Slow Cooker Baked Ziti (Print version)
Creamy, cheesy ziti with Italian sausage and ricotta, slowly cooked to perfection in rich marinara sauce.
# What you'll need:
→ Meats
01 - 1 lb Italian sausage, mild or spicy, casing removed
→ Pasta
02 - 1 lb dry ziti pasta
→ Dairy
03 - 15 oz ricotta cheese
04 - 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese, divided
05 - 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
→ Vegetables & Sauces
06 - 1 medium onion, finely chopped
07 - 3 garlic cloves, minced
08 - 48 oz marinara sauce (2 jars)
09 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
→ Seasonings
10 - 1 teaspoon dried basil
11 - 1 teaspoon dried oregano
12 - 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
13 - Salt and pepper to taste
14 - Fresh basil for garnish
# Method:
01 - Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Sauté chopped onion until translucent, approximately 3 minutes. Add minced garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
02 - Add Italian sausage to the skillet, breaking it apart with a wooden spoon. Cook until thoroughly browned and no longer pink. Drain excess fat and set aside.
03 - In a large bowl, combine ricotta cheese, half the mozzarella (1 cup), grated Parmesan, dried basil, oregano, and crushed red pepper flakes. Season generously with salt and pepper, mixing until well incorporated.
04 - Spray the slow cooker insert thoroughly with non-stick cooking spray. Spread 1 cup of marinara sauce evenly across the bottom to prevent sticking.
05 - Layer half the uncooked ziti pasta over the sauce. Top with half the browned sausage mixture, followed by half the ricotta mixture, and approximately 2 cups of marinara sauce. Repeat layers with remaining pasta, sausage, ricotta, and sauce.
06 - Sprinkle the remaining mozzarella cheese evenly over the top layer.
07 - Cover and cook on LOW setting for 3 to 4 hours, until pasta is tender and cheese is melted and bubbly.
08 - Let the baked ziti rest for 10 to 15 minutes before serving to allow layers to set. Garnish with fresh basil leaves if desired.
# Expert advice:
01 -
- It gives you that baked pasta satisfaction without turning on your oven or heating up your kitchen
- The slow cooker creates the most incredible melding of flavors, like the sauce has been simmering all day even though it only took minutes to assemble
02 -
- Every slow cooker runs differently—check at the 3 hour mark to avoid overcooking the pasta into mush
- The resting time is not optional, or you will end up with a soupy mess instead of distinct layers
03 -
- Check your pasta at 3 hours—better slightly al dente than mushy
- Use freshly grated Parmesan if possible, it melts and tastes better than the pre-grated stuff