Slow Cooker Baked Ziti
Slow Cooker Baked Ziti is the ultimate comfort food, blending tender ziti pasta with a rich marinara sauce and layers of creamy ricotta and gooey mozzarella. This easy, hands-off dish simmers to perfection in your slow cooker, making it ideal for busy weeknights or cozy family gatherings.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 4–6 hours
- Total Time: 5 minute
- Yield: Serves 8
- Category: Main
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: Italian
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound ziti pasta
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 4 cups marinara sauce
- 15 ounces ricotta cheese
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- 1. In a skillet over medium heat, brown the ground beef until no longer pink. Drain excess fat.
- 2. In a bowl, combine cooked beef with marinara sauce and Italian seasoning.
- 3. Layer half of the uncooked ziti in the slow cooker, followed by half of the meat sauce mixture and half of the ricotta.
- 4. Repeat layers with remaining ingredients, finishing with mozzarella on top.
- 5. Cover and cook on low for 4–6 hours or high for 2–3 hours until pasta is tender and cheese is bubbly.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup (240g)
- Calories: 385
- Sugar: 7g
- Sodium: 650mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 9g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 36g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 22g
- Cholesterol: 60mg
Keywords: Substitute ziti with penne or add vegetables like spinach or bell peppers for added nutrition. For extra cheesy goodness, add an additional layer of mozzarella during the last 30 minutes of cooking.