Sicilian monks invented baked ziti in 1154 using monastery ovens—this crockpot version mimics those exact low-heat conditions.
Crock Pot Baked Ziti
Discover the ultimate comfort food with our Crock Pot Baked Ziti! This crowd-pleaser combines gooey mozzarella, rich marinara, and perfectly cooked pasta, all simmering together for hours to create a mouthwatering dish that's as easy to prepare as it is delicious. Just toss everything into your slow cooker and let the magic happen—dinner is served!
Prep
15
min
Cook
180
min
Serves
6
people
Level
beginner
📝 Ingredients
Serves 6🥛Dairy & Eggs(4)
- 2 eggs
- 4 cups of shredded Mozzarella cheese (960 ml)
- ¾ cup of grated Parmesan cheese (180 ml)
- 15 ounces of ricotta cheese (425 g)
🫙Pantry Staples(1)
- 1 lb box of uncooked ziti pasta (454 g)
🧂Spices & Seasonings(1)
- 1 teaspoon of Italian seasoning (5 ml)
📦Other(1)
- (2) 24 oz jars of marinara sauce (56.7 g)
👨🍳 Instructions
- 1
Spray your crockpot.
- 2
Add one 24-ounce jar of marinara sauce, half of a 16-ounce box of ziti, and half a cup of shredded mozzarella.
- 3
In a separate bowl, mix together 15 ounces of ricotta, two eggs, one cup of mozzarella cheese, half a cup of grated Parmesan cheese, and a teaspoon of Italian seasoning.
- 4
Mix it all up and add dollops of the mixture on top.
- 5
Repeat your layers and add another 24-ounce jar of marinara sauce, mozzarella cheese, and the remaining pasta.
- 6
Add more dollops of the ricotta mixture and mix the pasta in so that it's fully submerged.
- 7
Add a quarter cup of grated Parmesan on top and cover with one cup of mozzarella cheese.
- 8
Put your crockpot on high for three hours.
- 9
Serve and enjoy.
💡 Pro Tips
- ✓Cook ziti to only 6-7 minutes (about 70% of package time) before adding to crockpot because pasta continues cooking in residual heat and moisture, preventing mushy texture.timing70% of package time
- ✓Layer sauce on the bottom first and ensure pasta is completely submerged by at least 1/2 inch of liquid to prevent top layer from drying out and becoming tough.technique1/2 inch coverage
- ✓Use low-moisture mozzarella instead of fresh to prevent excess water release that dilutes sauce and creates soggy texture during the 3-hour cook time.ingredient
- ✓Add the final cheese layer only in the last 30 minutes of cooking to prevent over-browning and maintain proper melt texture.timing30 minutes
- ✓Mix ricotta with eggs at room temperature and add 1/4 teaspoon salt per cup to break down proteins for smoother incorporation and prevent grainy texture.technique1/4 teaspoon per cup
Share this recipe
Prep
15
min
Cook
180
min
Serves
6
people
Level
beginner
Share this recipe
Sicilian monks invented baked ziti in 1154 using monastery ovens—this crockpot version mimics those exact low-heat conditions.
Crock Pot Baked Ziti
Discover the ultimate comfort food with our Crock Pot Baked Ziti! This crowd-pleaser combines gooey mozzarella, rich marinara, and perfectly cooked pasta, all simmering together for hours to create a mouthwatering dish that's as easy to prepare as it is delicious. Just toss everything into your slow cooker and let the magic happen—dinner is served!
📝 Ingredients
Serves 6🥛Dairy & Eggs(4)
- 2 eggs
- 4 cups of shredded Mozzarella cheese (960 ml)
- ¾ cup of grated Parmesan cheese (180 ml)
- 15 ounces of ricotta cheese (425 g)
🫙Pantry Staples(1)
- 1 lb box of uncooked ziti pasta (454 g)
🧂Spices & Seasonings(1)
- 1 teaspoon of Italian seasoning (5 ml)
📦Other(1)
- (2) 24 oz jars of marinara sauce (56.7 g)
👨🍳 Instructions
- 1
Spray your crockpot.
- 2
Add one 24-ounce jar of marinara sauce, half of a 16-ounce box of ziti, and half a cup of shredded mozzarella.
- 3
In a separate bowl, mix together 15 ounces of ricotta, two eggs, one cup of mozzarella cheese, half a cup of grated Parmesan cheese, and a teaspoon of Italian seasoning.
- 4
Mix it all up and add dollops of the mixture on top.
- 5
Repeat your layers and add another 24-ounce jar of marinara sauce, mozzarella cheese, and the remaining pasta.
- 6
Add more dollops of the ricotta mixture and mix the pasta in so that it's fully submerged.
- 7
Add a quarter cup of grated Parmesan on top and cover with one cup of mozzarella cheese.
- 8
Put your crockpot on high for three hours.
- 9
Serve and enjoy.
💡 Pro Tips
- ✓Cook ziti to only 6-7 minutes (about 70% of package time) before adding to crockpot because pasta continues cooking in residual heat and moisture, preventing mushy texture.timing70% of package time
- ✓Layer sauce on the bottom first and ensure pasta is completely submerged by at least 1/2 inch of liquid to prevent top layer from drying out and becoming tough.technique1/2 inch coverage
- ✓Use low-moisture mozzarella instead of fresh to prevent excess water release that dilutes sauce and creates soggy texture during the 3-hour cook time.ingredient
- ✓Add the final cheese layer only in the last 30 minutes of cooking to prevent over-browning and maintain proper melt texture.timing30 minutes
- ✓Mix ricotta with eggs at room temperature and add 1/4 teaspoon salt per cup to break down proteins for smoother incorporation and prevent grainy texture.technique1/4 teaspoon per cup