Crock Pot Baked Ziti
This crock pot baked ziti recipe is a total gamechanger and will have you forget all about the baked version you used to make. With oozing, bubbling cheese, tender noodles, and a hearty pizza and tomato sauce blend, this comforting one pot meal is kid approved and makes a lot, making it perfect for potlucks and holidays.
Equipment
- 6 quart slow cooker/crockpot (well greased or lined)
- measuring cups
- measuring spoons
- small mixing bowl
- medium mixing bowl
- large mixing bowl
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Ingredients
- 14.5 oz (1 can) petite diced tomatoes + juice
- 30 oz (2 jars) pizza sauce
- 23 oz tomato sauce 1 (15 oz) can + 1 (8 oz) can
- 16 oz (1 lb.) uncooked ziti or penne
- 15 oz part skim ricotta cheese
- 2 eggs
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon crushed red pepper
- 3 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1 cup freshly grated parmesan
Instructions
- Mix the tomatoes and their juice, the pizza sauce, and tomato sauce together in a large mixing bowl. Then add 2 cups of this mixture to the bottom of a well greased crockpot.
- Add ⅓ of the dry noodles on top of the sauce in the crockpot.
- Mix the ricotta, eggs, and all seasonings in a medium mixing bowl. Place ½ of this mixture on top of the uncooked noodles.
- Mix the mozzarella and freshly grated parmesan cheese together; sprinkle ⅓ of this mixture (1&⅓ cups) on top of the ricotta mixture.
- Repeat the layers by adding 2 more cups of the sauce, followed by ⅓ of the noodles, the remaining half of the ricotta mixture, and ⅓ of the mozzarella mixture.
- For the third and final layer, add the noodles first, then the remaining sauce, and top with the remaining mozzarella mixture.
- Cover and cook on low for 2.5-3 hours. Keep warm until ready to serve. Let stand 5 minutes before serving.
Notes
This recipe is best cooked on low to avoid over-drying. Slow cookers vary, so check after 2 ½ hours to see if it's done.
Make sure all the noodles in the top layer are covered by the sauce and cheese so they don't dry out while slow cooking.
Don't skimp on the sauce! Follow the recipe instructions and make sure you have adequate levels of sauce for this recipe. Too much causes the meal to be sloppy and soupy; too little can be drying and the noodles won't cook properly.
Store Crock Pot Baked Ziti in an airtight container. Refrigerate for up to 5 days.
The ziti can also be frozen for up to 3 months in freezer safe packaging; defrost overnight in the fridge.
Nutrition
Calories: 538kcalCarbohydrates: 61gProtein: 32gFat: 19gSaturated Fat: 11gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 6gTrans Fat: 0.004gCholesterol: 99mgSodium: 1509mgPotassium: 970mgFiber: 6gSugar: 11gVitamin A: 1610IUVitamin C: 18mgCalcium: 571mgIron: 4mg
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