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.
Garry says
Made this today. I liked it, wifey not so much. She said it lacked flavor and was dry. It was dry, to much penne, easily solved problem. Taste, I don't know, she said she is adding some tom sauce with her next helping. I thought it was fine. She had radiation therapy about 2 years ago and since then it seems her taste buds are messed up. Like she absolutely cannot tolerate any spicy food even black pepper. This might account for taste.
DrDan says
Hi Garry,
Welcome to the blog.
Sorry, it didn't work that well for you. Increase the fluid with care or recipes like this can become "soup". I have done this recipe at least 25 times with nothing I would call dryness. I'm suspecting pasta variation. Whole wheat paste could definately do it.
I'm not sure there is much to do about the effect of chemo/radiation on taste buds. Patient have told me about it and I believe it usually returns but not always. Since taste and smell are important drivers in nutition, you need to watch that.
Dan
Elizabeth says
Dr. Dan, thanks so much for sharing your recipe! It sounds so good!! I can't wait to fix it! It's just the two of us here, but I don't have a small crock-pot. If I doubled the recipe, do you think the leftovers could be frozen?
DrDan says
Hi Elizabeth,
I do double this all the time since I use it for semi-formal. Like dinners before holidays with company.
I will freeze great and is good refrigerated for 3-4 days.
As written, I do think it needs the smaller crock pot. I would double if using a bigger crock pot.
I use my 3.5 qt pot over half the time. A great investment.
Dan
Amanda says
I am making this for a Super Bowl party, and I will be pressed for time. Do you think I could prep (layer it in the stoneware crock) this ahead of time then slow cook it the next day? Do you think it will make the noodles too soggy?
DrDan says
Hi Amanda,
Welcome to the blog.
It might be ok and might not. I wouldn't do it. I would cook the meat and make the sauce then mix the cheese then refrigerate. Assembly is fairly quick.
Dan
Mike says
Hi Dan,
I was looking for a lasagna recipe but this sounds even better (and easier). About midway through the instructions you mention cooking the pasta with juice from the chicken. If this isn't a typo, I'm confused. I'll be attempting this recipe regardless. Thanks for all the great meals!
DrDan says
Hi Mike,
Welcome to the blog.
Yep, a typo. It must have been there there for years and has had 500,000 plus views and you are the first to see it. Fixed and thanks for the proof read.
I love this dish. It is very lasagna like but much easier.
Dan
Lishers says
This is an edit to my above comment: I used rigatoni, not rotini. Sorry about that.
Lishers says
Iโve made a lot of recipes Iโve found online, but I donโt think Iโve ever been as pleased with any of them as I was this. โPleasedโ is actually quite an understatement. We were all fairly blown away, to be honest.
I was a little worried as I was layering everything, as the ratio of ingredients seemed strange to me. Then, prior to serving, I was sure to give my son the requisite โnow, remember, this is kind of an experimentโ qualifier, but it was completely unnecessary. Everything was DELICIOUS!
A couple of notes: I made this with Italian sausage in lieu of ground beef and would never have it any other way. I used rotini instead of ziti since I couldnโt find ziti. Finally: the pasta was a teensy bit mushy, but I donโt blame the recipe AT ALL. My crock pot tends to cook hot, and I know this from experience; BUT since this was my first time making this, I wanted to follow the instructions as closely as possible. Next time (okay, in three days), Iโll cut off cooking at about 3:30 or 3:40 (like I said, it was only a teensy bit).
Anyway, I SUPER HIGHLY RECOMMEND this recipe to anyone who may be on the fence about it. With Italian sausage.
DrDan says
Hi Lishers,
Welcome to the blog.
This is one of my personal favorites and I really appreciate your comment. I cook this frequently as a double recipe and will usually use half Italian sausage and half burger.
I have used different pastas with this and a few seem to run a bit soft. The mass market standard pasta seems to do the best. A little odd.
Having said that, there is a lot of value in knowing your pot and that hot pot could make the pasta a bit mussy.
Thanks again for the note.
Dan
Beverly Barndt says
Hello Rockstar,
Made this today and it was DELISH! Again are you happily married? LOL
I just love everything about this site!!! It has been a great help to me! Thanks for your time!
Adam says
Hey I was just wondering why the egg white and not the whole egg like some of the other recipes I've seen?
DrDan says
Hi Adam,
Welcome to the blog.
Generally I model a recipe after 3-4 others then add my touches. The egg is generally in a ratio of 1 egg to 16 oz of ricotta cheese. That is also true in most lasagna recipes. It is added to firm up the texture some with the protein. So this is a "for two" recipes and only needed 8 oz of the ricotta cheese so half an egg. The white is the most important part for the texture. A whole egg might make the cheese more "soupy".
Sometimes I would use whites over whole eggs to decrease the fat but this is not a low fat recipe so 5 gms of fat doesn't really matter.
Dan
Chelsea says
This looks good. Do you think I use cottage cheese instead of ricotta? Also can I use a jar of sauce instead of the crushed tomatoes? Obviously it won't be as fresh but it's easier sometimes.
DrDan says
Hi Chelsea,
The crushed tomatoes are canned also. Sauce would be ok but more watery.
Cottage cheese: My mother used it. It is not preferred and will be different but ok. I prefer ricotta by far.
Dan
Rebecca says
This looks sooo good. Quick question. Will it hold up well if it cooks on low for 4-5 hours and then sets on warm for another three? I'm worried about it becoming dry and/or burned before I can get home.
DrDan says
I suspect it will be mush with the pasta overcooked.
Dan
Burgandy says
Hello looking to try this recipe for me and my boyfriend my crockpot has a "keep warm" setting to keep contents at warm temperature once finished. Would this effect my pasta? Will I run into the noodle mush problem?
DrDan says
No but maybe. I have done this and other pasta containing crockpot recipes that ended up on keep warm for a while. My general feeling is that cooking continues but only a little. So my feeling is an hour or so on keep warm is ok but if you are going past that, it may overcook some and could affect texture. I definitely would not be doing 3-4 hours on warm.
Patty says
Can I double the ricotta or would it effect the moisture level too much? Many thanks! I love this site!
DrDan says
Hi Patty, This recipe runs a little dry. I make it that way to avoid the "ziti soup" trap. I believe it would be fine.
Dan
Crystal Ellis says
I tried this recipe and it was absolutely amazing. I was wondering can i cook this for 2 hours on the high setting instead of 4 hours on the low setting? Would it make a difference?
DrDan says
Hi Crystal,
I have not tried 2 hours on high although I believe it would work. My only question is the pasta. Using uncooked pasta in crockpot recipes can get a little tricky. If you try, please post and let us know.
I do love this recipe.
Thanks for the note.
Dan
Lori says
Made this last week. Very flavorful and really easy. I added just a tad more pasta than called for... My mistake, as it turned out just a little dry. (What was I even thinking?) :) But that's a mistake that can and will be remedied next time. The whole family enjoyed it so there will be a next time! By the way, this made plenty enough to feed a family of 4 and even had enough for leftovers!
Peter Beckles says
What is ziti? The pasta illustrated is penne, isn't it?
DrDan says
Ziti pasta is cut straight across on the end and is slightly bigger than penne. My local store doesn't even carry Ziti. I use them interchangeably.
Dan
Nancy says
This looks right up our alley. Definitely putting this in my summer rotation when we want a hot meal but don't want to heat up the kitchen.