Breaking News! You can make pasta in your slow cooker. This Crock Pot Baked Ziti was made completely in the slow cooker. Cheesy, gooey pasta is a must try in your slow cooker! I know, I know. It’s hard to believe!
You don’t even have to cook the pasta before. I thought that the pasta would turn to mush but they ended up just like regular baked ziti. The best part is that I didn’t have to heat up my kitchen since it was 102 degrees the day I made it! There are actually tons of Italian recipes you can make in your slow cooker, two other easy ones are Creamy Italian Chicken and Bruschetta Chicken, if you aren’t feeling pasta.
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Secret Step for Crock Pot Baked Ziti
The secret is that you don’t add any water to the pasta and the tomato sauce slowly cooks the pasta for you. This recipe is so simple that all you have to do is mix a few ingredients together and then layer them all just like the traditional baked ziti.
Cheese, Cheese, and more Cheese!
The triple cheese blend makes this baked ziti a melty cheesy masterpiece. All of these cheeses add a unique flavor and gives you that real Italian restaurant Baked Ziti experience.
– Ricotta
– Parmesan
– Mozzarella
Types of Pasta
I actually used this gluten free penne pasta instead of ziti! I couldn’t find gluten free ziti at the grocery store. As you can see it doesn’t make a difference at all. You can use any tube pasta you should be good to go.
Ingredients to Make Crock Pot Baked Ziti
Jarred pasta sauce or homemade pasta sauce
Uncooked ziti/penne pasta
Ricotta cheese
Eggs
Freshly grated parmesan cheese
Mozzarella cheese
Basil
Salt and Pepper
Step by Step Directions for Crock Pot Baked Ziti
STEP 1. Spray Slow Cooker with Non Stick Spray
STEP 2. Mix Ricotta Cheese with egg and spices.
STEP 3. Layer sauce on bottom of the Slow Cooker
STEP 4. Layer Noodles
STEP 5. Scoop Five Dollops of Ricotta
STEP 6. Add Layer of Mozzarella
STEP 7. Repeat these layers two times times.
STEP 8. Add one more layer of pasta, sauce, mozzarella and sprinkle with Parmesan cheese. (No Noodles on this layer)
STEP 9. Cook on high for 2 1/2 hours
Perfect for Potluck
Crock Pot Baked Ziti makes A LOT of pasta! I love to make this as a main dish to bring to potlucks and everyone always raves about it. This will easily serve 6-8 people with large portions for a family dinner or you can freeze the leftovers and eat it later. We always freeze our leftovers and then eat it the following week!
Food Allergies
Gluten Free – I make everything gluten free in our house because my husband has celiac disease, which is when you are allergic to gluten. Our favorite pasta is the Gluten Free Barillla Pasta line. It doesn’t have the after taste of some pasta’s made with beans. I find that it is the best one at staying together while cooking. Some brands disintegrate especially when using in this kind of recipe where the pasta is soaking in sauce soaking.
If you are not gluten free swap the gluten free pasta for any ziti or penne.
Need A New Crock Pot?
My favorite is this Crock Pot 7 quart Programmable Slow Cooker. First and foremost, I love being able to set the timer in case I’m not home when the food is finished cooking and it just switches to warm. Plus you can lock the lid and just carry it to a party. Not only is it easy to carry but also you will never lose another Tupperware or serving dish again at a potluck party!
Crock Pot Baked Ziti
Ingredients
- 32 oz ricotta
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon basil
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
- 1/4 cup grated parmesan plus more for topping
- 48 oz marina sauce 2 jars
- 12 oz gluten free penne
- 16 oz shredded mozzarella cheese
Instructions
- Spray entire slow cooker insert with non-stick spray.
- In large bowl, mix ricotta with two eggs, 1/4 cup parmesan cheese, basil, salt and pepper.
- Cover bottom of slow cooker with sauce.
- Layer pasta on top of sauce.
- Take 5 scoops of the ricotta mixture drop onto sauce.
- Top with a layer of mozzarella cheese.
- Repeat steps 3-5 two more times.
- End with layer of sauce, mozzarella and parmesan.
- Cook on high for 2 1/2 hours.
- Serve with grated parmesan cheese on top.
Nutrition
More Casseroles
Looking for more easy casseroles? Try this easy Mexican Casserole.
Slow Cooker Enchilada Casserole
JENNIFER LYDA says
I add chopped zucchini, yellow squash, onions and diced tomatoes in my homemade pasta sauce to this ziti recipe. Can’t wait to try this! YUM!
allisonetreadwell says
I love veggies!!! Let me know how it turns out because that sounds so delicious!
Brittany says
I loved this recipe! So cheesy and tasty 😋
allisonetreadwell says
Hi Brittany!! Thanks so much for the comment!! So happy you liked it. It’s a favorite of mine too!
Jean says
Did you cook the noodles first? Tks
allisonetreadwell says
Hi Jean! You do not cook the noodles first. They get cooked in the red sauce. Hope you enjoy it!
Vickie says
This looks delish! Quick question…. do you cook the pasta first?
Thank you!
allisonetreadwell says
Hi Vickie! Thanks so much! The pasta goes in uncooked and cooks in the red sauce. Hope you enjoy it!
Darcy says
Is there a substitute for ricotta cheese?
allisonetreadwell says
Hi Darcy! I haven’t used it but people tell me they use cottage cheese or cream cheese to substitute the ricotta. Hope you enjoy it!
SaRenna Minano says
I wanted to cook this recipe today. I seen you said some people used cream cheese in substitution of ricotta cheese. Did they by any chance tell him how much cream cheese they used? Thank you!
allisonetreadwell says
Hi SaRenna! I haven’t made it myself with cream cheese but I would guess that 8 oz would be a good subsitution.
Megan says
Can you tell me what the cool time would be on low as opposed to high?
allisonetreadwell says
Hi Megan! I have never done it on low. I get worried that the pasta might become too soggy. However, I have had people tell me they cooked it for 5 hours on low and it turned out great. I might have to try it just to find out…
Cori says
Has anyone ever added ground beef to this recipe?
allisonetreadwell says
Hi Cori! I have absolutely used added ground beef. I just brown the meat and then drain the fat. Then I add the ground beef to the red sauce and layer.
Betsy Markman says
Please clarify: 2 jars of 48 oz each, for a total of 96 oz of spaghetti sauce?
allisonetreadwell says
Hi Betsy! Thanks for bringing this to my attention. I will try to make it more clear in the instructions. It should be (2) 24 oz jars of sauce so a total of 48 oz. 96 oz would be too much sauce! Hope you enjoy the recipe!
Help Me says
You completely glazed over the pasta sauce in your directions. Picture shows red sauce but you only instruct to mix together eggs, ricotta, parmesan, basil, salt and pepper. So how much of the pasta sauce do we use in that mix??
Please fix this in your instructions. Very confusing.
allisonetreadwell says
HI! I will have to go through and remake the recipe so I can give better directions on the sauce portion. I totally see what you mean. I did the sauce layers separate so I would say that I used 3/4 cup to 1 cup of sauce for each layer and 1/2 cup of sauce for the bottom of the crockpot. The most important part is to make sure the noodles are covered with the sauce at the end. This will help them all cook evenly. Thanks for your feedback and hopefully that answers your question.
Chandler says
My crockpot doesn’t have 2 ½. Hours. Can I cook it for 4?
allisonetreadwell says
Hi Chandler! I have never cooked it for 4 hours. I think the noodles might get a little soft.