Description
Slow Cooker Baked Ziti delivers comfort wrapped in cheesy Italian-American goodness. Layers of pasta, robust marinara, and melted mozzarella create a hearty meal that welcomes you home with warmth and flavor.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Protein and Pasta:
- 1 pound (454 grams) ground beef
- 16 ounces (454 grams) dried ziti pasta
Cheese and Binding Ingredients:
- 15 ounces (425 grams) ricotta cheese
- 1 cup (100 grams) shredded mozzarella cheese
- 2 cups (200 grams) shredded Parmesan cheese
- 2 large eggs
Sauce and Seasoning:
- 2 jars pasta sauce
- 15 ounces (425 grams) tomato sauce
- ⅓ cup (20 grams) chopped fresh basil
- Salt, to taste
- Pepper, to taste
- Cooking spray
Instructions
- Brown of ground beef in a skillet over medium heat, crumbling it into fine pieces. Remove excess fat and set aside.
- In a mixing bowl, blend ricotta cheese with 2 eggs, incorporating freshly chopped basil for enhanced flavor profile.
- Create sauce by combining tomato pasta sauce with plain tomato sauce in a separate container.
- Prepare slow cooker by lightly spraying interior with non-stick cooking spray. Distribute 2 of sauce evenly across bottom surface.
- Construct first layer using dried ziti pasta, covering sauce base completely. Spread half of ricotta cheese mixture uniformly across pasta.
- Sprinkle Parmesan cheese over ricotta layer. Distribute half of cooked ground beef across this section.
- Repeat layering process: additional pasta, remaining ricotta mixture, another Parmesan cheese, and remaining ground beef.
- Pour remaining sauce over top layer, ensuring complete coverage of ingredients.
- Cover slow cooker and cook on high heat setting for 2-3 hours until pasta reaches desired tenderness.
- Ten minutes before serving, generously scatter shredded mozzarella cheese across top layer. Replace lid and allow cheese to melt completely.
- Once cooking completes, serve immediately in individual portions, ensuring each serving contains a balanced mix of ingredients.
Notes
- Untraditional slow cooker method transforms classic baked ziti into an effortless, hands-off comfort meal.
- Layering ingredients strategically ensures even cooking and maximizes flavor distribution throughout the dish.
- Ground beef adds substantial protein while ricotta creates creamy, luxurious texture between pasta layers.
- Fresh basil brings unexpected brightness, cutting through rich tomato sauce and cheese combinations.
- Cooking on high heat allows pasta to absorb sauces efficiently, creating perfectly tender noodles without boiling separately.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 3 hours
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 634 kcal
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 960mg
- Fat: 28g
- Saturated Fat: 14g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 1g
- Carbohydrates: 66g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 34g
- Cholesterol: 105mg