Looking for more crock pot recipes? Try Chicken Tikka Masala, French Dip Sandwiches, or Creamy Ranch Pork Chops!
Why I love this recipe:
Quick Prep – All you need is 10 minutes to place the ingredients in the slow cooker and dinner will be done on time!One Pot – A true dump and forget meal. It’s completely hands off cooking, and no mess!Delicious – This three cheese ziti is a crowd pleaser, and my kids are always asking for more!
How to make Crock Pot Baked Ziti:
Make Cheese Layer: Add cream cheese, sour cream, and ricotta to a mixing bowl. Beat with electric mixers until smooth. Stir in garlic and basil. Make Sauce: In a large bowl, combine both jars of pasta sauce, tomato sauce, and water. Assemble: Add 2 cups of sauce to the bottom of the slow cooker. Top with ⅓ of the uncooked penne, then dot half of the ricotta mixture and spread with a spoon. Top with grated parmesan cheese. Repeat Layers, then pour remaining uncooked penne on top followed by the remaining sauce. Cook: Cover and cook on HIGH for 2-2 ½ hours or LOW for 3-4 hours or until pasta is tender. Top with Cheese: During the last few minutes, sprinkle with mozzarella cheese and return the lid to allow it to melt. You can place it under the broiler in the oven for 2 minutes to make the cheese golden and bubbly if you’d like. Serve this crock pot pasta with easy homemade breadsticks and a green salad!
Make Ahead and Freezing Instructions:
To Make Ahead: The riccotta cheese mixture and the pasta sauce can be made ahead of time and kept in the fridge in separate airtight containers until ready to assemble and cook. To Freeze: Leftovers from this crock pot ziti can be frozen in a freezer safe container for up to 2 months. Let thaw in the fridge completely before reheating. The pasta may be a little softer than when it was freshly made.
Recipe Variations:
Oven Baked ZitiAdd Meat: Add 1 pound cooked ground beef or ground sausage to the red sauce before layering. Add veggies: sautéed veggies, chopped small and layered over the red sauce would make a delicious addition. Try adding zucchini, spinach, bell pepper, onion, mushrooms.Pasta: Penne pasta could also be substituted.
Serve Baked Ziti with:
Easy Homemade BreadsticksCheesy BreadsticksGarlic KnotsApple Pecan SaladSpring Pea SaladOrange Pomegranate SaladMixed Green Salad with BerriesFrench Green Beans (Haricots Verts)
I originally shared this recipe September 2017. Updated May 2022.
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