Slow Cooker Baked Ziti

Make baked ziti in your slow cooker in this recipe that has a rich tomato-meat sauce and a blend of ricotta, Parmesan, and mozzarella cheese.

• Preparation Time: 25 mins
• Cooking Time: 6 hr 20 mins
• Total Time: 6 hr 45 mins
• Calories: 405 Calories

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 tablespoon dried basil
• 1 tablespoon dried oregano
• 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 2 onions, chopped
• 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 2 cloves garlic, chopped
• 1 (28 ounce) can crushed tomatoes
• 1 pound ground beef
• 1 (29 ounce) can tomato sauce
• 1 (28 ounce) can diced tomatoes
• 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese, divided
• 1 (15 ounce) container ricotta cheese
• 1 pound bulk sausage
• 1 (16 ounce) jar chopped roasted red peppers
• 2 (16 ounce) packages ziti pasta
• 0.5 teaspoon salt

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

Stir ground beef, sausage, basil, oregano, pepper, and salt together in a bowl.

Step 2

Cook and stir beef mixture in a large skillet over medium-high heat until browned and crumbly, 7 to 10 minutes.

Step 3

Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Saute onions and garlic in hot oil until slightly golden and tender, 10 to 12 minutes.

Step 4

Stir beef mixture, onion mixture, tomato sauce, crushed tomatoes, diced tomatoes, and red peppers together in a large bowl.

Step 5

Stir 1 cup mozzarella cheese, ricotta cheese, and Parmesan cheese together in a separate bowl.

Step 6

Spoon 1/3 of meat mixture into the slow cooker; top with 1/2 the ziti pasta. Drop 1/2 the cheese mixture by rounded tablespoons over the ziti; carefully spread cheese mixture over ziti using the back of the spoon. Repeat layering process 1 more time. Pour remaining meat sauce over the top and place the lid on the slow cooker.

Step 7

Cook on Low for until ziti is tender, 6 to 7 hours (or cook on High for 3 to 5 hours).

Step 8

Sprinkle remaining 1 cup mozzarella over the top of the baked ziti and let stand until melted, about 10 minutes.