Description
This Crockpot Baked Ziti is a comforting and flavorful Italian-American pasta dish made with layers of ziti, Italian sausage, ricotta, mozzarella, and marinara sauce, slow-cooked to perfection in a crockpot for an easy, hands-off meal. The result is a rich, cheesy, and hearty casserole perfect for family dinners or gatherings.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 lb Italian sausage (casings removed, sweet or mild)
- ½ onion, chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- 36 oz marinara sauce (1½ jars)
- 1½ cups low-sodium beef broth
- 1 lb dry ziti pasta (any short shaped pasta works)
- 1 cup ricotta cheese
- 2 cups mozzarella cheese
- Grated Parmesan cheese (optional, for topping)
- Fresh basil (optional, for topping)
Instructions
- Heat olive oil: Add the olive oil to a very large skillet or Dutch oven over medium heat to prepare for browning the sausage.
- Brown the sausage: Add the sausage, breaking it into chunks with a wooden spoon. Cook until browned and drain any excess fat from the pan to keep the dish from becoming greasy.
- Sauté aromatics: Add the chopped onion, minced garlic, and Italian seasoning to the skillet. Cook until the onions become soft and fragrant, about 3-4 minutes.
- Add sauce and broth: Pour in the marinara sauce and low-sodium beef broth, stirring to combine with the meat and onion mixture to create the meat sauce base.
- Prepare crockpot: Spray the crockpot with nonstick cooking spray to prevent sticking and ease cleanup later.
- Layer meat sauce: Spread a layer of the meat sauce evenly in the bottom of the crockpot.
- Add pasta layer: Top the meat sauce with half of the uncooked pasta, ensuring it covers the sauce completely.
- Add ricotta dollops: Drop 4-5 spoonfuls of ricotta cheese across the pasta layer to add creamy pockets.
- Top with mozzarella: Sprinkle ½ cup of mozzarella cheese evenly over the ricotta.
- Repeat layers: Add another layer of meat sauce, followed by the remaining pasta, remaining ricotta cheese, and another ½ cup of mozzarella. Finally, spread the remaining meat sauce over the top to coat everything thoroughly.
- Cook: Cover and cook on high for 1½ to 2 hours or on low for 2 to 4 hours. Check near the lower end of cooking time to ensure the pasta is cooked through but not mushy.
- Add final cheese topping: Sprinkle the remaining mozzarella cheese over the cooked pasta mixture to melt on top.
- Serve: Garnish with grated Parmesan cheese and fresh basil leaves if desired and serve warm for a delicious, hearty meal.
Notes
- Use any short pasta shape as a substitute for ziti, such as penne or rigatoni.
- Adjust cooking times based on your crockpot’s heat settings to avoid overcooking the pasta.
- For a spicier dish, substitute sweet Italian sausage with hot Italian sausage.
- Optional toppings such as Parmesan and fresh basil add extra flavor and freshness.
- Ensure pasta is fully covered with sauce to cook evenly in the crockpot.
