Comforting Slow Cooker Baked Ziti (Printable Version)
Tender ziti layered with Italian sausage, ricotta, and mozzarella in rich marinara sauce, slowly cooked to bubbly perfection.
# What You'll Need:
→ Meats
01 - 1 lb Italian sausage, mild or spicy, casing removed
→ Pasta
02 - 1 lb dry ziti pasta
→ Dairy
03 - 15 oz ricotta cheese
04 - 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese, divided
05 - 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
→ Vegetables & Sauces
06 - 1 medium onion, finely chopped
07 - 3 garlic cloves, minced
08 - 48 oz marinara sauce
09 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
→ Seasonings
10 - 1 teaspoon dried basil
11 - 1 teaspoon dried oregano
12 - 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
13 - Salt and pepper to taste
14 - Fresh basil for garnish
# How To Make It:
01 - Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Sauté onion until translucent, about 3 minutes. Add garlic and cook for 1 minute more until fragrant.
02 - Add Italian sausage to the skillet, breaking apart with a wooden spoon. Cook until browned and no longer pink. Drain excess fat and set aside.
03 - In a large bowl, combine ricotta, 1 cup mozzarella, Parmesan, dried basil, oregano, and red pepper flakes. Season generously with salt and pepper.
04 - Coat slow cooker insert with non-stick spray. Spread 1 cup marinara sauce evenly across bottom. Layer half the uncooked ziti, half the browned sausage, half the cheese mixture, and 2 cups sauce.
05 - Repeat layers with remaining pasta, sausage, ricotta mixture, and marinara sauce. Top with remaining 1 cup mozzarella cheese.
06 - Cover and cook on LOW setting for 3 to 4 hours, until pasta is tender and cheese is melted and bubbly.
07 - Let ziti rest 10 to 15 minutes before serving to allow layers to set. Garnish with fresh basil if desired.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- Set it and forget it—no boiling water, no oven monitoring, just layers of cheesy perfection
- The pasta cooks directly in the sauce, absorbing all those incredible flavors while staying perfectly tender
02 -
- Every slow cooker runs differently—check at the 3-hour mark and don't let it go beyond 4 hours or the pasta can turn mushy
- The resting period isn't optional—skipping it means your beautiful layered creation collapses into a delicious but messy heap
03 -
- Mixing an egg into the ricotta makes it richer and helps it hold its shape better between layers
- Check your pasta packaging—some brands cook faster than others, so adjust your cooking time accordingly