Name: Crockpot Ziti Recipe
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 3 h
Total time: 3 h 10 min
Yield: 8
Cuisine: Italian
Ingredients: 1 14oz can petite diced tomatoes; 2 25-ounce jars of marinara sauce; 1 pound ziti (or penne); 2 eggs; 15 ounces Ricotta; 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese; 1 cup shredded Parmesan cheese; 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning

Try this easy weeknight dinner, Crockpot Ziti Recipe a cozy meal the whole family will love. Simple ingredients make layers of hearty sauce, gooey cheese, and pasta this is a meal ready for your nightly rotation.

A black crockpot with baked crockpot ziti with a serving spoon digging in to reveal tender pasta.

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Easy Slow Cooker Ziti Recipe

Imagine coming home to the comforting aroma of Italian spices wafting through your kitchen—a delicious, hearty meal waiting for you. Well that is what you can have when you make this mouthwatering crockpot baked ziti! Layers of sauce, cheese, and pasta all simmer slowly together to make this homemade comfort meal.

I love making this meal for those crazy week night when everyone has an activity and we all are hungry when we get home. It’s perfect for sticking into the slow cooker in the afternoon and having dinner ready when you need it. Great for feeding a large family making this is total bliss after a busy day.

This crockpot meal is great because there is no cooking before you out it in the crockpot. Sure the sauce and different cheeses have to be combined together but no need to turn on the stove!

A ladle adding tomato sauce to a crockpot over top ziti noodles.

This meal comes together quickly in a few different parts. The sauce is made by combining petite diced tomatoes with marinara, then the ricotta is mixed with the eggs and seasoning, the two kinds of shredded cheese are mixed together, and then there is the uncooked pasta. In the crockpot these different parts will be layered together before cooking.

This is such a crowd pleasing recipe. Great for when you have company over and want to make sure all of the food in prepared ahead of time! All you need garlic bread and a green salad like my antipasto salad and you have yourself a meal!

A black crockpot with tender crockpot ziti with a wooden spoon digging a scoop to reveal the pasta.

Ingredients

Petite Diced Tomatoes – Feel free to use a flavored variety of the diced tomatoes. You can also use diced tomatoes instead of the petite diced tomatoes, I just prefer the small chunks.
Marinara Sauce – Or other type of tomato sauce that is a different flavor, either way it is two of the large jars.
Ziti Pasta – Or Penne pasta if you can’t find ziti.
Eggs – To add to the ricotta mixture.
Ricotta Cheese – If you aren’t a fan of ricotta cheese you can substitute cottage cheese, if using cottage cheese and time permits blend the cottage cheese smooth before using.
Shredded Mozzarella Cheese – You could also use an italian blend or pizza cheese blend as well.
Shredded Parmesan Cheese – I personally like to shred by own parmesan from a block but get the kinds that works for you.
Italian Seasoning – Each Italian seasoning will vary slightly and you can use either homemade or use store bought but it should include some basics like garlic powder, oregano, and basil along with other seasonings. If you are looking for a great homemade version try my Italian Seasoning Blend.

pro tip

Yes you will put the raw pasta in uncooked and not need to add any extra water. The all moisture of the jar of sauce and can of tomatoes is enough liquid to cook the pasta without drying out the delicious meal.

Instructions

Prepare the Ricotta Mixture

Combine ricotta, eggs, and Italian seasoning in a bowl and stir well.

Prepare the Sauce

In a large bowl, combine both jars of pasta sauce and the diced tomatoes.

A large glass bowl holding all the tomatoes and sauce mixed together.

Cheese Prep

Grate the Parmesan cheese and mix it with the mozzarella.

Assemble in Crockpot

Grease the inside of a 6 qt slow cooker with a nonstick cooking spray.

Add a third of the sauce mixture to the bottom of the slow cooker.

Layer ⅓ of the uncooked ziti on top.

Dot on half of the ricotta mixture and spread it out evenly.

Add 1 cup of the shredded cheese mixture.

Repeat the layering process, ending with the cheese on top.

Cook

Cover and cook on high for 3 hours or on low for about 5 hours, until the pasta is al dente.

Serve

Serve alone or topped with red pepper flakes and/or fresh basil.

tips, tricks and questions

Can I use a different type of pasta?

Yes! Any short pasta like penne or rigatoni works well.

How do I store leftovers?

Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat in the microwave or oven.

Can I freeze this dish?

Yes, you can freeze the cooked ziti. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator and reheat in the oven until warmed through.

Can I make this vegetarian?

Absolutely! The recipe is already vegetarian, but you can add vegetables like mushrooms or spinach for added nutrition.

Make It Your Own:

Add cooked ground beef, italian sausage, or even spinach for extra protein and flavor. If using a meat as a protein you will have to cook and crumble that before hand, the best way would be to cook and crumble it and make it into a meat sauce to include it in the layers that way.

A black crockpot filled with layers of pasta, cheese, and sauce to make crockpot ziti.

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Yield: Serves 8