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Crock Pot Baked Ziti
Crock Pot Baked Ziti with seasoned ground beef, melty cheese, ziti pasta and marinara. A cheesy, comforting pasta dinner made in your slow cooker. So easy!
A 10-MINUTE PREP RECIPE
When you’re craving a hearty, comforting meal without the fuss, this Crock Pot Baked Ziti is the recipe for you. Now, I know it might seem counterintuitive to cook something in the crock pot when you gotta cook the meat first. The good thing about this recipe is you don’t have to cook the pasta as well. It will cook in the slow cooker so it’s just the meat you gotta deal with. While you can make it in the oven, I like the idea of doing it in the slow cooker because once I get it going, I can move on to doing other things while it cooks and I don’t have to keep checking on it like I would in the oven. But this can obviously be done in the oven if you prefer.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:
Can I make this in the oven instead? Sure. While I tested this recipe and designed it specifically for a Crockpot, you can make a version of this in the oven. To do that, I suggest using my Easy Baked Ziti recipe. Also worth noting that if the use of cottage cheese is really bothering you, I use ricotta in that one (since we aren’t cooking it as long). Additionally, if you want to use the Instant Pot, I have an Instant Pot Baked Ziti recipe and if you’re cooking for two people or may want a little leftover, I have a Baked Ziti for Two recipe you may prefer. Why are you using cottage cheese instead of the usual ricotta cheese? I know, I know, I know. Ricotta cheese is what is typically used in ziti. But, when it’s cooking low and slow in the Crockpot, ricotta just doesn’t hold up as well. It tends to dry out, leaving you with a funky texture that’s honestly not very appetizing. Cottage cheese, on the other hand, keeps the ziti creamy and moist while giving you that same delicious flavor you love. Can I use less meat? Sure, with the rising increasing prices of beef, I know we all are trying to cut back. You can definitely do that with this recipe. Instead of the two pounds of ground beef, you can use just a pound of ground beef, or try ground chicken or ground turkey for slightly more affordable options. Can I make this spicy? Yes. You could spice things up and use 2 pounds of Italian sausage instead of ground beef (or one of each). What’s the best cooking time to use? Crockpots can all be a little different, so check the pasta out after 2 hours to ensure you won’t over bake it as the noodles will get mushy. Do I have to cook the pasta first? Nope. The great thing about this recipe is you don’t have to cook the pasta first. It will cook in the Crock Pot. You can certainly precook the pasta if that is what you want to do, but then you don’t need to add the additional water. What to serve with this Baked Ziti? Classic Garlic Bread or Dinner Rolls are my go to with a big salad! What’s the best way to store and reheat leftovers? This can be refrigerated for 2-3 days in an airtight container and can be reheated in the microwave.
INGREDIENTS NEEDED: (SEE RECIPE CARD BELOW FOR THE FULL RECIPE)
ground beef– please note, while I made this with two pounds of ground beef, you do not have to. This turns out just fine with just one pound. You can use all ground beef, ground sausage, ground turkey, or ground chicken whatever you have on hand. Also, you can use whatever fat level of ground beef that you have. If you choose one that has more fat, just be sure to drain off the excess grease before moving on.
minced garlic – the jarred stuff works fine here.
onion powder
Italian Seasoning
marinara sauce– you can use whatever brand you prefer. While I enjoy using Rao’s Roasted Garlic (paid affiliate link), I don’t always use it because I know it can be pricey. Aldi’s Specially Selected Premium Marinara Sauce (not a paid affiliate link) is another brand I use. I’ve also been enjoying Hunts Garlic and Herb (paid affiliate link). It’s a great budget friendly option that tastes really good. Most grocery stores carry it and it’s usually on the bottom shelf. It’s a little thin, but has great flavor for the price. I’ve also been known to just use whatever sauce I can find that’s cheap or one that I have a coupon for. Or you can make your own Homemade Marinara Sauce!
cottage cheese– before you get your shorts in a bunch on why I use cottage cheese, hear me out. You want cottage cheese for this Slow Cooker Baked Ziti. I know many ziti recipes use ricotta cheese, and I do too, when I’m baking it in the oven. But, when it’s cooking for a while in the crock pot, it really helps to use cottage cheese. The reason is, ricotta dries out much faster over the time it spends in the slow cooker. It turns into a funky texture and is just gross in my personal opinion. I’ve tried it and none of us have enjoyed it. The cottage cheese gives a similar flavor and adds the moisture it needs for this recipe not to be too dry. I also use this method in my Crock Pot Lasagna too. Finally, if you are still bent on using ricotta, then by all means go for it.
grated parmesan cheese – the kind in the green bottle works just fine!
box uncooked Ziti pasta– I used ziti, but you can use other shapes of pasta if you have smaller pasta that would work.
shredded Mozzarella and Provolone cheese – I use a combo cheese here but you can use all mozzarella cheese.
water – this is necessary for the pasta so don’t forget to add it.
HOW TO MAKE CROCK POT BAKED ZITI:
Add the ground beef to a large skillet,cook and crumble over medium heat until brown and no longer pink. Drain any extra grease. Add the minced garlic, onion powder and Italian seasoning to the pan. Stir and cook for about one minute until garlic is fragrant. Add the marinara sauce and water and stir to combine.
Taste the sauce and add a little salt and pepper if desired. Spray the inside of a 6 quart crockpot with non-stick spray. Add 1/3 of the meat sauce to the bottom of the crockpot. (You can use either a ladle or a measuring cup to scoop the sauce from the skillet into the crockpot. Don’t worry about being exact.) Add 1/3 of the uncooked ziti noodles over the top of the sauce.
Add ½ of the cottage cheese over the top of the noodles. Sprinkle 1/2 cup of grated parmesan cheese over the cottage cheese. Repeat steps by adding 1/3 of the meat sauce, then 1/3 of the noodles, the REST of the cottage cheese and the other ½ cup of grated cheese. This time, add the rest of the noodles and the remaining meat sauce making sure all the noodles are covered. You may need to use a large spoon to push them down.
Cover and cook on high for 2.5-3 hours, or until the noodles are fork tender. When you have approximately 15 minutes left to cook, sprinkle on the shredded cheese. Replace the lid for the final amount of time while the cheese melts. Finish it off with a sprinkle of fresh parsley, extra parmesan cheese and a crack of fresh ground pepper. Serve with a side salad and a slice of garlic toast!
CRAVING MORE RECIPES?
The Best Crock Pot Lasagna
Crock Pot Ravioli
Crock Pot White Lasagna Soup
Crock Pot Pizza Casserole
Instant Pot Baked Ziti
Baked Ziti For Two
Easy Baked Ziti
Homemade Lasagna for Two
Print
Crock Pot Baked Ziti
Layers of tender pasta, meat sauce adn cheeses all cooked together in the Slow Cooker.
Course Dinner, Main CourseCuisine American
Prep Time 10 minutes minutesCook Time 3 minutes minutesTotal Time 13 minutes minutes
Servings 10
Calories 570kcal
Author Brandie Skibinski
Ingredients2 pounds ground beef (you can use just one pound, see notes below)1 Tablespoon minced garlic1 Tablespoon onion powder1 teaspoon Italian Seasoning24 ounce jar marinara sauce (see notes below)14 ounces water (1 ⅔ cups)salt and pepper, to taste (optional)15 ounce container cottage cheese1 cup grated parmesan cheese (divided use)16 ounce box uncooked Ziti pasta2 cups shredded mozzarella and provolone cheese (can use just mozzarella)
InstructionsAdd 2 pounds ground beef to a large skillet,cook and crumble over medium heat until brown and no longer pink. Drain any extra grease and add back to the skillet.Add 1 Tablespoon minced garlic, 1 Tablespoon onion powder, and 1 teaspoon Italian Seasoning to the pan. Stir and cook for about one minute until garlic is fragrant. Add 24 ounce jar marinara sauce and 14 ounces water and stir to combine. Taste the sauce and add a little salt and pepper, to taste if desired. Take off heat.Spray the inside of a 6 quart crockpot with non-stick spray.Add 1/3 of the meat sauce to the bottom of the crockpot. (You can use either a ladle or a measuring cup to scoop the sauce from the skillet into the crockpot. Don’t worry about being exact.) Add 1/3 of the uncooked ziti noodles over the top of the sauce. Add ½ of the cottage cheese over the top of the noodles. Sprinkle 1/2 cup of grated parmesan cheese over the cottage cheese layer.Repeat steps by adding 1/3 of the meat sauce, then 1/3 of the noodles, the REST of the cottage cheese and the other ½ cup of grated cheese.This time, add the rest of the noodles and the remaining meat sauce making sure all the noodles are covered. You may need to use a large spoon to push them down. Cover and cook on high for 2.5-3 hours, or until the noodles are fork tender.When you have approximately 15 minutes left to cook, sprinkle on 2 cups shredded mozzarella and provolone cheese. Replace the lid for the final amount of time while the cheese melts. Optional: finish it off with a sprinkle of fresh parsley or dried parsley ,extra parmesan cheese and a crack of fresh ground pepper.Serve with a side salad and a slice of garlic toast!
Notes
Please refer to my FAQ’s (Frequently Asked Questions) and ingredient list above for other substitutions or for the answers to the most common questions.
One pound of ground meat works just fine with this recipe, you do not have to make any other adjustments. You could also use just one pound of ground beef and one pound of ground Italian sausage as well.
This recipe can be done anywhere between 2.5-3 hours of cooking.
If you like it saucier, try using a 32 ounce jar of marinara sauce.
A serving of this recipe is 1 ½ cups.
NutritionCalories: 570kcal | Carbohydrates: 42g | Protein: 35g | Fat: 29g | Sodium: 838mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 5g
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