Delicious Crock Pot Baked Zit has delicious meat sauce, three kinds of cheese, plus uncooked pasta baked in the slow cooker. You can have the best Italian pasta for dinner tonight.
You may confuse it with the taste of the best lasagna. It is perfect for special casual family meals or an easy dinner without spending all day in the kitchen.
๐ฅฃIngredients
Ground beefโor Italian sausage
Cheeseโricotta, Parmesan, mozzarella
Tomatoesโcrushed
Aromaticsโgarlic and onion
Pastaโziti or penna pasta
Eggโwhite only
Pantry ingredientsโparsley, basil, crushed red pepper (optional), salt, and pepper
Jump To (scroll for more)
- ๐ฅฃIngredients
- ๐จโ๐ณHow to Make Crock Pot Baked ZitiโStep-by-Step Photo Instructions
- โฒ๏ธHow long to cook
- โ๏ธVariations and options to make it perfect every time
- Pasta tips
- Crock Pot Italian Recipes
- โ๏ธHow to make this a "for two" or "family size " recipe
- Serving and Leftovers
- โFAQs
- ๐The Recipe Card with Step-by-Step Instructions
- Crock Pot Baked Ziti
Featured Comment from Kathleen:
"I have made this several times for my Husband. He is a very picky eaterโฆhe absolutely loves this!!! It is a 5-star rating for us!!"
It is outrageously good, with gooey melted cheese, great meat sauce, and tender pastaโnow you can have the best-baked zitiโloaded with wonderful tasty meat sauce, tender pasta, and three types of cheese.
This recipe takes about 20 minutes of prep and 4 hours of crock pot time. Using uncooked pasta saves a step, but mainly to prevent the mushy texture of crock pot pasta recipes.
๐จโ๐ณHow to Make Crock Pot Baked ZitiโStep-by-Step Photo Instructions
1. Use the pasta you wantโusually ziti or penne pasta.
2. Brown ground beef with chopped onion and crushed garlicโ about 9-10 minutes.
3. Combine ricotta cheese with egg white, grated Parmesan cheese, dry parsley, and saltโdo not over-mix.
4. Mix crushed tomatoes, basil, optional red pepper, salt, and pepper.
5. Drain the meat of extra fat and combine it with the sauce.
6. Using a 3 to 4 quart or larger slow cooker, lay meat sauce with uncooked pasta.
7. Add half the ricotta cheese mixture by placing spoonfuls on the pasta. Top with shredded Mozzarella cheese.
8.Repeat the layers all the layers.
9. Cook on low for 4-5 hours. But check the pasta one hour early and closer to the end. End cooking early if needed to prevent overcooking of the pasta.
For more details, keep reading. See the Recipe Card below for complete instructions and to print.
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โฒ๏ธHow long to cook
Cooking on low is recommended for this recipe. You are less likely to overcook your pasta. On low, it takes about 4 hours. Check on the pasta about an hour early since crock pots can be unpredictable.
If you decide to cook on high, it should take about 2 hours, but check the pasta at 1 and 1 ยฝ hours into cooking.
โ๏ธVariations and options to make it perfect every time
Meat tips
If you want, leave the meat out. But, in our home, ziti always has meat. It may be ground beef, Italian sausage, ground chicken, or ground turkey.
Any ground meat must be browned before adding it to a crock pot recipe, or it will be a clumpy mess and leave drainage in the dish. I also took the opportunity to precook the onion and garlic here.
Sauce tips
You can change up the spicing of the homemade sauce if you prefer another flavor.
Add vegetables like bell pepper or mushrooms if you like.
You can use jar marinara sauce, but this recipe's sauce is much better.
Pasta tips
Cooking pasta in a crock pot can be a bit tricky. Crock pots vary in their temperature curve, and the other ingredients can affect the cooking. The most important variable is the pasta itself. I suggest using a similar pasta each time to learn how it will cook by this method.
Smaller pasta will tend to cook faster. The recommended cooking time for your pasta will give you a clue. The penne pasta I usually use has a suggested cooking time of 12-14 minutes.
Pasta with very short cooking times will not be a good choice, and If you use non-standard pasta, like whole wheat or gluten-free pasta, the results may or may not be good.
Crock Pot Italian Recipes
Crock Pot Italian Chicken Pasta
Delicious Crock Pot Italian Chicken Pasta is loaded with mozzarella and Parmesan cheese, tender chicken, and pasta. It is cooked in an easy homemade marinara sauce that cooks the dry pasta and chicken while it simmers. You will love this cheesy Italian bake.
You may also like these crock pot Italian recipes like Crock Pot Chicken Baked Ziti, Crock Pot Pizza Casserole, and Crock Pot Chicken Cacciatore. This recipe is featured in Smaller Crock Pot Recipes and Valentine's Day Recipes roundups.
โ๏ธHow to make this a "for two" or "family size " recipe
It is already "cooking for two" friendly, but you may make it smaller in a mini crock pot or larger for a family meal in a full-size slow cooker. The full recipe makes 4 servings in a 3 to 4-quart crock potโperfect for our "for two" household for two meals. But you can adjust down or up according to your needs.
- Use the recipe card and adjust the number of servings to half or double.
- Use the amount of ingredients in the ingredient list, not the instructionsโthose do not adjust.
- If you cook a half recipe in a 2-quart mini crock pot, watch the pasta closely since smaller cock pots may have more temperature variationโcheck early and frequently. The main downfall of mini crock pots is temperature control.
- A double recipe works well in a 6 ยฝ quart or large slow cooker.
- Cook for the same amount of time on low. But heed the warning about checking your pasta early due to crock pot temperature variations, especially in mini crock pots.
Serving and Leftovers
Serve like any great Italian. A green salad and garlic bread are perfect.
Store leftovers in an airtight container refrigerated for 4 days or frozen for 3 months.
To reheat, thaw overnight in the refrigerator. If frozen, reheat in the microwave or cover in the oven.
โFAQs
Baked Ziti starts with some tomato-based sauce, usually with meat in my house, but you could skip the meat if you must. Add some cheese and pasta, and you have a classic Italian dish. There are variations, but that is it.
They look similar but not quite the same. Ziti is a bit bigger and has straight-cut ends. The penne is a little smaller with angle-cut ends. But they cook the same and can be used interchangeably. I like my pasta a bit smaller, and penne is readily available, and ziti pasta is not around me.
๐The Recipe Card with Step-by-Step Instructions
Crock Pot Baked Ziti
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef - or Italian sausage
- 1 onion - small chopped
- 2 cloves garlic - crushed
- 1 cup ricotta cheese
- 1 egg white
- ยผ cup Parmesan cheese - grated
- 1 ยฝ tsp salt - divided
- ยฝ tsp dry parsley
- 28 oz crushed tomatoes
- 1 ยฝ teaspoon basil
- ยฝ teaspoon pepper
- โ teaspoon crushed red pepper - optional
- 2 cups dry ziti noodles
- 2 cups mozzarella cheese - shredded
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Start by placing 1 pound of ground beef over medium-high heat to brown. Then chop one small onion, crush two cloves of garlic, and add while the meat is browning.ย Cook until no longer pink. It takes about 9-10 minutes.
- Combine 1 cup (8 oz.) ricotta cheese with one egg white, ยผ cup grated Parmesan cheese, ยฝ teaspoon dry parsley, and ยฝ teaspoon saltโdo not over-mix.
- To a medium mixing bowl, mix 28 oz can crushed tomatoes, 1 ยฝ teaspoon basil, optional red pepper, 1 teaspoon salt, and ยฝ teaspoon pepperโmix well.
- Drain the meat of extra fat and combine it to make the meat sauce. You can add โ tsp crushed red pepper if you wish. It will not add much heat.
- Give a 3 to 4 qt. or larger slow cooker a good spray of PAM. Put about 1 ยฝ cups of meat sauce in first and spread to cover the bottom. Add 1 cup of uncooked ziti noodles or other pasta.
- Add half the ricotta cheese mixture by placing spoonfuls on the pasta. Add ยฝ cup of shredded Mozzarella cheese on top of the ricotta cheese layer.
- Repeat the layers by adding 1 ยฝ cup meat sauce, 1 cup of dry pasta, the rest of the ricotta, and ยฝ cup of shredded mozzarella. Top that with the rest of the sauce and 1 cup of mozzarella.
- Cook on low for 4-5 hours. But check the pasta one hour early and closer to the end. End cooking early if needed to prevent overcooking of the pasta
Recipe Notes
Pro Tips
- For a discussion on adjusting the size of this recipe, please see the section in the recipe post where full-size and 2 quart mini crock pots are discussed.
- The pasta goes in uncooked, so the choice of pasta is important. Longer discussion within the post. I suggest a standard penne. I doubt very small pasta, whole wheat, or gluten-free would be a good choice.
- There are variables like the crock pot and the other ingredients. But the biggest variable is the pasta. So check the pasta several times before you think it is done.
- DO NOT SKIP CHECKING THE PASTA early, part way through the cooking, and closer to the end. Many kinds of pasta will go from undercooked to overcooked rapidly.
Your Own Private Notes
To adjust the recipe size:
You can adjust the number of servings above; however, only the amount in the ingredient list is adjusted, not the instructions.
Nutrition Estimate (may vary)
Inspired by a Pioneer Woman recipe for Baked Ziti, it is a bit more lasagna-like than some recipes with ricotta and Parmesan cheeses and was not a crock pot recipe. I adapted.
Editor's note: Originally published December 5, 2013. Updated with expanded options, refreshed photos, and a table of contents to help navigation.
Ron says
You've made me hungry looking at this baked pasta recipe. Nothing better than a pasta bake on any evening. Thanks for reposting this.
Minka says
Hi, this is a good crock pot recipe! Easy and tasty! Today is my second go round with it and I intend to put in my regular rotation. Just a quick question. My egg yolk slipped out of the shell and I couldn't get it all out. I don't think that it will change the taste but concerned that it will cause sickness since it is in a slow cooker! Will we be able to eat this even half of an egg yolk?
Thanks
Minka
DrDan says
No problem what so ever. As I scaled this recipe down, I really only needed half of an egg so I kept the white and tossed the yoke. If you double the recipe just use the whole egg.
DrDan
Cathie Horne says
Just made this and it was yummy. Was worried about the pasta cooking but it was perfect after 4 hours.
Love your site, the recipes and your rants!
Jessica says
When I normally make baked ziti, instead of Ricotta, I use sour cream (husband hates ricotta - which I don't get but that's another story). Do you think it would make a difference substituting out the ricotta for sour cream in the slow cooker recipe? This looks amazing and would be such an easier clean up.
DrDan says
Hummm.... that seems a little southwestern to me. My major worry would be cooking sour cream that long in a crock pot. I generally will add things like sour cream near or at the end of cooking. I'm sure I have recipes with it earlier but I worry about it not handling prolonged cooking well. If you try it, comeback and post your results please.
DrDan
Robin Klien says
Very nice recipe. I tried it and for a change got it right in my first attempt. I also appreciate the way you have answered different comments. These clarifications also helped the understanding. Thanks for your valuable post and valuable time as well.
Shannon Jaskiewicz says
I CANNOT WAIT to try this! I've both bookmarked this recipe AND funneled it into a document to save on my hard drive in the event my bookmarks get blasted.
I PARTICULARLY appreciate the thorough documentation, replete with pictures.
I DO have 1 question/clarification before attempting this: i see that the noodles are uncooked, but are they rinsed? Some recipes I've seen call for rinsing the noodles in a colander prior to layering in the crockpot. Do you do this, or do you just layer them straight away?
DrDan says
I see no reason for a rinse in this recipe. I have enough moisture so they don't stick. If a recipe is marginal on fluid and the pasta is dusty with flour, they could stick together some. A rinse would never hurt but not needed.
DrDan
alease says
I made this today it was sooooo good
DrDan says
Thanks so much for the comment and the rating.
DrDan
Nicole says
This is so good. I did add a little spices to the tomatoes and tomato paste but it turned out amazing. Will recommend to everyone!
DrDan says
Thanks for the comment and rating. I have made this twice in the last few weeks.
DrDan
Juanita says
ABSOLUTELY DELISH!!!!! I just made this recipe for my boyfriend and two young kids, and it was a big hit! Instead of risotto cheese (because i didnt have any lol), I used a mixture of tofu with a little salt, olive oil, and nutmeg. I also used pasta sauce instead of just tomatoes, and added water and seasonings. It turned out fabulous!!!! This is a recipe I will definitely keep in my back pocket for future use!
Thanks for such a wonderful site and yummy food ideas!!!
DrDan says
Thanks so much for the note and rating.
This is one of my all time favorites and probably #1 on the under-appreciated list. I think I will do this tomorrow again.
DrDan
Dea Varner says
WOW!!!!!.. was this ever good!!! I usually make a baked Mostacelli dish that my husband loves but this is now his favorite!!.. he likes that it's not so "heavy".. he's been trying to eat healthier and loves that this has a fresh taste to it because it uses canned tomatoes rather than a heavier pasta sauce with tons of added who-knows-what! I like that I can make it, throw it in the crock pot and forget about it for 4 or 5 hours and it doesn't heat the kitchen up! Definitely a keeper for us.. I'd give it the highest rating possible!!!! Thank you for another awesome recipe to add to our repertoire!!!
DrDan says
Thanks for the rating and comment. I found this recipe just outrageously good. I thought it would be good... just not this good. I think I will convert more recipes to crock pots.
Dan
Anne Marie says
Also, this made much more than for two for us! I fed our family of four twice!
DrDan says
Thanks for the notes. About the dryness. Different pastas can take a different amount of fluid and I made it a little dry to begin with to not make ziti soup which I thought was a real danger here. And it makes 4 large servings... maybe I should have said 6 or 8.
Again thanks for the comments.
DrDan
Anne Marie says
I made this and the family loved it. I thought it turned out a bit dry, but I'm thinking it was because we always use 100% whole wheat pasta. I am going to experiment with adding some water to the recipe.
Glenn says
Doubling the recipe and making for dinner tonight in my 8 qt. slow cooker. Eagerly anticipating!
DrDan says
This one should double well. I have not since I don't need that much food.
Let us know how it goes.
DrDan
Leslie A. says
I am so glad I finally found a recipe site geared for two. I plan on making this for my husbands birthday. Can I make this with gluten free pasta?
DrDan says
No clue on the gluten free pasta. I have not had great luck with recipes that use uncooked pasta that is not standard pasta. Give it a try but I would do a test cooking or have a backup plan. I'm afraid it would turn to mush.
Good Luck with it...
DrDan
Mary says
Just had this for dinner. Everyone REALLY liked it! I made it with Italian sausage, my husband's favorite.
Judy U. says
Looks good! I will have to try, I always worry about mushy noodles in the crockpot.
DrDan says
No mushy here. If done with precooked pasta, I'm sure it would be...