This Crock Pot Baked Ziti recipe is perfect for busy weeknights! With melty cheese, tender ziti pasta, and a rich, hearty sauce, it’s a pasta dish everyone will love.
Table of Contents
Set It and Forget It: Crockpot Baked Ziti
Hi folks,
Baked ziti is one of those classic comfort foods that always hits the spot. But let’s be honest—getting the layers perfect and then waiting for it to bake in the oven can feel like a hassle on busy nights. That’s why this Crock Pot Baked Ziti is a total lifesaver!
I love how this recipe brings all the cheesy, saucy goodness of baked ziti without the extra effort. Plus, there’s nothing better than coming home to the smell of a delicious meal already done! With minimal prep and easy cleanup, this recipe is a win for weeknight dinners and lazy weekends.
What You’ll Love About This Recipe:
- Hearty Flavor: The blend of Italian sausage, garlic, and herbs gives it a depth of flavor that is comforting and filling.
- Budget-Friendly: Uses simple, affordable pantry staples to create a hearty meal.
Ingredients and Estimated Cost:
Recipe Cost: $13.24
Per Serving Cost: $2.20
- 2 Tablespoons vegetable oil – $0.09
- 1 pound hot or sweet Italian sausage – $5.47
- 1 large yellow onion – $0.78
- 3 large garlic cloves – $0.20
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano – $0.09
- 1 teaspoon fennel seeds – $0.17
- ½ teaspoon salt – $0.01
- ½ teaspoon pepper – $0.07
- 8 ounces ziti – $1.12
- 28-ounce can of crushed tomatoes – $1.48
- 15-ounce can of tomato sauce – $0.88
- 1 cup whole-milk ricotta cheese – $1.25
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese – $0.83
- 2 Tablespoons freshly chopped basil – $0.80
Note: Recipe prices are based on grocery store data as of November 2024 and reflect the amounts used. Actual costs may vary depending on the ingredients you already have.
How To Make Crockpot Baked Ziti
Step 1: Prepare Your Slow Cooker
- Create a foil collar by folding two 18×14-inch foil strips and lining the inside of your slow cooker insert. Spray with nonstick cooking spray.
Step 2: Cook the Meat and Aromatics
- Heat the oil in a large, deep pan over medium-high heat. Add the Italian sausage, breaking it into chunks as it cooks. Brown the sausage for about 7-8 minutes.
- Stir in the onion, cooking until translucent, about 4-5 minutes.
- Add the garlic, oregano, fennel, salt, and pepper. Stir and cook for 30-60 seconds until fragrant.
Step 3: Combine Pasta and Sauce
- Reduce heat to medium-low and add the raw ziti pasta. Stir constantly for 3-4 minutes until the pasta edges turn translucent.
- Stir in the crushed tomatoes and tomato sauce, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan.
Step 4: Assemble and Cook
- Transfer the mixture to your prepared slow cooker.
- Cover and cook on LOW for 3 hours or until the pasta is tender.
Step 5: Add Cheese and Serve
- Remove the foil collar. Spoon the ricotta cheese over the ziti, then sprinkle with mozzarella cheese.
- Cover and let the cheese melt for 20 minutes. Sprinkle with fresh basil.
- Serve warm alongside garlic bread and a green salad.
Cook’s Tools:
- slow cooker
- heavy-duty foil
- measuring cups and spoons
- large, deep pan
- wooden spoon
- tongs
Recipe Variations:
- Meatless Option: Skip the Italian sausage for a vegetarian version. Add finely chopped sautéed mushrooms or zucchini.
- Meat Options: Use ground beef or chicken instead of Italian sausage.
- Cheese Swaps: Pureed cottage cheese can be used instead of ricotta for a lighter option.
- Spice It Up: Add crushed red pepper flakes for a spicy kick.
- Gluten-Free: Use gluten-free pasta.
- You can double this recipe with the following changes to the directions:
- When doubling this recipe, use a large crockpot that holds at least 6 quarts.
- After removing the foil collar, remove half of the pasta and spread 1 cup of ricotta and 1 cup of mozzarella over the top. Place the removed pasta on top of the cheese layers, and top with the remaining 1 cup of ricotta and mozzarella.
- Proceed with the remainder of the slow cooker baked ziti recipe.
Storage Tips
Refrigerator: Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
Freezing: Freeze cooked ziti in a freezer-safe container for up to 3 months.
Thawing: Thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.
Reheating: Warm in the microwave or oven with a splash of marinara sauce to keep it moist.
Slow Cooker Baked Ziti Recipe FAQs
Yes, you can use any short pasta such as penne or rigatoni.
Make sure you use a foil color (see the recipe instructions below). The purpose of sautéing the pasta before it goes into the slow cooker is to ensure that it doesn’t become overcooked, bloated, and slimy—so don’t skip this step!
Yes, you can assemble everything in the crock pot and refrigerate it for up to 24 hours before cooking.
More Main Dishes
- Easy Cajun Sausage Pasta Recipe
- Tender and Juicy Pork Loin Crockpot Recipe
- Best Homemade Pizza Recipe
- Easy Smoked Turkey Wings
- White Chicken Chili Stovetop Recipe
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Crock Pot Baked Ziti
Ingredients
- 2 Tablespoons vegetable oil
- 1 pound hot or sweet Italian sausage casings removed
- 1 large yellow onion chopped fine
- 3 large garlic cloves minced
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon fennel seeds
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon pepper
- 8 ounces ziti
- 28 ounce can crushed tomatoes
- 15 ounce can tomato sauce
- 1 cup whole-milk ricotta cheese
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- 2 Tablespoons freshly chopped basil
Instructions
- Make a foil collar for the slow cooker by folding 2 pieces of foil into 2 strips measuring approximately 18×14 inches each. Line the inside of the slow cooker insert with foil strips and spray with nonstick cooking spray.
- Heat oil over medium-high heat in a large, deep pan, heat oil over medium-high heat until just smoking. Cook sausage, stirring occasionally to break up large chunks until cooked through and browned, about 7-8 minutes. Add onion and cook until onions are translucent and starting to brown around edges, about 4-5 minutes. Stir in garlic, oregano, fennel, salt, and pepper and cook until fragrant, about 30-60 seconds.
- Reduce heat to medium-low, add raw ziti, and cook, stirring constantly, until the pasta edges are translucent, about 3-4 minutes. Turn off the heat and stir in crushed tomatoes and tomato sauce, scraping up any bits from the bottom of the pan. Scrape the mixture into the prepared slow cooker insert. Cover and cook on low until the pasta is tender, about 3 hours.
- Use tongs to remove the foil collar from the slow cooker. Spoon ricotta over the ziti and sprinkle with mozzarella cheese. Turn off the slow cooker, cover, and let the cheese melt for 20 minutes. Sprinkle with basil and serve.
Nutrition
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Can I use a liner instead of foil?
Yes, that will work.
I’ve been there with the commissary! This looks just as delicious with the penne! Such a delicious and comforting meal. Love all that cheese.
I definitly do not miss shopping at the commissary, especially the ones OCONUS!
Love how easy this was to make right in my slow cooker! So flavorful and delicious!
Thank you!
Tasty recipe! My family really enjoyed it.
I’m so glad they enjoyed the recipe!
Yum! My family loves this recipe! I can’t wait to make this again soon!
This was fantastically delicious! So easy to make – I’ve never cooked pasta in the slow cooker from raw before and it was perfect.
Could this be doubled and prepared in an 8qt slow cooker? If so, how would the setting and time vary?
Thanks!
A doubles recipe will definitely fit in an 8-quart slow cooker. I would say increase the slow cooking time by 30 minutes.
Not sure what is meant by foil collar?
Looks at the middle picture just above the subtitle “Cook’s Tools”. That picture shows a foil collar. Basically, you’re just lining the sides of the slow cooker insert.
Can one use parchment paper instead of foil? I’ve stopped keeping foil in my house as parchment paper typically works better for what I need.
I wouldn’t recommend it. I could see parchment paper scorching in the slow cooker.