Crock Pot Baked Ziti

This easy Crock Pot Baked Ziti is a comforting slow cooker dinner loaded with pasta, sausage, rich tomato sauce, and lots of melted cheese. It’s a simple make-ahead dinner that’s perfect for busy weeknights. Serve it with salad and garlic bread for an easy family dinner.

Course Main Dish

Cuisine Italian

Prep Time 20

Cook Time 4

Total Time 4 20

Servings servings

Calories 743kcal

Author Deborah Harroun

Ingredients

1 pound Italian sausage
2 (24 oz) each jars marinara sauce (can also use homemade!)
2 cups water
16 oz ricotta cheese
1/2 cup sour cream
2 cloves garlic minced
2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
16 oz uncooked ziti pasta
12 oz shredded mozzarella cheese
1/2 cup finely grated Parmesan cheese
Fresh basil for topping

Instructions

Place a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the sausage and cook, breaking it up as it cooks, until fully browned.
1 pound Italian sausage
Once browned, add both jars of marinara sauce and the water. Stir to combine. Remove from the heat.
2 (24 oz) each jars marinara sauce, 2 cups water
In a bowl, mix together the ricotta, sour cream, garlic, and Italian seasoning.
16 oz ricotta cheese, 1/2 cup sour cream, 2 cloves garlic, 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
Ladle about 2 cups of the sauce in the bottom of a 7 to 8 quart slow cooker. Top that with 1/2 of the ziti. Then take 1/3 of the ricotta mixture and dollop it on top of the pasta. Very carefully, spread the ricotta layer evenly. Sprinkle 1/3 of the mozzarella on top.
16 oz uncooked ziti pasta, 12 oz shredded mozzarella cheese
Repeat the layers, with another 2 cups of sauce, 1/2 of the remaining noodles, 1/2 of the remaining ricotta mixture, and 1/2 of the remaining mozzarella.
Finish assembling with the remaining sauce, then noodles, then ricotta, and the remaining mozzarella. Sprinkle the parmesan over the top.
1/2 cup finely grated Parmesan cheese
Place the cover on the slow cooker and cook no low for 3-4 hours, or until the pasta is tender. (You don’t want to cook it too long, as the pasta will get soggy.)
Before serving, top with fresh basil.
Fresh basil

Notes

Nutrition information provided as an estimate only. Various brands and products can change the counts. Any nutritional information should be used as a general guide.

Nutrition