Easy Cheesy Crock Pot Baked Ziti
This Easy Cheesy Crock Pot Baked Ziti is a comforting pasta dinner layered with uncooked ziti, creamy ricotta, rich pasta sauce, and gooey mozzarella, slow cooked to perfection right in your crock pot.
Equipment
- 1 Crock pot 6 or 7 quart
Ingredients
Main ingredients
- 2 lbs whole milk mozzarella cheese Polly-O mozzarella blocks
- 2 lbs uncooked ziti pasta
- 1 pound ground beef browned and drained
- 45 ounce pasta sauce or homemade meat sauce
- 32 ounce whole milk ricotta cheese
- 1 large egg beaten
- 1 tablespoon fresh parsley chopped real fine
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon pepper
Instructions
Instructions
- Mix the ricotta cheese, beaten egg, parsley, salt, and pepper in a big bowl till it’s all combined smooth.
- Spray the inside of your crock pot with non-stick cooking spray.
- Spread a thin layer of pasta sauce on the bottom to start your cheesy masterpiece.
- Add a layer of uncooked ziti over the sauce.
- Next comes your cooked ground beef layer, then spoon dollops of the ricotta mix, and sprinkle shredded mozzarella cheese on top.
- Keep layering all your ingredients just like this until you run out, making sure to finish with a thick layer of mozzarella cheese on top.
- Cover it up and cook on low for 4 to 5 hours.
- Do a quick release and let the pot sit for about 15 minutes before serving.
Notes
Serve with salad and crusty bread. You can swap ground beef with Italian sausage or add veggies for variation. Use block mozzarella for best results.