavor. Your kitchen will smell amazing.
Add mozzarella during the last 10–15 minutes — about 2 cups, sprinkled right on top. Put the lid back on and let it get nice and melty.
How to Serve It
Classic family dinner: Serve big scoops with warm garlic bread and a green salad.
Potluck hero: Keep the slow cooker on “warm” and let everyone help themselves.
Leftovers: Honestly? Maybe even better the next day. A splash of olive oil and a little reheat, and lunch is served.
Storage & Make-Ahead Tips
Fridge: Leftovers keep for up to 4 days in an airtight container.
Reheat: Microwave individual portions or warm in the oven at 350°F until bubbly.
Freezer: Assemble in a freezer-safe dish (uncooked), cover tightly, and freeze for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight before cooking as usual.
Make-ahead: You can prep all the layers the night before — just refrigerate the insert and pop it in the cooker the next morning.
Variations to Try
Veggie Version: Skip the meat and add sautéed mushrooms, zucchini, or spinach.
Spicy Ziti: Use hot Italian sausage or stir red pepper flakes into the sauce.
Four-Cheese Fantasy: Add provolone along with the mozzarella, ricotta, and Parmesan.
Gluten-Free: Use GF pasta — most brands hold up great in the slow cooker.
Lighter Version: Use ground turkey, low-fat ricotta, and part-skim cheeses.
Final Thoughts
Slow Cooker Baked Ziti is one of those recipes you make once… and then it just keeps showing up in your meal plan. It’s hearty, cheesy, ridiculously easy, and totally satisfying.
Whether it’s a weeknight dinner or your Sunday comfort food, it brings all the warm, homey vibes we love about Italian cooking — without ever turning on the oven.
If you make it, let me know how it went! Did you sneak in extra cheese? Add some spinach? Top it with red pepper flakes? I love hearing how folks make it their own.
Slow Cooker Baked Ziti
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground beef
- 15 oz ricotta cheese
- 2 large eggs
- ¼ cup fresh basil chopped (or 1 tsp dried)
- 24 oz jar tomato-based pasta sauce
- 15 oz can plain tomato sauce
- 12 oz dried ziti pasta
- 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- ½ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp black pepper
- cooking spray
Instructions
- In a skillet over medium heat, brown the ground beef until fully cooked. Drain excess fat and set aside.
- In a medium bowl, combine ricotta cheese, eggs, chopped basil, salt, and pepper. Mix until smooth.
- In another bowl, stir together the pasta sauce and tomato sauce.
- Spray the inside of the slow cooker with nonstick spray.
- Spread a layer of sauce (about 2⅓ cups) on the bottom.
- Add ⅓ of the uncooked ziti, ⅓ of the ricotta mixture, ½ cup Parmesan, and ½ of the cooked beef.
- Repeat layers two more times, ending with a layer of sauce on top.
- Cover and cook on HIGH for 2½ to 3 hours, until pasta is tender.
- Sprinkle mozzarella over the top during the last 10–15 minutes, cover, and let melt.
- Let cool slightly before serving. Scoop into bowls and garnish with extra basil or Parmesan if desired.