Slow Cooker Baked Ziti

updated Jul 30, 2024
Post Image
Credit: Joe Lingeman

Slow cooker baked ziti is just like the traditional casserole with tender noodles swimming in marinara & mixed with a double dose of gooey, melted cheese.

Serves6

Prep5 minutes

Cook1 hour

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Ziti in marinara sauce and gooey, melted cheese, garnished with chopped parsley, in a slow cooker
Credit: Joe Lingeman

Yes, you really can make baked ziti (well, “baked” ziti) in your slow cooker. And the result isn’t just good — it’s amazing. What it lacks in the crispy-edges department it gains in the ooey-gooey comfort-food department: tender noodles coated in marinara sauce and mixed with a double dose of melty cheese.

Pasta in the slow cooker has a reputation for being overcooked and soggy — a result of too much liquid in the slow cooker or too long of a cook time. But that won’t happen here. Here’s how to make perfectly-cooked ziti in the slow cooker.

Why You’ll Love It

  • No overcooked or soggy pasta. To get these noodles just right, we minimized the amount of liquid by cooking the dried noodles directly in the marinara sauce instead of broth or water.
  • It’s simple, yet flavorful. Since most store-bought marinara is infused with extra flavor from garlic and herbs, this means your ziti also gets a boost of extra flavor.
Credit: Joe Lingeman

Key Ingredients in Slow Cooker Baked Ziti

  • Dried ziti pasta: You’ll need 1 pound of dried ziti pasta.
  • Marinara sauce: Use your favorite brand of store-bought marinara sauce.
  • Whole milk ricotta cheese: It’s important to use whole milk ricotta — as lower-fat versions (or versions with lots of stabilizers) can result in a less cohesive sauce.
  • Shredded low-moisture mozzarella cheese: You’ll mix in some shredded mozzarella cheese with the ziti and then sprinkle some on top before cooking.

How to Make Slow Cooker Baked Ziti

  1. Add the ingredients to the slow cooker. Coat a 6-quart or larger slow cooker with cooking spray. Add dried ziti, marinara sauce, ricotta cheese, and 1 cup of the shredded mozzarella cheese. Stir well to combine and arrange into an even layer. Sprinkle with the remaining 1 cup mozzarella.
  2. Cook on HIGH for 1 hour. Cover and cook until the pasta is cooked through and the cheese is melted, about 1 hour on the HIGH setting.

Storage Tips

Leftovers can be refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 5 days.

What to Serve with Slow Cooker Baked Ziti

Editor’s Note

We’ve retested the recipe and recommend cooking the ziti only on HIGH (cooking on LOW yielded mushier results and the bottom burned). Cooking on HIGH only takes about 1 hour, but it’s all hands-off. – July 2024

Slow Cooker Baked Ziti Recipe

Slow cooker baked ziti is just like the traditional casserole with tender noodles swimming in marinara & mixed with a double dose of gooey, melted cheese.

Prep time 5 minutes

Cook time 1 hour

Serves 6

Nutritional Info

Ingredients

  • Cooking spray

  • 1 pound

    dried ziti pasta

  • 48 ounces

    marinara sauce

  • 1 about (15-ounce) container

    whole milk ricotta cheese

  • 2 cups

    shredded low-moisture mozzarella cheese, divided

Instructions

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  1. Coat a 6-quart or larger slow cooker with cooking spray. Add 1 pound dried ziti, 48 ounces marinara sauce, 1 (about 15-ounce) container ricotta cheese, and 1 cup of the shredded mozzarella cheese. Stir well to combine and arrange into an even layer. Sprinkle with the remaining 1 cup mozzarella.

  2. Cover and cook until the pasta is cooked through and the cheese is melted, about 1 hour on the HIGH setting.

Recipe Notes

Storage: Leftovers can be refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 5 days.