Description
crockpot baked ziti is a comforting slow‑cooker pasta dish featuring seasoned ground beef, marinara sauce, ricotta, mozzarella, and uncooked ziti. Perfect for busy weeknights, this one‑pot meal offers cheesy goodness, easy prep, and hands‑off cooking, making it ideal for families and meal‑prep enthusiasts looking for a hearty Italian‑style dinner.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 jar marinara sauce (24 oz)
- 1 cup ricotta cheese
- 3 cups ziti pasta, uncooked
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Brown ground beef in a skillet, season, and drain.
- Spread a thin layer of marinara in crockpot.
- Layer half of the uncooked ziti, half of the sauce, half of the ricotta, and half of the beef.
- Repeat layers, finish with mozzarella on top.
- Cover and cook on low 4‑6 hours until pasta is tender and cheese melted.
- Let rest 10 minutes before serving.
Notes
- For a smoky twist
- add crumbled smoked beef. Adjust seasoning to taste. Leftovers reheat well in microwave or oven.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 4-6 hours
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Slow Cooker
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6 servings
- Calories: 500
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 720 mg
- Fat: 22 g
- Saturated Fat: 12 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 45 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 30 g
- Cholesterol: 80 mg
Keywords: crockpot baked ziti, slow cooker pasta, easy baked ziti, one‑pot Italian dinner, comfort food recipes, quick weeknight meals, family friendly pasta, crockpot Italian dishes