Crock Pot Baked Ziti
Crock Pot Baked Ziti is perfectly meaty and cheesy. This slow cooker Italian favorite is a real crowd pleaser.
Servings: 8
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef or ground sausage
- 1 medium onion diced
- 1 minced garlic clove or 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
- 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 2 (24-ounce) jars pasta sauce
- 1 (15-ounce) jar tomato sauce
- 1 (15-ounce) container ricotta cheese
- 1 large egg
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil
- 1/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- 3 cups shredded mozzarella cheese, divided
- 1 (16-ounce) box ziti
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.
Nutrition
Calories: 509kcal | Carbohydrates: 45g | Protein: 29g | Fat: 23g | Saturated Fat: 11g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 8g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 99mg | Sodium: 513mg | Potassium: 352mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 372IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 286mg | Iron: 2mg