Crockpot Baked Ziti Recipe
This crockpot baked ziti is a delicious and easy-to-make dish that delivers all the flavors of traditional baked ziti with a fraction of the effort. Perfect for busy weeknights or when you want a comforting meal without spending hours in the kitchen.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 6 hours
- Total Time: 6 hours 15 minutes
- Yield: 8 servings
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: American, Italian
- Diet: Non-vegetarian
Ingredients
For the Meat Mixture:
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 1/2 cup onion, diced
- 1 teaspoon garlic, minced (2 cloves)
- 1 teaspoon basil
- 1 teaspoon oregano
- 48 ounces pasta sauce, or make your own!
For the Ziti Layers:
- 16 ounces baked ziti, uncooked
- 1 cup ricotta cheese
- 1/2 cup parmesan cheese
- 2 cups mozzarella, shredded (divided)
- Chopped fresh parsley, for garnish
Instructions
- Brown the Ground Beef: In a skillet, cook the ground beef with onions until browned. Drain excess fat if necessary.
- Season the Meat: Add garlic, basil, oregano, salt, and pepper to the beef. Cook for about a minute, stirring constantly.
- Add Pasta Sauce: Stir in one jar of pasta sauce into the beef mixture.
- Layer Ingredients: In a slow cooker, start layering with sauce, uncooked ziti, meat mixture, cheeses, and repeat.
- Cook: Cover and cook on low for 6 hours.
- Final Cheese Layer: Before serving, add the remaining mozzarella on top and let it melt.
- Serve: Dish out the delicious crockpot baked ziti and garnish with parsley.
Notes
- Prep the slow cooker with cooking spray or a liner for easier cleanup.
- For best flavor, cook on low for 6 hours, although high for 3 hours is an option.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 455 kcal
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 344mg
- Fat: 16g
- Saturated Fat: 9g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 45g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 32g
- Cholesterol: 77mg
Find it online: https://lauracooks.com/crockpot-baked-ziti-recipe/
