Go Back
Slow Cooker Baked Ziti The Dinner That Saved My Sanity

Slow Cooker Baked Ziti

Slow Cooker Baked Ziti is your weeknight dinner savior—comforting, cheesy, and made with minimal effort. Just layer everything in your slow cooker and come back to a hearty, homemade pasta dish the whole family will love.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 3 hours
Total Time 3 hours 15 minutes
Servings: 6 servings
Course: Dinner
Cuisine: Italian-American
Calories: 520
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Main Ingredients
  • 1 pound ziti pasta uncooked
  • 1 pound Italian sausage or ground beef
  • 4 cups marinara sauce
  • 2 tsp Italian seasoning
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • 1 cup ricotta cheese
  • 2 cups shredded mozzarella
  • 0.5 cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • fresh basil or parsley optional, for garnish

Equipment

  • Slow Cooker
  • Skillet

Method
 

  1. Brown the sausage or ground beef in a skillet, breaking it into small pieces. Drain excess grease.
  2. In the slow cooker, add marinara sauce, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Stir well to combine.
  3. Add the uncooked ziti pasta directly into the sauce mixture.
  4. Dollop ricotta cheese over the pasta. Sprinkle shredded mozzarella and Parmesan cheese on top.
  5. Cover and cook on low for 3–4 hours or on high for 2 hours, until the pasta is tender and cheese is melted.
  6. Garnish with fresh basil or parsley before serving.

Notes

You can add vegetables like spinach, mushrooms, or zucchini for extra flavor and nutrition. For gluten-free, use gluten-free pasta and monitor cook time closely.