Description
Indulge in a comforting and hearty meal with this Slow Cooker Baked Ziti recipe. Layers of pasta, cheeses, savory meat, and aromatic herbs come together for a delicious and satisfying dish that practically cooks itself.
Ingredients
Ground Beef:
1 lb
Ricotta Cheese Mixture:
15 oz ricotta cheese
2 large eggs
¼ cup fresh basil (chopped (or 1 tsp dried))
Sauce:
24 oz jar tomato-based pasta sauce
15 oz can plain tomato sauce
Ziti Pasta:
12 oz dried ziti pasta
Cheeses:
1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
Seasonings:
½ tsp salt
¼ tsp black pepper
Others:
Cooking spray
Instructions
- Brown the Beef: In a skillet over medium heat, brown the ground beef until fully cooked. Drain excess fat and set aside.
- Prepare Ricotta Mixture: In a medium bowl, combine ricotta cheese, eggs, chopped basil, salt, and pepper. Mix until smooth.
- Mix Sauces: In another bowl, stir together the pasta sauce and tomato sauce.
- Prep Slow Cooker: Spray the inside of the slow cooker with nonstick spray.
- Layering: Spread a layer of sauce on the bottom. Add ziti, ricotta mixture, Parmesan, and beef. Repeat layers, ending with sauce on top.
- Cook: Cover and cook on HIGH for 2½ to 3 hours until pasta is tender.
- Add Mozzarella: Sprinkle mozzarella on top during the last 10–15 minutes, cover, and let melt.
- Serve: Let cool slightly before serving. Garnish with basil or Parmesan if desired.
Notes
- You can customize the cheese blend with your favorites like provolone or fontina.
- For a vegetarian version, swap the ground beef with sautéed mushrooms or lentils.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 3 hours
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 550
- Sugar: 8g
- Sodium: 1150mg
- Fat: 27g
- Saturated Fat: 15g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 42g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 36g
- Cholesterol: 140mg
Keywords: Slow Cooker Baked Ziti, Baked Ziti Recipe, Slow Cooker Pasta, Italian Pasta Dish
