Slow Cooker Baked Ziti (Printable View)

Tender pasta layered with marinara, ricotta, and melted cheeses cooked to perfection in a slow cooker.

# What You Need:

→ Pasta

01 - 1 pound uncooked ziti or penne pasta

→ Sauce

02 - 28 fluid ounces marinara or pasta sauce

→ Cheeses

03 - 15 ounces ricotta cheese
04 - 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
05 - ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese

→ Water

06 - 2 cups water

# How To Make It:

01 - Lightly grease the interior of a large slow cooker with nonstick cooking spray or a small amount of olive oil.
02 - Place half of the uncooked pasta evenly in the bottom of the slow cooker.
03 - Spoon half of the marinara sauce evenly over the pasta layer.
04 - Dollop and gently spread half of the ricotta cheese over the sauce.
05 - Sprinkle half of the shredded mozzarella and grated Parmesan cheese evenly on top.
06 - Repeat the layering sequence with the remaining pasta, sauce, ricotta, mozzarella, and Parmesan cheeses.
07 - Pour the water evenly across the entire layered mixture.
08 - Cover and cook on low heat for 3 hours, or until the pasta is tender and the cheese is melted and bubbly.
09 - Turn off the slow cooker and let the dish rest uncovered for 10 minutes prior to serving.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • Simple to prepare with only five ingredients
  • Hands-off cooking for busy days
02 -
  • Dishes can be customized for dietary needs by using gluten-free pasta and vegetarian sauce.
  • Letting the ziti rest after cooking helps the sauce thicken for better texture.
03 -
  • Stir in fresh basil or parsley before serving for extra flavor.
  • Add cooked sausage or ground beef to make it heartier.
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