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 (24 oz 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
Dora Lomme says
If I use a pound and a half of pasta, do you think I would just increase everything else by 50%? Do you think I would need more time
Allison Treadwell says
Hi Dora! I would probably recommend adding at least a half hour. I usually check with a toothpick once the cooking time is done to make sure it goes through the noodles easily. Also, make sure to add maybe 75% more sauce and 50% of everything else. The key is that all the noodles are covered in sauce so they cook in the sauce. Hope it works great!
Dora Lomme says
Thank you!
Amy Dendy says
What size crock pot do you use?
Allison Treadwell says
Hi Amy! I use a 6 qt crockpot. Make sure to cover the noodles completely with the red sauce so they cook even. Enjoy!
Julie says
Can this be assembled and refrigerated ahead of time (ie night before)?
Allison Treadwell says
The noodles might soak in the red sauce too long and turn to mush. I’m not sure I would recommend it…
Julie says
Very good point. Thank you!
Kelly says
Can you cook this on low for 5 hours ?
Brooke says
Can you add burger to this for protein?
Allison Treadwell says
Absolutely! We add ground beef all the time and sausage. Just brown and drain the fat then stir it in with the red sauce.
Andra says
Do you cook pasta 1st before adding to crock pot?
Allison Treadwell says
Hi Andra! You do not cook the pasta before. The red sauce will cook the pasta.
Monica Jenniges says
We made this and it was good! We didn’t completely cover pasta with red sauce on top layer make sure you do that otherwise some noodles will be hard! Overall good! LOADED with cheese!
Amanda says
Do you have to use gluten free pasta for this to turn out? Could I use regular ziti or penne?
Allison Treadwell says
You can use regular pasta! We just use gluten free. It has the same cooking time. Enjoy!
nikki says
hii, i was just wondering if i halved this recipe would it need less time?
Allison Treadwell says
Hi Nikki, I would say that it would need less time but not sure on half. I would reduce by a half hour and then check to see if the noodles are soft. Also, make sure to completely cover the noodles in sauce so that it cooks the noodles.
Amberly says
Is there no hamburger meat in this recipe?
Allison Treadwell says
There isn’t any put you can add ground beef. Just brown and drain the beef and then mix it in with the red sauce.
Whitney says
If I cooked a half batch in a 3qt crockpot would your recommend an adjustment to the cook time?
Allison Treadwell says
Hi Whitney, I would reduce by a half hour. Also, make sure to cover the noodles in sauce. This is what cooks them so they need to be completely covered. More sauce is better than less.
Lindsay says
Could I add frozen meatballs?
Matt Fay says
Hi Lindsay – you can! I think I’d add those in at Step 5. This way you have them deep in the crock pot, and covered with other ingredients. This will ensure that they get fully cooked and come out nice and hot!