Description
This Crock Pot Baked Ziti is a comforting and easy-to-make Italian-American casserole recipe, combining savory Italian sausage, tender ziti pasta, rich marinara sauce, and a cheesy blend of cottage cheese, mozzarella, and parmesan. Perfect for a hands-off dinner, it simmers slowly in a crock pot until the pasta is cooked through and flavors meld beautifully.
Ingredients
Scale
Sausage and Sauce
- 1 lb Italian sausage, casings removed
- 2 (24-oz) jars marinara sauce
Pasta and Cheese Mixture
- 1 lb dried ziti pasta (uncooked)
- 4 cups cottage cheese
- 1 large egg
- 1 Tbsp parsley (dried or fresh)
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese, divided
- ½ cup grated parmesan cheese, divided
Instructions
- Cook the Italian Sausage: In a large skillet over medium-high heat, cook the Italian sausage until it is no longer pink, breaking it up as it cooks. Drain any excess grease. Add the marinara sauce to the skillet and stir to combine. Set the meat sauce mixture aside.
- Prepare the Cheese Mixture: In a large bowl, combine the cottage cheese, egg, and parsley. Mix well until all ingredients are thoroughly incorporated.
- Layer the Ingredients in the Crock Pot: Spray the inside of the slow cooker with nonstick cooking spray. Pour half of the uncooked ziti pasta into the bottom of the crock pot. Spread half of the meat sauce over the pasta, then layer with half of the cottage cheese mixture. Sprinkle half of the shredded mozzarella and half of the grated parmesan cheese on top. Repeat the layering process with the remaining pasta, meat sauce, cottage cheese mixture, mozzarella, and parmesan cheese.
- Cook the Baked Ziti: Cover the crock pot with its lid and cook on the LOW setting for 3 to 4 hours or on the HIGH setting for 1 to 2 hours. Cook until the pasta is tender and cooked through, and the cheese is melted and bubbly.
- Serve and Garnish: Once cooked, garnish the baked ziti with fresh basil leaves if desired. Serve hot and enjoy your hearty, cheesy meal.
Notes
- Use nonstick spray to prevent the pasta from sticking to the crock pot.
- For a vegetarian version, omit the sausage and increase the amount of vegetables or substitute with plant-based sausage.
- If you prefer a stronger cheese flavor, increase the amount of parmesan cheese by a quarter cup.
- Make sure to check the pasta doneness towards the end of cooking to avoid overcooking, as crock pot temperatures may vary.
- Leftovers can be refrigerated for up to 3 days and reheated in the oven or microwave.
