Easy & Delicious Crockpot Baked Ziti Recipe
The last week has been really hectic. Between the kid’s activities and me being sick, cooking was the last thing I wanted to do. We still had to eat and truthfully I just couldn’t deal with anymore take out. That’s when I brought out my trusty slow cooker for an easy dinner I could just throw in the crockpot and let it do it’s thing. The family was craving a delicious baked ziti recipe but I just didn’t have the time to whip it up and then watch it in the oven. The simpler way for us as a busy family to enjoy baked ziti is this simple and delicious crockpot baked ziti
I think the last time I made baked ziti in the oven was before I even had kids. It’s been that long!
Making this crockpot baked ziti is so much easier and when I pressed for time, it’s such a no brainer to make it this way.
It’s still full of all that cheesy goodness you love with baked ziti but in a much easier way to make it.
You don’t even have to cook the pasta ahead of time with this recipe. Just dump it in the slow cooker and it’ll work it’s magic.
You can make this recipe with or without ground beef depending on what you prefer. This time I made it with ground beef but it’s just as good without it.
If you do make it this way, you’ll just have to brown the ground beef first.
Once that’s all cooked, I mix the beef with the sauce and spices and cook it for a minute or two.
Then I mix the mozzarella and ricotta in a bowl to combine the two but you can even skip this part and just layer it all in the crockpot.
When all that is done, it’s time to put all the ingredients in the crockpot.
First, pour a little sauce in the bottom and spread it around and up the sides a bit. This will help the ingredients not stick. You could even spray it with a little cooking spray before putting the ingredients in.
Next sprinkle a layer of ziti on the bottom.
Followed by a layer of sauce and meat.
Top that with a cheese and repeat until all the ingredients are gone.
Sprinkle a layer of mozzarella cheese on top and about 2-3 tablespoons of water around the sides.
Set to cook on high for 2-3 hours or low for 4-5 hours.
Delicious crockpot baked ziti in no time flat! Truthfully it’s so easy to make and one of our favorite dinners, especially on busy nights!
Have you ever made crockpot baked ziti before?
Dawn
Crockpot Baked Ziti
- 1 box ziti pasta
- 1 16 oz container of ricotta cheese
- 1 16 oz brick of mozzarella (shredded)
- 1 lb. ground beef (cooked)
- 1 20 oz jar pasta sauce
- 2 tbsp. Italian seasoning
- 4 cloves garlic (chopped )
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If using ground beef, cook until no longer pink/
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Mix ground beef, pasta sauce and seasonings. Set aside.
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Coat bottom of crockpot with a layer of sauce.
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Add a layer of pasta.
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Top with a layer of sauce.
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Add another layer of cheese mixture.
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Repeat until all pasta, sauce and cheese is gone.
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Sprinkle with a 1/4 cup of shredded mozzarella.
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Pour 2-3 tbsp. of water around the edges.
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Cook 2-3 hours on high or 4-5 hours on low.
This recipe is amazing! I am going to have to make this because it is in the Crock Pot and easy to make!!
This looks awesome I will have to try it..I never imagined you could make a ziti in the crock and it would look this delicious 🙂
I am looking for easy recipes to make for my kids and this one would work well for us. I was never much of a cook but learning daily and trying to prepare new things for the kids to eat.
I never thought to do ziti in a crockpot. Pinning this!
I am going to try making this. I have not done this before but I like the ease of this and I bet the kitchen smells like you were cooking all day. Thanks for sharing. Rita Spratlen
This is such a great recipe! My kids will definitely love this, Im going to have to make it. And I love that its a crockpot meal!
Looks yummy! I will have to try this very soon!
This looks so incredibley yummy! I love easy meals you can throw in the crock pot and go!
I love using my crockpot and I am always looking for great recipes. This one looks yummy.
Do you put the pasta on the pot cooked or not cooked?
You put in uncooked. 🙂