Italian nonnas never used crockpots, but this 6-hour low-heat method actually mimics traditional wood-fired oven temperatures perfectly.
Crockpot Baked Ziti
Indulge in a comforting bowl of crockpot baked ziti, where layers of gooey cheese meld beautifully with savory ground beef and zesty Italian sausage. Just toss everything into your slow cooker for a hands-off meal that’s bursting with flavor and perfect for busy weeknights. Get ready to dig into this cheesy delight that will warm your heart and satisfy your cravings!
Prep
15
min
Cook
180
min
Serves
4
people
Level
beginner
📝 Ingredients
Serves 4🥬Fresh Produce(3)
- 24 oz jar of roasted garlic and herb marinara sauce (680 g)
- pepper
- water (for pasta)
🥩Meat & Seafood(2)
- 1 lb lean ground beef (454 g)
- 1 lb hot Italian sausage (454 g)optionaluse mild if preferred
🥛Dairy & Eggs(1)
- 8 oz bag of Italian style shredded cheese (227 g)
🫙Pantry Staples(1)
- 1 lb box of penne pasta (454 g)
🧂Spices & Seasonings(4)
- garlic powder
- Italian seasoning
- onion powder
- salt
👨🍳 Instructions
- 1
In a crockpot, layer 1 lb of lean ground beef and 1 lb of hot Italian sausage. Season with salt, pepper, onion powder, garlic powder, and Italian seasoning.
- 2
Add 24 oz of marinara sauce and cover. Cook on high for about 3 hours.
- 3
After the meat is cooked, break it up and add 1 lb of penne pasta and another jar of marinara sauce.
- 4
Fill the marinara jar halfway with water and pour it in. Cover and cook on high until the pasta is done, about 15 minutes.
- 5
Stir in 8 oz of ricotta cheese and 8 oz of Italian style shredded cheese before serving.
💡 Pro Tips
- ✓Brown your ground beef and sausage in a skillet first to develop Maillard reaction flavors, as slow cookers can't reach the 285°F needed for proper browning.technique285°F
- ✓Use exactly 1.5 cups of water per pound of pasta to prevent mushiness - crockpots retain all moisture, unlike boiling where excess water drains away.ingredient1.5:1 water ratio
- ✓Add pasta only in the final 20-25 minutes of cooking because pasta continues absorbing liquid and overcooks easily in the moist crockpot environment.timing20-25 minutes
- ✓Temper your ricotta by mixing it with 2-3 tablespoons of hot cooking liquid before stirring into the dish to prevent protein coagulation and graininess.technique2-3 tablespoons
- ✓Use a crockpot liner or spray with cooking oil because the high starch content creates a film that bonds permanently to uncoated ceramic at 200°F+.equipment200°F+
Share this recipe
Prep
15
min
Cook
180
min
Serves
4
people
Level
beginner
Share this recipe
Italian nonnas never used crockpots, but this 6-hour low-heat method actually mimics traditional wood-fired oven temperatures perfectly.
Crockpot Baked Ziti
Indulge in a comforting bowl of crockpot baked ziti, where layers of gooey cheese meld beautifully with savory ground beef and zesty Italian sausage. Just toss everything into your slow cooker for a hands-off meal that’s bursting with flavor and perfect for busy weeknights. Get ready to dig into this cheesy delight that will warm your heart and satisfy your cravings!
📝 Ingredients
Serves 4🥬Fresh Produce(3)
- 24 oz jar of roasted garlic and herb marinara sauce (680 g)
- pepper
- water (for pasta)
🥩Meat & Seafood(2)
- 1 lb lean ground beef (454 g)
- 1 lb hot Italian sausage (454 g)optionaluse mild if preferred
🥛Dairy & Eggs(1)
- 8 oz bag of Italian style shredded cheese (227 g)
🫙Pantry Staples(1)
- 1 lb box of penne pasta (454 g)
🧂Spices & Seasonings(4)
- garlic powder
- Italian seasoning
- onion powder
- salt
👨🍳 Instructions
- 1
In a crockpot, layer 1 lb of lean ground beef and 1 lb of hot Italian sausage. Season with salt, pepper, onion powder, garlic powder, and Italian seasoning.
- 2
Add 24 oz of marinara sauce and cover. Cook on high for about 3 hours.
- 3
After the meat is cooked, break it up and add 1 lb of penne pasta and another jar of marinara sauce.
- 4
Fill the marinara jar halfway with water and pour it in. Cover and cook on high until the pasta is done, about 15 minutes.
- 5
Stir in 8 oz of ricotta cheese and 8 oz of Italian style shredded cheese before serving.
💡 Pro Tips
- ✓Brown your ground beef and sausage in a skillet first to develop Maillard reaction flavors, as slow cookers can't reach the 285°F needed for proper browning.technique285°F
- ✓Use exactly 1.5 cups of water per pound of pasta to prevent mushiness - crockpots retain all moisture, unlike boiling where excess water drains away.ingredient1.5:1 water ratio
- ✓Add pasta only in the final 20-25 minutes of cooking because pasta continues absorbing liquid and overcooks easily in the moist crockpot environment.timing20-25 minutes
- ✓Temper your ricotta by mixing it with 2-3 tablespoons of hot cooking liquid before stirring into the dish to prevent protein coagulation and graininess.technique2-3 tablespoons
- ✓Use a crockpot liner or spray with cooking oil because the high starch content creates a film that bonds permanently to uncoated ceramic at 200°F+.equipment200°F+