Crockpot Baked Ziti Recipe - The Cookie Rookie® (2024)

4.54 from 13 votes

Author: Becky – The Cookie Rookie

• ▢ 1 tablespoon olive oil
• ▢ 1 pound ground Italian sausage
• ▢ ½ onion chopped
• ▢ 3 cloves garlic minced
• ▢ 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning store-bought or homemade
• ▢ 36 ounces marinara sauce 1½ jars, store-bought or homemade
• ▢ 1½ cups low-sodium beef broth
• ▢ 1 pound dry ziti pasta 1 box
• ▢ 1 cup ricotta cheese
• ▢ 2 cups mozzarella cheese
• ▢ Grated Parmesan cheese optional, for topping
• ▢ Fresh basil optional, for topping

• Add the olive oil to a very large skillet or Dutch oven over medium heat.

  1 tablespoon olive oil

  

• Once heated, add in the sausage and use a wooden spoon to break it up into chunks

  1 pound ground Italian sausage

• Brown the meat.

• Add in the onion, garlic, and Italian seasoning, sautéing until the onions are soft.

  ½ onion, 3 cloves garlic, 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning

• Pour the marinara sauce and broth over the meat and stir until combined.

  36 ounces marinara sauce, 1½ cups low-sodium beef broth

• Spray the crockpot with nonstick cooking spray.

• Spread a layer of meat sauce in the bottom of the slow cooker covering it completely.

• Top with half of the uncooked pasta.

  1 pound dry ziti pasta

• Drop 4-5 spoonfuls of ricotta over pasta.

  1 cup ricotta cheese

• Sprinkle ½ cup mozzarella cheese over the ricotta.

  2 cups mozzarella cheese

  

• Repeat with another layer of meat sauce, the remaining pasta, and the remaining ricotta, and ½ cup mozzarella.

• Spread the remaining meat sauce over the top.

  

• Cover and cook on high for 1½-2 hours or on low for 2-4 hours.

• Top with remaining mozzarella cheese.

  

• Serve with grated parmesan and fresh basil, if desired.

  Grated Parmesan cheese, Fresh basil

• You can use a different sausage, such as chicken or turkey, or try ground beef, chicken, or turkey.
• Feel free to use chicken or vegetable broth instead of beef broth.
• For a creamy sauce, swap half of the broth for heavy cream.
• You can use penne or any other short pasta shape in place of the ziti.
• Finely chop some carrots, zucchini, mushrooms, or bell peppers and add them to the sauce to sneak in some veggies.
• After cooking the sausage, drain any excess fat to avoid making the ziti greasy.
• Choose a short pasta shape; otherwise, you’ll have to stir the pasta frequently to prevent sticking.
• Check the pasta on the lower end of the cook time to avoid mushy pasta.

Storage:Store crockpot baked ziti in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days or in the freezer for up to 2 months.

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