Crock Pot Baked Ziti is perfectly meaty and cheesy. This slow cooker Italian favorite is a real crowd pleaser.
Course Dinner, Main Dish
Cuisine Italian
Keyword crock pot, pasta
Prep Time 20 minutesminutes
Cook Time 2 hourshours30 minutesminutes
Servings 8
Ingredients
1poundground beef or ground sausage
1mediumonion,diced
1minced garlic clove or 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
2teaspoonsItalian seasoning
1/4 to 1/2teaspooncrushed red pepper flakes
1/2teaspoonsalt
2(24-ounce) jarspasta sauce
1(15-ounce) jartomato sauce
1(15-ounce) container ricotta cheese
1large egg
2tablespoonschopped fresh basil
1/4cupfreshly grated Parmesan cheese
3cupsshredded mozzarella cheese, divided
1(16-ounce) boxziti
Instructions
Place a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add ground beef and onion. Break meat apart as is cooks. Cook until no longer pink and then add garlic, Italian seasoning, crushed red pepper flakes, salt, pasta sauce and tomato sauce. Remove from heat.
In a medium bowl, stir together ricotta cheese, egg, basil, Parmesan cheese, and 1 cup of mozzarella cheese.
Pour 1/3 of sauce into the bottom of a greased 6-quart slow cooker. Scatter 1/3 of the uncooked ziti on top.
Spoon 1/2 of the ricotta cheese mixture over the ziti.
Repeat another layer of sauce, ziti, and the remaining ricotta mixture.
Repeat with remaining ziti and then the remaining sauce.Cover and cook on HIGH for 2 1/2 hours.
Remove lid and sprinkle the remaining 2 cups of cheese on top. Cover with the lid just long enough to melt the cheese.Serve.