Description
Home cooks adore this hearty slow cooker baked ziti recipe that combines rich pasta, melted cheeses, and savory marinara sauce. Pasta enthusiasts will savor each comforting bite of this classic Italian-American dish you can easily prepare with minimal effort.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb (454 g) ground beef
- 16 oz (454 g) ziti pasta
- 2 large eggs
- 15 oz (425 g) ricotta cheese
- 1 cup (100 g) mozzarella cheese, shredded
- 2 cups (200 g) Parmesan cheese, shredded
- 2 jars pasta sauce
- 15 oz (425 g) tomato sauce
- ⅓ cup (20 g) basil, fresh and chopped
- Salt, to taste
- Pepper, to taste
- Cooking spray
Instructions
- Meat Preparation: Sauté ground beef in skillet over medium heat, breaking into fine crumbles and draining excess fat.
- Cheese Mixture: Whisk ricotta with eggs and finely chopped basil until smooth and well-incorporated.
- Sauce Composition: Blend tomato pasta sauce and plain tomato sauce in a mixing bowl.
- Slow Cooker Setup: Lightly coat interior with non-stick spray, then spread initial sauce layer across bottom.
- First Layer Assembly: Arrange dried ziti across sauce base, evenly spread half of ricotta mixture, sprinkle Parmesan, and distribute half of cooked beef.
- Final Layer Construction: Repeat pasta and cheese layering, topping with remaining sauce, ensuring complete ingredient coverage.
- Cooking Process: Cover and cook on high setting for 2-3 hours until pasta reaches optimal tenderness, maintaining moisture and flavor integrity.
- Cheese Finishing: During final ten minutes, generously scatter mozzarella across top layer, allowing complete melting.
- Serving Recommendation: Plate immediately, ensuring each portion captures the rich, multi-dimensional flavor profile of the dish.
Notes
- Pasta Perfection: Use dried ziti to maintain structural integrity and prevent mushy texture during slow cooking.
- Cheese Layering Technique: Spread ricotta mixture evenly to ensure consistent flavor and moisture throughout the dish.
- Fat Management: Drain excess beef fat to prevent greasy consistency and reduce overall calorie content.
- Melting Moment: Add mozzarella in final 10 minutes to achieve perfect golden, stretchy cheese topping without overcooking.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 3 hours
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 7
- Calories: 505
- Sugar: 8 g
- Sodium: 900 mg
- Fat: 20 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 54 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 30 g
- Cholesterol: 120 mg