Slow Cooker Baked Ziti
Everything you love about baked ziti — melty cheese, rich tomato sauce, and perfectly tender pasta — but made right in your slow cooker. This set-it-and-forget-it comfort food classic is low-effort, crowd-pleasing, and just plain cozy. It’s the ultimate dinner for busy days or easy entertaining.
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.
Notes
For a vegetarian twist, replace the beef with sautéed mushrooms or spinach. Gluten-free pasta works well too — just monitor for doneness.
Nutrition
Calories: 550kcal
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