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    Home » Dinners » Slow Cooker Baked Ziti

    Slow Cooker Baked Ziti

    Published: Nov 29, 2017 · Modified: May 2, 2022 by Kate · This post may contain affiliate links.

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
    Slow Cooker Baked Ziti Recipe

    This Slow Cooker Baked Ziti recipe is made entirely in the crock pot -no need to cook the pasta separately! This quick and easy dinner is perfect for busy weeknights.

    A spoon scooping up slow cooker baked ziti.

    I love slow cooker recipes! I've made countless slow cooker dinners and breakfasts and even "baked" rolls in it. Seriously, there isn't much that a slow cooker can't do!

    This crock pot baked ziti takes a few minutes to put together, but I've included tips below to help you prep ahead if needed. It's also kid-friendly, and it reheats well.

    Ingredient notes

    • Italian sausage: You can use ground beef, ground turkey, or even ground chicken in place of the Italian sausage. If you use a different type of ground meat, you may need to increase the amount of the seasonings.
    • Bell peppers: Feel free to use different colors of peppers if you prefer.
    • Diced tomatoes: You can also use diced Italian tomatoes if you would like.
    • Tomato sauce: I often get questions asking what tomato sauce is. It's just pureed tomatoes in a can.

    How to make slow cooker baked ziti

    Some slow cookers have a stovetop setting. If your slow cooker has that setting, you brown the sausage and sauté the vegetables in your crock pot.

    Step 1: Heat a large skillet over medium heat.

    Step 2: Add oil to skillet.

    Step 3: Add Italian sausage, and cook until browned. Drain grease if desired.

    Onions peppers and browned Italian sausage in a slow cooker insert.

    Step 4: Stir in onion and peppers, and cook until vegetables are softened.

    Vegetables and Italian sausage cooking in a slow cooker.

    Step 5: Add garlic, Italian seasoning, and basil. Stir in to combine.

    Slow Cooker Baked Ziti

    Step 6: Stir in crushed tomatoes, diced tomatoes, and heavy cream. Season with salt and pepper. Pour the sauce into the slow cooker insert.

    Step 7: Add ziti to insert, and nestle into the sauce.

    Step 8: Pour tomato sauce over pasta, and make sure that noodles are covered in sauce.

    Step 9: Turn slow cooker setting to high. Cover, and cook for 3 hours.

    Cooked baked ziti in a slow cooker insert.

    Step 10: Gently stir pasta.

    Step 11: Sprinkle mozzarella over pasta. Cover, and let melt.

    Tips

    • Prep ahead: You can make the recipe through step 7 (making the meat sauce portion) up to 24 hours ahead of time. Cover and chill until ready to continue. Then, just continue with the recipe as-written.
    • Variations: This is an easy recipe to change to suit your tastes.
      • Spicy: You can make it spicier by added red pepper flakes along with the other spices.
      • Vegetarian: You can use a meat replacement instead of the Italian sausage.
      • Cheesy: You can mix in additional mozzarella cheese and parmesan cheese to the pasta before topping it with mozzarella.
      • Filling: You can stir in ricotta cheese for a creamier pasta.

    Recipe FAQs

    Can I use a different type of pasta?

    Yes, you can use a similar shape of pasta, like penne pasta or mostaccioli, instead of the ziti noodles.

    Can I freeze the pasta?

    You can freeze the cooked pasta. If you want to use it as a freezer meal, cook the pasta until it's just barely al dente. Otherwise, you'll end up with mushy pasta after you thaw/reheat it.

    Slow cooker baked ziti with a silver spoon in it.

    Serving suggestions

    You can sprinkle fresh basil over the pasta just before serving. Baked ziti goes well with a green salad and garlic bread, garlic breadsticks, or homemade garlic knots.

    Storage

    Store any leftover pasta in an airtight container in the refrigerator. The pasta will keep for up to 4 days when properly stored.

    More slow cooker dinner recipes!

    • Crock Pot Lasagna
    • Slow Cooker Tortellini Soup
    • Slow Cooker Chicken Parmesan
    • Slow Cooker Beef Stroganoff

    If you’ve tried this slow cooker baked ziti recipe, don’t forget to rate the recipe and leave me a comment below. I love to hear from people who've made my recipes!

    You can subscribe to receive my latest recipe newsletters or follow me on Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest for even more delicious food.

    Slow Cooker Baked Ziti Recipe

    Slow Cooker Baked Ziti

    Slow Cooker Baked Ziti is an easy crock pot pasta dinner that's perfect for weeknight meals. The pasta cooks right in the sauce!
    5 from 3 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Main Course
    Cuisine: Italian
    Prep Time: 15 minutes
    Cook Time: 3 hours 20 minutes
    Total Time: 3 hours 35 minutes
    Servings: 8 servings
    Calories: 507kcal
    Author: Kate @ I Heart Eating

    Equipment

    • Slow Cooker

    Ingredients

    • 1 tablespoon olive oil
    • 1 pound ground Italian sausage mild or hot
    • 1 cup diced yellow or white onion
    • 1 cup diced green pepper
    • 1 cup diced red pepper
    • 5 cloves garlic minced
    • 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
    • 1 tablespoon dried sweet basil
    • 28 ounce can crushed tomatoes
    • 14.5 ounce can diced tomatoes drained
    • ½ cup heavy cream
    • Salt and pepper
    • 8 ounces dry ziti or similar pasta
    • 15 ounce tomato sauce
    • 1 ½ cups shredded mozzarella cheese

    Instructions

    • Heat a large skillet over medium heat.
    • Add oil. 
    • Add Italian sausage, and cook until browned. Drain grease if desired.
    • Stir in onion and peppers, and cook until vegetables are softened.
    • Add garlic, Italian seasoning, and basil. Stir in to combine.
    • Stir in crushed tomatoes, diced tomatoes, and heavy cream. 
    • Season with salt and pepper.
    • Pour the sauce into the slow cooker insert.
    • Add ziti to insert, and nestle into the sauce.
    • Pour tomato sauce over pasta, and make sure that noodles are covered in sauce.
    • Turn slow cooker setting to high. Cover, and cook for 3 hours.
    • Gently stir pasta. 
    • Sprinkle mozzarella over pasta. Cover, and let melt.

    Notes

    *Nutrition values are estimates.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1serving | Calories: 507kcal | Carbohydrates: 39g | Protein: 20g | Fat: 30g | Saturated Fat: 13g | Cholesterol: 80mg | Sodium: 1039mg | Potassium: 926mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 10g | Vitamin A: 1525IU | Vitamin C: 59.6mg | Calcium: 221mg | Iron: 4.4mg
    Tried this recipe? Rate it below. Mention @i_heart_eating on Instagram & tag #ihearteating!
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    About Kate

    Kate got her first cookbook when she was five years old, and she hasn't stopped cooking since then! Her delicious recipes have been featured on Food Network, MSN, Better Homes & Gardens, Buzzfeed, The Huffington Post, and more. When she's not cooking or baking, she can be found on her mini farm with her husband and her five kids.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Clare Albarado

      June 20, 2019 at 12:50 am

      Looking forward to try this with a vegetarian option
      Using the Beyond meat sausage links. By themself
      They are so good..

      Reply
      • Kate

        June 20, 2019 at 7:04 pm

        Sounds good! I've tried the Beyond Meat burgers but haven't tried the sausages.

        Reply
    2. Greta

      March 03, 2019 at 11:40 am

      Hi! I will be gone at work all day. Can I cook it on low for more hours? How long?

      Reply
      • Kate

        March 04, 2019 at 9:35 am

        Hi! I haven't tried cooking it on LOW for 6 hours to say for certain whether or not that will work.

        Reply
    3. Ashley Woodward

      February 25, 2019 at 7:37 am

      Can I double this recipe? If I do, how long should I cook it?

      Reply
      • Kate

        February 26, 2019 at 11:19 am

        Hi! I haven't tried to double this recipe so I'm afraid that I don't know the answer on that one.

        Reply
    4. Ash

      January 30, 2019 at 5:05 pm

      How long would you cook it on high if you are in a hurry?

      Reply
      • Kate

        January 31, 2019 at 8:38 am

        Sorry, but I'm not sure that cooking it on high would work with pasta. I've never tried it to say for sure.

        Reply
    5. Diana

      December 30, 2018 at 10:44 am

      This might be a dumb question, but this will be my first time using my ninja! Do I cook the ziti first, or put them in hard for 3 hours? I feel like it would get soggy if I put cooked noodles in for 3 hours?

      Reply
      • Kate

        December 30, 2018 at 8:40 pm

        It's not a dumb question! Yes, you will put the ziti in uncooked. You are absolutely right that they would end up mushy if they were cooked first. If you have any other questions, please feel free to ask! =)

        Reply
    6. Lyn

      November 09, 2018 at 7:13 am

      5 stars
      Made it and everyone enjoyed. Adding the pasta for 30 mins.

      Reply
      • Kate

        November 09, 2018 at 8:55 am

        I'm glad that you liked it! Thank you for taking the time to comment! =)

        Reply
    7. Katie

      September 25, 2018 at 9:16 am

      What if I don't have heavy cream? Can I just leave it out?

      Reply
      • Kate

        September 25, 2018 at 10:00 am

        The heavy cream helps to add richness and tone down some of the acidity in the sauce. Do you have half-and-half or something similar?

        Reply
    8. Alison

      June 29, 2018 at 2:26 pm

      Can this be prepared in just a regular crockpot without all the inserts?

      Reply
      • Kate

        June 29, 2018 at 4:02 pm

        Sure! Steps 2-6 would just need to be completed in a skillet on the stovetop. Also, I would suggest using a crock pot liner or spraying the crock with nonstick cooking spray. Please let me know if you have any other questions!

        Reply
    9. Sarah

      April 18, 2018 at 10:53 am

      5 stars
      I found this recipe on pinterest. I've made crockpot pasta recipes from there that were so bad. I was scared that this one would be too, but it was really good! Thank you!

      Reply
      • Kate

        April 18, 2018 at 11:12 am

        I'm glad you liked it! Thanks for coming back to comment!=)

        Reply

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    I’m Kate Dean- mom to five young kids, recipe developer, and photographer. Here at I Heart Eating®, I share my family’s favorite tried-and-true recipes.

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