Slow Cooker Baked Ziti

Slow Cooker Baked Ziti

Well…with temps in 110°’s here all summer, I’ll do anything to stay cool; so I tried this slow cooker version of baked ziti. My whole family LOVES baked ziti.

Easy.. just layer sauce (preferably meat sauce), ziti pasta & cheeses (mozzarella, ricotta &/or Italian blend). Like you would with lasagna and top with mozzarella. Turn slow cooker on high, cover and it’s done in 3 hours.

I did learn with “my” cooker I’ll lower temp next time. Edges were crunchy, which we happen to like, but a little less of it would be better. Just sayin 😀

I like to make my own sauce but it’d be easy EASY to buy a large jar of premade sauce.

Here’s (to my best memory) recipe …

SLOW COOKER BAKED ZITI

Ingredients

3 cups of shredded mozzarella or Italian blend
1 pkg uncooked ziti pasta
1 lb ground beef
4 cups of homemade or jar sauce
15 ounces of ricotta cheese
1 egg
Italian seasoning
1 tsp lemon juice
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper
Parmesan cheese – enough to sprinkle on layers and/or topping when serving. We love parm. Optional 😉

Directions

In a large pot sauté diced onion. Add and brown ground beef.
Add ingredients for homemade sauce or pour jar of sauce over the meat and mix well. Set aside.
Mix ricotta with egg and Italian seasoning (garlic, basil, oregano), lemon juice, salt and pepper. Set aside.
Break mozzarella cheese into small pieces, or use shredded mozzarella (or Italian cheese blend).
Start layering the ingredients into the slow cooker starting with the meat sauce.
Add a layer of ziti pasta on top of sauce. Then another layer of sauce over the pasta.
Add a layer of the cheeses
Repeat the layers until you’ve used all ingredients, end with a layer of mozzarella cheese on top. And some Parmesan shavings or shredded. Optional.
Set slow cooker on high and it should be done in 3 hours.
Serve with some good crusty bread and a fresh salad.