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Slow Cooker Baked Ziti
For baked ziti in a Crock Pot or slow cooker that's unlike any other, take a look at this!
(36 Votes)
Updated July 26, 2023
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- SERVES
- 6
- COOK TIME
- 4 Hr 10 Min
This easy Slow Cooker Baked Ziti is a perfect meal for those busy weeknights during the summer. Why the summer, you ask? Well, this delicious slow cooker recipe gives you fantastic Italian flavors, without you having to turn on your oven!
With slow cooker pasta bakes like this, you get to enjoy a delicious, hearty meal with very little work. It might sound a little...cheesy...but it just doesn't get better than that.
If you love a good slow cooker cheesy pasta bake, then our baked ziti that you can set up and leave is going to be your new go-to! Watch the video right below and then check out the written instructions and get ready for a tasty dinner!
What You'll Need
- 1 (16-ounce) package ziti, uncooked
- 1 pound bulk Italian sausage
- 1 onion, chopped
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 (15-ounce) container ricotta cheese
- 2 eggs
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese, divided
- 3/4 cup Parmesan cheese, divided
- 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
- 2 (24-ounce) jars spaghetti sauce
- Chopped fresh parsley for sprinkling
Slow Cooker Baked Ziti Directions:
- Coat a 5-quart or larger slow cooker with cooking spray. Rinse uncooked pasta, drain, and set aside.
- In a large skillet over medium-high heat, cook sausage, onion, and garlic 6 to 8 minutes or until browned; drain and set aside.
- In a medium bowl, combine ricotta cheese, eggs, 3/4 cup mozzarella cheese, 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, and oregano; mix well.
- In the slow cooker, layer 2 cups sauce on the bottom, top with half the sausage mixture, 1/2 cup mozzarella cheese, half the ziti, and half the ricotta mixture. Repeat layers one more time. Top with remaining sauce and remaining 1/4 cup mozzarella cheese. Sprinkle the remaining 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese on top.
- Cover and cook on low 4 to 5 hours, or until pasta is tender. Sprinkle with parsley and serve.
Test Kitchen Tips!
- Whip up our Parmesan Garlic Rolls for the perfect way to top off our Slow Cooker Baked Ziti recipe! Not a fan of garlic bread? Make these Pull Apart Herbed Rolls!
- For the complete authentic Italian feel, make our Bakery-Style Cannoli or our Italian Pastry Squares for dessert!
- Make more slow cooker recipes! Try our Down-Home Shredded Pork, or our Slow Cooker Lasagna.
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Rhoda8ty 7790067
Oct 24, 2020
Can you do this is the crockpot
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MagnoliaFoodie
Aug 08, 2018
Does the sausage go in raw?
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rac7431 2877525
Jul 23, 2019
The second instruction says to COOK it.
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mrchips 1567130
Jul 25, 2018
This was amazing. I made it with hamburger vs sausage. On my list of bring to the party dishes.
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behornbeck 8432452
Jun 07, 2018
I am always skeptical using uncooked pasta in the slow cooker. It always turns out hard and dry. The same happened here. I think you need to add a can of tomato sauce as the original recipe called for 26 oz jars of pasta sauce. Also I always use 2 lbs of meat to 1 lb of pasta. Next time I make this I will cut the pasta in half.
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msdeb21
May 31, 2018
My family loves pasta meals, and I love to use my slow cooker! It's nice to have home-cooked meals without heating up the kitchen in the summer. We enjoy pasta meals with garlic bread and side salads. I have a slow cooker lasagna recipe that is in my regular rotation, but now I can make ziti, too!
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Craftaddict
May 30, 2018
Would creamed cottage cheese yield the same result as ricotta cheese?
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normajean57 1553753
Jul 17, 2018
I would say yes. I use cottage cheese in lasgna
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jovanna9629060
Dec 15, 2021
Why would you? Unless there is no ricotta to be found, maybe. But I would just make something else and wait for the ricotta to make this recipe.
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Rachel
May 30, 2018
This is a wonderful recipe for Baked Ziti! Rachel
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pasta lover 6513180
Jan 15, 2018
I have never been able to find 26 ounce jars of spaghetti sauce even though recipes call for it.
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Test Kitchen Team
Jan 16, 2018
Hi there! We've updated the recipe to reflect a 24 oz jar of sauce. Sorry for the confusion. We hope you enjoy the amazing flavors in this delicious recipe!
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kotznv 9800494
Mar 27, 2017
This is currently sitting in my crockpot that I forgot to turn on.... Can you cook it on high for a shorter amount of time?
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Test Kitchen Team
Mar 28, 2017
Hi there! This ziti can be cooked on HIGH for 2 to 3 hours or until heated through. Enjoy!
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jacko64 0318016
Jun 02, 2015
Can I use ground beef in place of the Italian sausage?
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Test Kitchen Team
Jun 04, 2015
Yes, you can certainly swap these two proteins. Enjoy!
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cindee1115 6260287
Feb 28, 2015
Is it me or does the picture look completely different than what the Crockin' Girls made in the video? In addition, it looks as if ground beef was used as well as some cheddar cheese. I want mine to look like the picture! -)
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Test Kitchen Team
Mar 02, 2015
Hi there! The photo may look a little different from the other photos on our site because it was provided to us by the Crockin' Girls. The photo shows what was made in the video and what is listed in the ingredients/instructions. :) Enjoy!
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lgreen41 7888442
Feb 04, 2015
For some reason the sound isn't always coming through on these videos. One day it does on the site and the next time it doesn't. All the old ones with Mr. Food always come through with sound. Almost all the new ones do not. Is anyone else having this problem??
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Mary Ann M
Oct 19, 2014
I brought this to a tricky tray. The table of 10 loved it! It was the best slow cooker recipe yet
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AngelinaR
Jul 07, 2014
My family absolutely LOVED this recipe. It is now added to my "Make Again" list of recipes.
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Test Kitchen Team
Mar 28, 2017
We're so glad to hear they loved it! :)
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PA Momma
Jul 09, 2013
Bummer the video link no longer works but I think I can figure this out by the recipe and the comments. Cant wait to try this!
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Test Kitchen Team
Jul 09, 2013
Thank you for bringing this to our attention. We fixed the link and you can now watch the video. Enjoy!
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klcnevada
Jul 06, 2013
An addition to my previous post. We used Sweet Italian sausage.
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klcnevada
Jul 06, 2013
We enjoyed this recipe. I might have cooked it too long as it was a bit dry. we just added additional spaghetti sauce on top when we reheated leftovers. It made a lot. Will definitely make it again. Would be great for a pot luck.
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rritterbeck 2460453
Sep 11, 2012
we liked it. I will make this for a tailgate party so everyone can enjoy it.
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oceancity
Aug 06, 2012
where is the nutritional value of the recipes
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Cook for one
Aug 14, 2012
This dite doesn't provide that. Most of us are smart enough to figure out by the ingredients if we can eat it as is or need to make adjustments with low fat or non fat ingredients. If you can't accept that do not come on this website. There are plenty of excellent recipe sites that give you all that information.
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tdzm 7811775
Jul 10, 2013
This site is starting to add that information to recipes. They realize people have busy lives and enjoy seeing the info right here for them to read. It's unfortunate that "Cook for One" chose to be condescending and snarky about your inquiry. I had a chuckle though when I saw that they had typed "site" as "dite". In words Cook for One might use, most of us are smart enough not to do that:)
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gelf19 3029180
Jul 22, 2012
I just made this tonight for the first time and it was AWESOME! I followed recipe exactly as I do when I make something for the first time although I did toss in some green & red peppers chopped that I had in the freezer and some red pepper flakes. It's a keeper and next time, might add some nushrooms and black olives.
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Dalila G
Jul 20, 2012
Sounds like a nice and easy recipe for those busy days. I LOVE my crockpot and I will be making this one soon! Thanks!
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Marlene73
Jul 19, 2012
Reading some of the comments below wouldn't the seasoning depend upon what type of spaghetti sauce one purchased?
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masandy29 6342949
Jul 17, 2012
made this for my fussy family. They all just loved it. Cooked perfectly when I was a little nervous of the uncooked pasta. And what flavor. I will make it again
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emaildmk 6813463
Jul 16, 2012
This was an amazing dinner! I made it for company and we ate it almost in one setting! I did it in the regular oven and I lost track of time and the only thing I did differently was to cook the pasta al dente first. Will definitely be making this again!!
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MrSoul
Jul 15, 2012
Very good and easy. Slow cooker makes for far less heat in summertime kitchen. I cut down on amount of mild Italian sausage and ziti by about one-third since was making this for three rather than six. One hint, rinse ziti immediately before putting in, i.e. don't let it sit in the drain for a while or it will stick together. Or coat with a little olive oil. I also added a little black pepper and Italian seasoning. Rather than two egg whites I used one whole egg.
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jjbosslady 9601237
Jul 14, 2012
Either too much pasta or too little sauce! Either way, not a success! Also needs a LOT of extra seasoning.....more oregano, parsley, maybe fennel. Would not make again.
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barjohnson 1065378
Jul 13, 2012
Will feed 6-8 easy. Good, Steve did not like.
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tericasanova 1640196
Jul 13, 2012
you rinse the dry uncooked pasta to remove some of the starch. it will fully cook into the sauce
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Karenhinnen1964 3577245
Jul 12, 2012
I used my leftover spaghetti sauce as my base and just kept layering until I ran out. It filled the crockpot and fed 2 teenage boys and 4 other family members. It got a thumbs up from the teenagers who said it tasted just like lasagne! We will be using this recipe a lot! Btw was there a reason for rinsing the pasta? I did not and it turned out just fine. J
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Test Kitchen Team
Jul 10, 2012
The recipe calls for 1 (16-ounce) box ziti pasta (uncooked, rinsed and drained) and that is correct. The pasta will cook in the slow cooker with the spaghetti sauce. Rinsing and draining the past first helps to remove some of the extra starch. It could not be easier! Enjoy!
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newfey 2832885
Jul 09, 2012
Reply to "bnrudy"..You do not cook the ziti first. If you did it would be mush by the time you took it out of the slow cooker.
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NoNoNannette
Jul 10, 2012
Why would you rinsed and drained uncooked pasta???? Thanks
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NoNoNannette
Jul 09, 2012
1 (16-ounce) box ziti pasta (uncooked, rinsed and drained)????? Don't you mean cooked, rinsed and drained?
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NoNoNannette
Jul 09, 2012
If it's not cooked why would you rinsed and drained the Pasta
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JaredDana 8417364
Jul 09, 2012
"Cover and cook on low 4 to 5 hours, or until pasta is tender." Sounds uncooked to me. Also, watch the attached video. The "Crocken Girls" specify that it is Uncooked.
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twoonkerns 2651942
Jul 09, 2012
How can I order The Crockin Girls Slow Cookin Companion?
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mimiof2
Jul 09, 2012
You can go to their website and order it or go to their facebook page. Here is the link to the website. I have it and LOVE it! I hope this helps. :) http://crockingirls.com/store/
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