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.
Disclaimer- Some links below are Amazon affiliate links, meaning at no extra cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.
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. The secret-secret is to make sure the ziti pasta pieces sit in the red sauce when you layer the ingredients in the Crock Pot. If any of the pasta isn't in the red sauce, those parts might end up a little hard.
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 for This Dish
Ziti Pasta
Ziti is a type of Italian pasta shaped as smooth, medium-length tubes with straight-cut ends (unlike penne, which has angled cuts). Ziti is traditionally used in baked dishes like baked ziti, where the hollow center helps trap sauces, cheeses, and meat for a hearty, flavorful bite. Its sturdy texture holds up well to thick tomato sauces, creamy cheeses, and slow-cooked meats, making it a go-to pasta for comforting, oven-finished meals.
- ZITI PASTA: Ziti pasta, the ever-popular tube-shaped pasta, gets its name from the word “zita,” or bride; Stock up with this pack of 8, 16-ounce boxes of ziti pasta
- BARILLA PASTA: Made with durum wheat to deliver great taste and perfect "al dente" texture every time
Optional Gluten-Free Penne Pasta
If you want a gluten-free version of this dish, just swap out the pasta. I've actually used this gluten free penne pasta instead of ziti! It really doesn't make much difference to the finished dish.
Other Tube Pasta Options
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, ½ the parmesan cheese, and seasonings.
STEP 3. Layer sauce on bottom of the slow cooker
STEP 4. Layer the pasta. Make sure the pasta is in the sauce.
STEP 5. Scoop five dollops of ricotta (about ¼ of your mix)
STEP 6. Add layer of mozzarella (using about ¼, or 2oz, of the cheese)
STEP 7. Repeat these layers two more times.
STEP 8. Add one more layer of pasta, sauce, mozzarella, and sprinkle with the rest of your Parmesan cheese. (No pasta on this layer)
STEP 9. Cook on high for 3 hours
Important Note About Servings and Crock Pot Size
Because we're using pasta in the Crock Pot, it's important not to over or under cook this.
When using a Crock Pot of any size, you want to aim for having the ceramic insert at least ⅔ full for a proper cook. Less than that you food might get too hot too fast.
I find that my 4-quart Crock Pot works great when making 4 servings of the baked ziti. For larger crowds, say 6-8 servings, I'll use my 6-quart cooker. If I use my 6-quart cooker for 4 servings it just gets too hot.
- Crock-Pot 4 Quart Travel Proof Cook and Carry Programmable Slow Cooker with Locking Lid, Convenient Handles, and Digital Display, Stainless Steel
Perfect for Potluck
Crock Pot Baked Ziti can make 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 4 - 8 people (adjust printable menu card with servings requirement) 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 - If you want a gluten-free version of this dish, I have you covered! My favorite gluten-free 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.
Crock Pot Baked Ziti
Ingredients
- 24 oz marina sauce
- 8 oz Ziti pasta
- 16 oz ricotta
- 8 oz shredded mozzarella cheese
- ¼ cup grated parmesan
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon basil
- .5 teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon pepper
Instructions
- Spray entire slow cooker insert with non-stick spray.
- In large bowl, mix ricotta with the egg, basil, salt, pepper and half of the grated parmesan.
- Cover bottom of slow cooker with sauce.
- Layer ⅓ of the pasta pasta evenly on top of sauce.
- Take 5 scoops of the ricotta mixture drop onto sauce (about ¼ of your mix).
- Top with a layer of mozzarella cheese (about ¼ of your cheese).
- Repeat steps 3-6 two more times.
- End with layer of sauce, mozzarella, and then the rest of the parmesan cheese.
- Cook on high for 3 hours. Test doneness by sampling on of the ziti pasta pieces. If too firm, cook a little longer.
- Optional: Serve with additional fresh grated parmesan cheese on top.
Nutrition
More Casseroles
Looking for more easy casseroles? Try this easy Mexican Casserole.
Slow Cooker Enchilada Casserole
Zoe says
Can you add ground beef to this recipe?
Allison Treadwell says
Hi Zoe! Absolutely! If you just brown the meat and drain the grease first. Then add it to the red sauce and follow the instructions the same. Hope you enjoy it!
Rebekah Callant says
I made this tonight and it was great BUT I did have to cook mine for MUCH longer. At 2 1/2 hours I was eating raw pasta in most spots... I ended up cooking mine for 2 1/2 more hours and it was great. I am at high altitude, so not sure if that had anything to do with it. Otherwise it was great!!!
Allison Treadwell says
Hi Rebekah- I'm so sorry to hear the cook time wasn't correct for you. Unfortunately, so many crockpots have cook times that are different since their temperatures vary. Mine does run a little hot. I'm happy you had time and it turned out delicious. Thanks so much for the feedback!
Brianna says
Do you need to have the egg in this? Any substitutes? I have a son with an egg allergy so look for an alternative to try this.
Allison Treadwell says
Hi Brianna, You can easily skip the egg. It just adds flavor. It will still be good without it. Just make sure to cover all the noodles in red sauce so they cook evenly. Hope you enjoy it!!
Janelle says
Hi Allison,
Can I substitute a different cheese for the ricotta?
Allison Treadwell says
HI Janelle! Yes, people substitute the ricotta with cream cheese or cottage cheese typically. Hope you enjoy it!
K says
Hi, I know it says how many servings but what amount is a serving. 1 cup, 1/2 c. Please let me know thanks!
Jennifer Davis says
If I wanted to half the recipe how long would you recommend it cook?
Allison Treadwell says
HI Jennifer- I think it would still need to cook for 2 hours. The red sauce cooks the noodles so just make sure to cover them completely with sauce.
Kristin says
Hi! Do I cook the noodles first or so they cook in the crockpot pot? Thanks.
Allison Treadwell says
Hi Kristin, You do not cook the noodles first. You just cover them completely in the red sauce and the liquid from the sauce cooks the noodles. Hope you enjoy it!
Amanda says
This looks so good but I was wondering if you could cook it on low. And if so how long?
Allison Treadwell says
Hi Amanda! I haven't cooked it low before because I worry the noddles will get too soft. However, people have told me they have cooked it on low and it still turned out great. I would say 4 hours on low and check to see if the noodles are soft.
Gina Williams says
Do you have to use gluten free pasta?? Thanks, Gina
Allison Treadwell says
Hi Gina! Any pasta will work! It doesn't need to be gluten free.
Janelle says
Hi Gina,
Can I substitute a different cheese for the ricotta?
Kascia says
Hi, I’m currently making this. Do I stir it as it cooks? Or just let it be. And when it’s done do you stir it up all together or just serve it??
Allison Treadwell says
Hi Kascia! I'm so sorry I didn't see this. You do not usually stir it when it cooking. Let me know how it turned out!!
Angela says
The flavor was okay, but almost none of the noodles were cooked. Next time I’ll cook them first. I’m not sure how this worked for anyone
Allison Treadwell says
Hi Angela, I'm so sorry to hear this! The biggest problem is if you don't use enough red sauce and cover the noodles since that liquid is what actually cooks them noodles. However, I think if you want to parboil the noodles ahead of time that should work as well. Again, sorry for the uncooked noodles. I always hate to hear that.
Sarah Kellogg says
If I’m leaving the crook pit all day on warm should I just cook the pasta for 4 to 5 mins and stick it in the crook pot? I don’t want to over cook the pasta.
Allison Treadwell says
Hi Sarah! This is a tough recipe to leave on warm all day. I'm not sure I would recommend that for pasta since it might become too soft. You could probably do low for 4-5 hours and just make sure to cover all the pasta very well with red sauce since that is what cooks it. I think cooking it ahead of time will make it even more overcooked.
Mary Beth says
Have you ever doubled this recipe? I'm looking to make it for a crowd. How do I know if my crock pot is big enough?
Mandi says
Can I use spaghetti sauce, or does it have to be marinara?
Allison Treadwell says
Hi Mandi! Any tomato based spaghetti sauce will work! Hope you enjoy it!
Shae says
If I cut the recipe in half does the time also get cut in half?
Allison Treadwell says
Hi Shae, I don't think I would cut it in half. I would check at an hour and a half to see if the noodles are soft.
Sue says
Is it 2 jars of 24 oz each or 2 jars for a total of 24 oz? And do you have to use gluten free pasta?
Allison Treadwell says
Hi Sue, It is 2 jars of 24oz pasta sauce so a total of 48oz of pasta sauce. I can't figure out how to write that without confusing people. It needs lots of sauce because that is what cooks the pasta. Regular pasta works great too.
Kensie says
Hey! So I made this, and the most of the noodles weren’t cooked at all. Can I cook them a little before, other than that, it tasted good, the noodles just weren’t cooked.
Allison Treadwell says
Hi Kensie, I'm so sorry to hear that. You could try and par boil them for about 4-5 minutes. You just don't want them to get mushy with the red sauce. Also, it's really important to use enough sauce if you don't cook them before adding them to the crockpot. I always make sure that every noodle is covered in sauce but it sounds like that wasn't your issue since not of them cooked. Again, so sorry it didn't turn out well.
Jenny says
Can you double the recipe?
Allison Treadwell says
Hi Jenny! I have not doubled the recipe before but if you have a big enough crockpot it should work! Make sure all the noodles are fully covered in red sauce so they cook!
Kathy says
Can I add ground beef. If so, how much?
Allison Treadwell says
Hi Kathy! Yes, you can! I usually add 1 pound of 80/20 ground beef. I brown it and drain the fat. After that I mix it in with the red sauce and layer as usual. Hope you enjoy it!
Joyce Hickey says
Can u use different pasta?
Emily Zipprich says
Do I cook the noodles first or put in raw?
Allison Treadwell says
Hi Emily! The noodles are raw and you just want to make sure to cover all of them completely in the red sauce. Hope you enjoy!
Angela says
Hi, can I use the casserole crock pot to make this?
Allison Treadwell says
Absolutely! The most important thing is to make sure all the noodles are covered in the sauce so as long as you do that it should work just fine!