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Slow Cooker Baked Ziti

Published by Kelly // Join The Conversation: 52 Comments

slow cooker baked ziti interest pin

My family and I love pasta!  Pretty much any kind of pasta!  And I am always looking for easy recipes that keep me out of the kitchen, not in it!  So I decided to try making Slow Cooker Baked Ziti.  This is my own recipe creation, I just decided to adapt it a slow cooker.

Easy Dinner Recipe

Slow Cooker Baked Ziti is EASY and DELICIOUS! With only 15 minutes for prepping and a two hour cook time.  You can have dinner on the table in two hours while helping the kids with their homework!  Also, this can be a vegetarian meal if you don’t add the cooked Italian sausage! Or if you have a great family marinara recipe, use that instead of jar sauce!  No matter how you make it, it is delicious!

Slow Cooker Baked Ziti Recipe
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5 from 6 votes

Slow Cooker Baked Ziti

This is an easy dinner recipe with only 15 minutes of prep time! Slow Cooker Baked Ziti doesn't get much easier than this!
Course Main Course
Cuisine Italian
Keyword easy dinner recipe
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 2 hours

Equipment

  • Slow Cooker

Ingredients

  • 1 lb Italian Sausage, cooked and crumbled *optional
  • 1 lb Uncooked Ziti or Penne Pasta Shells
  • 3 jars 23 oz Marinara Sauce (we like it with lots of sauce!) *you can also make your sauce from scratch!
  • 1 15 oz Container of Ricotta Cheese *I used low fat
  • 1 Large Egg
  • 1 tsp Minced Garlic
  • 1 tsp Italian Seasoning Blend
  • 1/4 cup Shredded Parmesan Cheese
  • 1/2 cup Shredded Mozzarella

Instructions

  • Cook the Italian sausage until there is no pink and it is crumbled. Once cooked transfer to a plate with a paper towel to absorb the grease. Set aside.
    Slow Cooker Baked Ziti Recipe
  • Combine ricotta cheese, egg, minced garlic, Italian seasoning and shredded Parmesan. Mix until thoroughly combined.
    Slow Cooker Baked Ziti Recipe
  • Spray inside of the slow cooker prior to layering ingredients.
  • Combine all jars of sauce. Spread 1/4 of the sauce along bottom of the slow cooker.
  • Layer 1/2 of the pasta, sausage, and ricotta mixture over the sauce.
    Slow Cooker Baked Ziti Recipe
  • The last layer should be the remaining sauce.
    Slow Cooker Baked Ziti Recipe
  • Cover and make sure the pasta is is completely covered with sauce. I blended my ricotta and sauce.
  • Cover and cook on high for 2 hours. Sprinkle shredded mozzarella on the top when there is only 15 min left to cooking. Re-cover.
  • Once mozzarella is melted, dinner is ready! Enjoy!
    Slow Cooker Baked Ziti Recipe

Conclusion

This is an easy dinner recipe for anytime of the year!  Whether you decide to keep it vegetarian and not add sausage or follow the recipe, it is definitely a keeper and one the entire family will enjoy!  So please try and enjoy this Slow Cooker Baked Ziti recipe and tell me how you liked it!

Slow Cooker Baked Ziti and a salad

 

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More importantly, thank you for spending your time here at Colorado Kelly!  I love having you here and appreciate everyone that comes to visit and look forward to having you come back soon!

Related Topics:

Slow Cooker Ranch Chicken Chili

Pulled Pork Slow Cooker Recipe

Slow Cooker Meatballs

Chicken Enchilada Soup

 

   

about kelly

About Kelly

Kelly is passionate about helping people feel beautiful from the inside out! She also loves helping people create thriving at home businesses! If you are interested in learning more about Kelly's journey Read more here...

Reader Interactions

Comments

    • Kelly

      When I make marinara it is always off the top of my head! And never the same! I really need to start writing stuff down!!!! But because of the extensive work involved, I don’t do it often!

  12. Shelby Trent

    This looks so good! I love anything made in the crockpot, it makes it so easy. Needing to make this recipe soon.

    Reply

  18. Candace Hampton

    I love pasta because it is so versatile! For instance, I’m vegetarian and it would be so easy to make this dish veggie friendly. All you have to do is leave out the meat! And it would still be super delicious. Thanks for sharing!

    Reply

    • Kelly

      I was in the mood for the meal but didn’t want to go through the hassle of making it! That is the only reason I tried it this way!

  20. Aditi

    5 stars
    This is such an amazing recipe. I love slow cooker meals, they are simple to make but duper delicious as well.

    Reply

  23. Stephanie

    I’ve never thought to do a pasta dish in the slow cooker, but I’m intrigued. Anything that can be a “set and forget” kind of situation is my kind of dish! Thanks for sharing this recipe.

    Reply

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