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Slow Cooker Coconut Rice Pudding with Fresh Mango
Slow Cooker Spicy Steak Fajitas
Slow Cooker Tequila Lime Chicken
Slow Cooker Citrus Beef & Veggie Stir-Fry
Slow Cooker Black Bean Turkey Chili
Slow Cooker Cran-Orange Porkloin
Slow Cooker Healthier Chicken Curry
Slow Cooker Baked Ziti * *

Easy Slow Cooker Baked Ziti

  • Cooking Time:

    4 hours on Low
  • Servings:

    8-10

Ingredients

1 lb. 93% lean ground beef
1 medium onion (chopped)
2 tsp. Italian Seasoning
1/2 tsp. salt
64 oz. of spaghetti sauce (any kind)
15 oz. ricotta cheese
2 c. shredded mozzarella
1 egg
1 c. grated parmesan cheese
16 oz. uncooked ziti noodles

I recently had family in town and treated them to this delicious Slow Cooker Baked Ziti.

Growing up, my mom always made lasagna for family gatherings but over the years, I have grown to enjoy Baked Ziti more than Lasagna.  So I guess you could say I am building upon my mom’s tradition and creating my own.  🙂

What is your “go to” meal when you have company or a family gathering? Please share in the comments section below – I love to hear from you!

  1. Cook ground beef and onion in a large skillet. Crumble the beef as you cook it – until it’s no longer pink.
  2. Mix in Italian Seasoning, Salt, and the sauce and set aside.
  3. In a separate bowl, combine 1 cup of the mozzarella cheese, all the ricotta and all of the parmesan cheese  with 1 egg. (the egg isn’t a must if you don’t have any – although it will make the cheese creamier/easier to spread)
  4. SPRAY your 6 quart slow cooker with non-stick spray or use a slow cooker liner  (trust me!)
  5. Layer ingredients:
    Layer 1: (Note:  Step 1 and 2 combined make the sauce mix) Pour in 2 & 1/2 cups of sauce mix and spread evenly.
    Layer 2: Sprinkle 2 cups of ziti noodles (uncooked) over the sauce mix.
    Layer 3: Add half of the cheese mixture – drop in balls then carefully spread over noodles.
  6. Crock Pot Baked Ziti - Cheese Layer

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Layer 4: Pour in 2 & 1/2 cups of sauce mix and spread evenly.
Layer 5: Sprinkle the rest of the ziti noodles over the sauce mix.
Layer 6: Add the other half of the cheese mixture – Again, drop in balls then carefully spread over noodles.
Layer 7: Pour in the remaining sauce mix and be sure to cover all the ingredients.

    1. Crock Pot Baked Ziti - Sauce Topping

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cover & Crock on Low for 4 hours.

About 10 minutes before serving, sprinkle with the remaining mozzarella cheese.  Serve after the cheese is melted.

* A tip on this recipe – The key is making sure you have enough sauce – if you are short, halve the recipe – without enough sauce this dish will be too dry!

Happy Crocking!

For over 400 more recipes, click here for the GetCrocked eBook.

XOXO.

Jenn

 

Crock Pot Baked Ziti - Nutrition

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Paula Jo Carr
Paula Jo Carr
11 years ago

9/13/12

Is there a way to print off your receipes individually (I do not see a ‘print’ icon to hit on to print up the receipe myself).

Thanks for your help & your wonderful esite,

Paula Jo Carr
dpcarr@bellsouth.net

Lisa Bellm
Lisa Bellm
11 years ago

I made this last night and it was great. I expected the noodles to be a little soggy but they weren’t. Thanks crock pot girl!

Julia Hann
Julia Hann
11 years ago

This looks so good. I want to try it this week. Just one question. Where does the meat go in the layering? I don’t see it listed in any of the step.

Amy Wiz
Amy Wiz
11 years ago

I’m thinking about making this soon-have you tried this without the meat?

Jenny
Jenny
11 years ago

Ok I have a question I have to crock pots one kinda small has a high and low setting. The other is much bigger and has high, high med, med low, and low. It also has 4hrs,6hrs,8hrs, and 10 hrs. So if I put it on low will it cook in 4hrs.???
Thanks

Julie
Julie
11 years ago

This recipe looks great! But, a gallon of tomato sauce? Is that a misprint?

Donna
Donna
10 years ago
Reply to  Julie

64 ounces is half a gallon, not a full one.

Jennifer Speer.
11 years ago

Hi Jen- I found my crockpot bookmark! Great site. I too, like and cook in the Hamilton Beach. 2 questions – I am making this for a group of 12 women tomorrow. If I am offering other food (salad, prosciutto asparagus, charcuterie…) do you feel this recipe is enough? And can I substitute Mafalda instead of ziti? The boil time is 8 minutes. Thanks!

Tim Piazza
Tim Piazza
10 years ago

Hi Jenn, I love your website! Quick question about this recipe, if I crock it on low for 8 to 9 hours will it be OK? I like to use my crock pot while I am at work, but I usually ride my bike to work and won’t be home for about 8 and half hours. Should I save this for a day I’m off? Thanks for your help, have a great day!

estie
estie
10 years ago

thank you! i will try this but without meat, as we keep kosher so we don’t mix meat and dairy. how long should i cook it if it’s without meat?

Kristin
Kristin
10 years ago

This looks delicious! Thanks for sharing:) I am preparing this tonight for a group of teachers tomorrow. Could I prepare and put in refrigerator and then plug in tomorrow morning or must I prepare in the morning? THANKS!!!!

Martha
Martha
10 years ago

Can you double this in one crock pot or do you need two crock pots? Any change to layering if you double it in one crock pot?
Thanks.

Mallory
Mallory
10 years ago

Can you cook on HIGH for 2 hours?

Kristie Mirano
Kristie Mirano
10 years ago

This is a really good recipe which I made yesterday. I had to fudge on it a bit. I cut the recipe in half because it’s just my hubby and me and I didn’t want a lot of leftovers. I thought my spaghetti sauce was in a 32 oz. jar, but it was only 24 oz. I didn’t have anymore sauce so I scrounged through the fridge and found V-8 vegetable juice, so I added 8 oz. of that. I also added about 2 TBSP of fresh minced garlic because I love garlic and it’s good for you. I had… Read more »

Danielle
Danielle
10 years ago
Reply to  Kristie Mirano

Hi! Looks delish! I would really like to make this for tonight. Since mine would only be for 2 people, would you recommend just simply halving the recipe? Also, would I alter the cooking time? I’m the worst cook ever so I always need to ask questions…

lisa
lisa
10 years ago

hi! im loving your site btw. but my question is have you ever used ground turkey or ground chicken in place of the ground meat? and if not which would you think tastes better? tx!

Morgen
Morgen
10 years ago

Can this be done with mozzarella instead of ricotta? Not fans of ricotta in this house.

Donna
Donna
10 years ago
Reply to  Morgen

You can try cottage cheese in place of ricotta. Small curd cottage cheese has a similar consistency to ricotta but with a different flavor.

Erica Sweetman
Erica Sweetman
10 years ago

This has become one of my family’s favorite recipes! I add a little garlic and basil to the ricotta mix but other than that I wouldn’t change a thing! Comes out so nice and creamy!

Giovanna
Giovanna
10 years ago

Would lasagna noodles work the same for this recipe to make Lasanga Crockpot ?? ☺

Deb Dewey
Deb Dewey
10 years ago

i purchased you ebook on tuesday but when i tried to download it to my tablet i got an error saying i had exceeded my limit. I do not understand, should i have printed it instead of optrying to download again

Nikki Dunlap
Nikki Dunlap
10 years ago

Looking to try this for the first time. I was curious if anyone tried this without meat? Would I have to have a substitute for the meat or can I just leave it out?

Donna
Donna
10 years ago

Your recipes could use a “pin it” button for Pinterest. I see how to follow you there, but it’s not the same as having the button to click for easy pinning.

jennifer E
jennifer E
10 years ago

Can you freeze any leftovers?

Nancy
Nancy
10 years ago

I am looking for a way to incorporate whole wheat pasta in a way that tastes good. Anyone try with this? I’m trying to be more health conscious but can’t seem to get over the taste of WW noodles vs. regular. Thanks.

colleen
colleen
10 years ago

I’m trying this recipe for the first time. I accidentally only put 1 1/2 cup of sauce at bottom and it was to late by the time I realized it. It should still be fine right?

Judy
10 years ago

This was absolutely FANTASTIC! The whole family loved it. I added some leftover sweet italian sausage to the sauce which added some more flavor. Been passing this one on to all my family and friends. Thank you!

Paula
Paula
10 years ago

I use this recipe exact recipe (omit egg) when I bake lasagna. The layering is also the same, and uncooked lasagna noodles. Very easy to make too! I will try your recipe today with the crock pot. I’m thinking perhaps adding well drained spinach for added nutritional value. What do you think? Thanks for sharing!! 😉

Celia
Celia
10 years ago

Hi! This sounds great. I was wondering what size Crockpot you use? I cant wait to try it!
Celia

Annette
Annette
10 years ago

Hello, this fits perfectly in my Hamilton Beach Stay or Go Crockpot. I bought 2 45oz jars of sauce and used 1 & 1/2 jars in the recipe. The remaining sauce was consumed freshening up the leftovers. PS, I also added a little Italian style chicken sausage cut into coins. PPS, I didn’t divide the cheese mixture very well. Used too much on the first layer and didn’t have quite enough for the 2nd layer. Not to worry, I had bought extra shredded mozzarella and rounded off the 2nd layer with that. Luckily, Italian cooking is very forgiving! Love this… Read more »

dawn
dawn
10 years ago

Ok. This was delish….but….don’t try and put this on high to get done faster…just an fyi…
This will be great with bell peppers yellow and red….yum!!!!

McCauley
McCauley
10 years ago

This was PERFECTION! So freakin good and that is saying a lot as I am not a pasta lover! Great stuff-thanks so much:)

Dana Williams
10 years ago

I bought the app for my iPad but can’t scroll thru receipts so I have to come to the websit can you fix it so I can use the app?

Deb
Deb
10 years ago

Can this be made with whole wheat noodles?

Wendie Love
Wendie Love
10 years ago

Looking forward to trying this recipe tonight! Also, I bought your e-cookbook and keep getting an error message on my tablet about exceeding my limit. Not sure what’s going on. Can you help? Thanks for all the great recipes on your website. Looking forward to the cookbook!

Wendie Love
Wendie Love
10 years ago

It shows there is plenty of room left. Could you please send it to me via email? Thanks a bunch!

Rashell Fong
Rashell Fong
10 years ago

Can I ommit the Ricotta..my family does not care for it..any suggestions?? Perhaps do more mozerella?

Rhonda
Rhonda
10 years ago

I want to make this recipe for a party for about
30 people, there will be other for and a white
pasta dish how much should I make? I have a
6 quart new crock pot that has the 4-10 hours,
and hi and low, but the only thing is that
for the low setting it only works for 8-10 hours,
4-6 is high setting. Don’t know what setting
to use. My other crock pot is a lot older with
just a hi- low setting it’s probably a 3 quart.
Should I use both? Thanks!

Teresa
Teresa
10 years ago

Can I make this recipe ahead and refrigerate, even though the pasta is not pre-cooked?

Teresa
Teresa
10 years ago
Reply to  Jenn Bare

Oops! Let me try again… Can I put ingredients together in the crock pot the night before and refrigerate, then cook the next day? I wasn’t sure how the pasta would be if I did this.

Ree
Ree
10 years ago

My family loved it! It was even better the next day. This will definitely be one of my “go to” recipes.

Laura
Laura
10 years ago

It was good, but just FYI, it makes A LOT. We only have 3 in our house so I froze some of it.

Alison
Alison
10 years ago

This is one of my family’s all-time favorite recipes! I make it with Morningstar Grillers veggie crumbles instead of meat and don’t bother cooking it before mixing it in with the sauce. I also use two jars of sauce instead of 3, and don’t put cheese on top. It always is exceptional and great for work/school lunches the next day!

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[…] Dishes for your Crock Pot: Green Chili Pork Easy Crock Pot Ziti Cola Chicken Best Ever Italian Beef Maple […]

Marianna
Marianna
10 years ago

I have made this before & loved it! My question is this…Can you put everything together the night before & place in the fridge for next day crocking? I am having a large group over to my house after my son’s baptism. I was hoping to pull it out of the fridge, place in crock for 4 hours and then have it be ready after church. Is this possible?

melissa
melissa
10 years ago

Running late, don’t have time to go through comments, sorry if someone already asked— if I don’t want meat do I have to do anything different? cook time?

kim
kim
8 years ago

Hello-Can I double this recipe for one 6/7 quart crock pot?

Stacy
Stacy
8 years ago

Will this work with gluten free pasta?

Vickie
7 years ago

Can you do all preparation and mixing the day before and leave uncooked in refrigerator overnight and cook in Crock-Pot next day?

Meet Jenn Bare

Jenn is the founder of GetCrocked, the #1 resource for slow cooking with over 1.5 million online followers. She innovates recipes daily with her favorite tool in the kitchen, the Crock-Pot® slow cooker.

She innovates recipes daily...

Jenn Bare is a Mom, Chef & the Crock-Pot® Girl. She hosts a weekly "Mom Monday" segment on ABC-15 in Phoenix.

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