Crockpot Baked Ziti – The Cookie Rookie®
This crockpot baked ziti recipe is made with a delicious Italian seasoned pasta sauce with three different kinds of cheeses, and hearty sausage. The whole family will love it!
Baked Ziti with Sausage
If you’re searching for an easy dinner, this easy slow cooker recipe should do the trick! This is the best baked ziti recipe because the crockpot does most of the cooking and it’s ultra flavorful!
Cheese and sauce-covered pasta provides a hearty meal the whole family will love. Pair with garlic bread and a simple green salad. It wouldn’t shock me if this delicious slow cooker ziti recipe became a family favorite!
Why You’ll Love this Crockpot Ziti Recipe:
- Easy baked ziti recipe: This easy baked ziti is perfect for busy weeknights. Like many pasta dishes, it’s simple to make and the best comfort food!
- Fantastic Italian flavors: This classic Italian dish is made with ziti pasta noodles, marinara sauce, multiple kinds of cheese, and seasoning!
How long does pasta cook in crockpot?
Cook on high for 1 1/2 to 2 hours or on low for 2-4 hours. While this is an easy recipe for baked ziti, it will take some time. That just means you have plenty of time to do other important things while you wait for it to be done!
How to Make Crockpot Baked Ziti
You can jump to the recipe card for full ingredients & instructions!
Start by browning the sausage in a skillet, then add in the aromatics and seasonings, and finish off with the marinara and broth. Then layer the meat sauce, pasta, ricotta, and mozzarella into the slow cooker, finishing with a layer of sauce.
Then just let the Crockpot do its thing, and you’ll have a delicious baked ziti dish ready for dinner!
Yes! The key to cooking pasta in a crockpot is not to cook it for too long; otherwise, it might become mushy.
The best sausage for crockpot baked ziti is ground Italian sausage. You can use hot Italian sausage or mild Italian sausage, whichever you prefer. If you can only find sausage in casings, you’ll need to cut and remove the casings before crumbling the sausage.
There’s no need to add any egg to the ricotta cheese, but you definitely can add an egg if you want! It will help thicken up and bind the ricotta.
Nope! You can cook the pasta right in the crockpot!
Serving Suggestions
Make Ahead Instructions
You can cook the Italian sausage up to 1 day in advance and store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator until ready to use.
Storage Instructions
Store leftover crockpot baked ziti in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat in a baking pan in a 350°F oven until warmed through, about 30 minutes.
Freezing Instructions
Freeze crockpot baked ziti in an airtight container or Ziplock bag for up to 2 months. Let thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.
Substitutions
- You can use a different sausage, such as chicken or turkey, or try ground beef, chicken, or turkey.
- Feel free to use chicken or vegetable broth instead of beef broth.
- For a creamy sauce, swap half of the broth for heavy cream.
- You can use penne or any other short pasta shape in place of the ziti.
- Finely chop some carrots, zucchini, mushrooms, or bell peppers and add them to the sauce to sneak in some veggies.
Tips for the Best Crockpot Baked Ziti
- After cooking the sausage, drain any excess fat to avoid making the ziti greasy.
- Choose a short pasta shape; otherwise, you’ll have to stir the pasta frequently to prevent sticking.
- Check the pasta on the lower end of the cook time to avoid mushy pasta.
I hope you love this crockpot baked ziti as much as I do! Let me know how your dish turned out in the comments below! Are there changes you made that you’d like to share? I can’t wait to hear all about it!
If you make this recipe be sure to upload a photo in the comment section below or leave a rating. Enjoy! You can also jump to recipe.
Recipe
Crockpot Baked Ziti Recipe
Prep: 15 minutes
Cook: 1 hour 40 minutes
Total: 1 hour 55 minutes
This crockpot baked ziti recipe is made with a delicious Italian seasoned pasta sauce with three different kinds of cheeses, and hearty sausage. The whole family will love it!
Instructions
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Add the olive oil to a very large skillet or Dutch oven over medium heat.
1 tablespoon olive oil
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Once heated, add in the sausage and use a wooden spoon to break it up into chunks
1 pound ground Italian sausage
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Brown the meat.
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Add in the onion, garlic, and Italian seasoning, sautéing until the onions are soft.
½ onion, 3 cloves garlic, 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
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Pour the marinara sauce and broth over the meat and stir until combined.
36 ounces marinara sauce, 1½ cups low-sodium beef broth
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Spray the crockpot with nonstick cooking spray.
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Spread a layer of meat sauce in the bottom of the slow cooker covering it completely.
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Top with half of the uncooked pasta.
1 pound dry ziti pasta
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Drop 4-5 spoonfuls of ricotta over pasta.
1 cup ricotta cheese
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Sprinkle ½ cup mozzarella cheese over the ricotta.
2 cups mozzarella cheese
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Repeat with another layer of meat sauce, the remaining pasta, and the remaining ricotta, and ½ cup mozzarella.
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Spread the remaining meat sauce over the top.
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Cover and cook on high for 1½-2 hours or on low for 2-4 hours.
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Top with remaining mozzarella cheese.
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Serve with grated parmesan and fresh basil, if desired.
Grated Parmesan cheese, Fresh basil
Becky’s tips
- You can use a different sausage, such as chicken or turkey, or try ground beef, chicken, or turkey.
- Feel free to use chicken or vegetable broth instead of beef broth.
- For a creamy sauce, swap half of the broth for heavy cream.
- You can use penne or any other short pasta shape in place of the ziti.
- Finely chop some carrots, zucchini, mushrooms, or bell peppers and add them to the sauce to sneak in some veggies.
- After cooking the sausage, drain any excess fat to avoid making the ziti greasy.
- Choose a short pasta shape; otherwise, you’ll have to stir the pasta frequently to prevent sticking.
- Check the pasta on the lower end of the cook time to avoid mushy pasta.
Storage: Store crockpot baked ziti in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days or in the freezer for up to 2 months.
Nutrition Information
Calories: 598kcal (30%) Carbohydrates: 52g (17%) Protein: 28g (56%) Fat: 31g (48%) Saturated Fat: 13g (81%) Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g Monounsaturated Fat: 13g Cholesterol: 81mg (27%) Sodium: 1307mg (57%) Potassium: 810mg (23%) Fiber: 4g (17%) Sugar: 7g (8%) Vitamin A: 883IU (18%) Vitamin C: 11mg (13%) Calcium: 253mg (25%) Iron: 3mg (17%)
