Well howdy folks! I’m back again with another crowd-pleasin’ recipe to share – Slow Cooker Baked Ziti. Now I know what you’re thinking…how can you bake ziti in a slow cooker? Well let me tell you, it’s easier than you think thanks to my simple recipe.
This slow cooker ziti is pure comfort food, from the hearty pasta loaded with rich, meaty sauce to that melted cheese on top…it’s absolute perfection after a long day. The best part is, you just brown the meat, throw everything in the cooker, and let it do its thing! No need to dirty extra pots and pans or slave over the stove.
I like to use ground beef for that classic flavor, but you could use turkey or Italian sausage too if you prefer. Then just sauté some onion and garlic, add your seasonings, canned diced tomatoes, pasta sauce, and broth. Mix it all up and add the dry pasta right in there too! It cooks up tender and delicious.
When it’s ready, sprinkle on some shredded mozzarella so it gets all melty and gooey. I’m telling you, this Baked Ziti is so satisfying and will warm you up on chilly nights. It also makes for easy leftovers or can be frozen for later.
I hope you’ll give this set-it-and-forget-it Slow Cooker Baked Ziti a try soon. Let me know if you have any favorite slow cooker pasta dishes to share!
Blessings and Happy Cooking!
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground beef or ground turkey or Italian sausage
- 1 onion finely chopped
- 1 tsp minced garlic
- 1 1/2 tsp salt
- 1 tsp dried basil
- 1 tsp dried parsley
- 28 oz can diced tomatoes
- 26 oz jar pasta sauce about 2 1/2 cups
- 2 1/2 cups low sodium chicken broth
- 12 oz box penne or ziti pasta about 3 cups dry
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
Instructions
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In a skillet, cook ground beef and onion over medium-high heat until browned, about 5 minutes. Add garlic, salt, basil and parsley and cook 1 minute more.
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Transfer meat mixture to a 4-quart or larger slow cooker. Add diced tomatoes, pasta sauce and chicken broth. Stir to combine.
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Cover and cook on LOW for 6 hours or HIGH for 3 hours.
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Increase heat to HIGH. Add dry pasta and stir to submerge in sauce. Cover and cook 15 minutes, then check pasta for desired tenderness. Cook longer if needed, up to 30 minutes total.
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Sprinkle mozzarella over top, cover and let sit 3-5 minutes until melted. Serve warm.
