Baked ziti is one of Mario’s favorite foods and I make it quite often, but I thought it was about time to try to make it in the Crockpot instead. I looked for Crockpot Baked Ziti Recipe recipes online, but many of them called for boiling the noodles before adding them to the slowcooker.
I did NOT want to fool around with a whole extra step, so I just modified my own no-boil baked ziti recipe. The only “extra” step is to stick the finished product under the broiler at the end to brown the cheese on top.
PanSaver EZ Clean Multi-Use Cooking Bags Slow Cooker Liners, 25 Count
You might want to consider using a slow cooker liner for this dish. We all know how hard it can be to clean up after anything made with cheese! You can find them here. Once you are done cooking and serving, just pull the liner of the pot and throw away. You’ll be left with a totally clean slow cooker with nothing to wash!
No-Boil Crockpot Baked Ziti Recipe
Ingredients:
2 jars of pasta sauce
1 jar water (see below)
15 oz container of ricotta cheese
1 egg, beaten
1/3 cup grated parmesan cheese
3 cups shredded mozzarella
16 oz box of ziti
Optional: Italian seasoning, oregano, garlic powder, red pepper flakes
Directions:
In the Crockpot, mix the pasta sauce, one jar of water*, ricotta, egg, parmesan and 2 cups of the mozzarella. Then stir in the uncooked ziti. If you like some more “zip” to your sauce, toss in a few of your favorite seasonings as suggested above. Cook on low 4-5 hours. Sprinkle remaining cheese on top. Place under broiler just until bubbling and starting to brown.
*I like to fill one of the empty sauce jars with water, shake it well to get the “extra bits”, pour that water into the second jar and shake that one too, then add the water to the crockpot. No wasted sauce that way!
Ingredients
- 2 jars of pasta sauce
- 1 jar water (see below)
- 15 oz container of ricotta cheese
- 1 egg, beaten
- 1/3 cup grated parmesan cheese
- 3 cups shredded mozzarella
- 16 oz box of ziti
Instructions
- In the Crockpot, mix the pasta sauce, one jar of water*, ricotta, egg, parmesan and 2 cups of the mozzarella. Then stir in the uncooked ziti. If you like some more “zip” to your sauce, toss in a few of your favorite seasonings as suggested above. Cook on low 4-5 hours. Sprinkle remaining cheese on top. Place under broiler just until bubbling and starting to brown.
- *I like to fill one of the empty sauce jars with water, shake it well to get the “extra bits”, pour that water into the second jar and shake that one too, then add the water to the crockpot. No wasted sauce that way!
Rosie says
I love it! I always wondered it you could make a pasta dish without boiling the pasta first. I want to make this – I’m so excited!
Jan says
I have a question. In your directions you mention water, however it’s not listed in the ingredients. How much water? Thank you!
Chrysa says
I clarified the water – hope that helps!
Barbara Wakinyan says
Could you also clarify the jar size for the sauce. Thanks so much!
Chrysa says
You can use any standard size jar of pasta sauce. The usually run around 25 oz.
Sandra says
It’s the pasta sauce jar yes he does tell you
janet says
sounds easy and looks yummy:)
judy gardner says
i have never made baked ziti but this recipe sounds yummy and easy! thanks for sharing!
Sherri Lewis says
This looks good…. I will have to try it. I love meals where you just throw everything into the crockpot and you don’t have to touch it again until it is time to eat…..
TAnderson says
Making this today. Ready to try it
Patty says
could i add browned hamburger to this also? and if so, should i add that at the beginning?
Chrysa says
Yes, I would just mix it in along with the sauce. That should work!
Joni says
Would adding 1 and half pounds of ground beef change any of the ingredients and/or cooking time?
Chrysa says
I haven’t tried it with ground beef. I would think you would want to brown and drain the beef before adding it to the crockpot, otherwise all that cooked off fat may not sit well with the rest of the recipe.
Brooke says
What kind of pasta sauce?
Chrysa says
Any kind works. Whatever is your favorite.
Ashley says
What size crockpot did you use? I would like to double this recipe and am wondering if it would fit in my crockpot doubled. I think I have a 5 or 6 qt. Thanks!
Terry Law says
I have a 24 oz. jar of pasta sauce. Do I need 2 of them or will the one do?
Chrysa says
You need two to make the recipe correctly. If you only have one jar you can decrease the rest of the ingredients by half and also reduce the cooking time.
Terry Law says
Do i need 2 24 ounce jars or will 1 work?
Terry Law says
This is your ingredients list:
INGREDIENTS
15 oz container of ricotta cheese
1 egg, beaten
1/3 cup grated parmesan cheese
3 cups shredded mozzarella
16 oz box of ziti
Optional: italian seasoning, oregano, garlic powder, red pepper flakes
It doesn’t mention the pasta sauce at all. I went out and bought the ingredients and now I have clicked on View the Original Recipe and I see that I need pasta sauce. Now I am stuck because I am 24 miles from a store.
Chrysa says
I’m not sure where you copied that list of ingredients from because my post does NOT have the word “INGREDIENTS” on it and there are two lines before where your list starts. Those two items are the sauce and water. I’m sorry you had a problem, but it isn’t from this page!!
Terry Law says
This is the link to where I got it from: http://www.foodie.com/recipes/crockpot-baked-ziti-recipe
Elle says
Well, DUH, Terry, you print the recipe from another site, then come over here and blast the author that the recipe is incorrect?
I really want to try something like this…I have read other recipes that dry out but I’m hoping to find a way around that. Have you ever tried layering the cheese/sauce? I would rather have pockets of cheese than it mixed into the sauce….
Tina says
I found if I put the cheese on the top at the beginning and put a dish towel under the lid, it catches the moisture and browns my cheese while baking all day. Eliminates the broiling step if you won’t have time. Broiling would get it a tad darker, which is super yummy tho!
Chrysa says
That is an excellent tip, Tina!! Thanks!
Susan L. @ Full Happy Muffin and Mama says
Thank you thank you thank you for posting this recipe! My husband is neither pro-meatless meals nor is he pro-slow cooker. Not only did he love this recipe, but he also said we could have it once a week. (and he said we needed to buy his mom a slow cooker when we go to Ontario so that I could cook the recipe for her…and she could repeat it thereafter) I used a butane torch to brown the cheese on top to keep from heating up the kitchen with the broiler. I blogged about it today, as well.
Chrysa says
Yeah!!! I’m so glad it was a success!
Heather Baldock says
This looks great. My mom always made lasagna without boiling the noodles, even before the oven ready ones were available. How many servings should this make? Thanks.
Chrysa says
It makes about 8 large servings.
Nein says
Am I the only one that thought this dish was just plain old mush?! Sorry but gross
Chrysa says
I’m sorry it didn’t turn out for you! I’m not sure what it could be – maybe less water or shorter cooking time?
Rachel says
What an easy delicious recipe! Next grocery visit I will pick up the few items I need. Thanks so much.
Angela Elvebak says
I just put it in the crock-pot with I jar of 4 cheese sauce and I traditional. I also added garlic and oregano. I will no in about 5 hrs how it comes out!! Thank you for a cheap easy recipe to feed my kids that I do have to just throw in the oven <3
Angela Elvebak says
It was amazing!!! My kids, their friends and I gobbled it up with a salad and french bread!!! Thank you so much!
Chrysa says
Oh, good!!!! I’m so glad to hear that. It’s one of our family go-to recipes.
Lizzie Mills says
Hi sweetie!
I’m going to try this sometime in the next few days–but with homemade sauce. I measure the sauce and water using a jar the same size as a standard sauce jar. I’ll probably cut back on the water a bit because sauces made from scratch tend to produce a lot of excess liquid when baking (especially if they’re made with a combo of diced and crushed tomatoes with paste rather than a puree with paste). I may or may not add some sliced (cooked of course) meatballs. I’ll be back and let you know how it turns out! I’m thrilled that you posted this recipe, as I’ve been hoping to find one for ages!
Chrysa says
I’m anxious to hear how it turns out! I sometimes add some cooked meatballs too.
RobynsNestOf3 says
Wow!!!!!!! Just finished making it up and, Wow, I wish I would have read the amounts of everything!!!! I will Soooo cit it in half next time!!!! Was gonna put in a pack of pre-cooked bacon but I didn’t have enough room in my crockpot. I will definitely half it next time and then add the bacon. Or maybe just get a bigger crock!!!!!!! ?
Leigh Ann Kristiansen says
If you double the recipe, how will that effect the cook time?
Chrysa says
Hi, Leigh Ann. I’m really not sure since I have never made a bigger batch. I’m sure it would take a little bit longer, but perhaps not much. I’m sorry I don’t have an answer for you without trying it out!
Jamie says
Hello! I would love to try this recipe….however I would downsize for just me!!! Quick question…..Why the egg? Does it help with thickening? I’m dairy free and would like to know if I can just omit the egg. Thanks.
Chrysa says
Yes, the egg is for thickening. You can make it without (I sometimes do), but then the sauce is more runny and the whole thing doesn’t “stick together” as much.
Sarah says
Delicious! I followed the ingredients exactly. I was pressed for time so cooked on high for 3.25hrs. Thanks for sharing!
Chrysa says
I’m so glad to hear that you enjoyed it!!
Amanda says
Just curious as to how many small portions do you think you would get out of this. I’m looking to serve it at a party where there will be plenty of other food so a large bowl won’t be necessary. How many serving spoonfuls would you estimate.
Thanks! Sounds like an amazing dish. ?
Chrysa says
If there is other food also, it should make about 15 servings (more or less!).
Lorraine says
How large of a crockpot do you use for the recipe just as it is. Going to make it tonite ….. Sounds delicious !!!!!
Chrysa says
The one I use is a 6 quart.
Ketura says
This is my third time making this recipe and each time it is a success. Love that it’s so simple that you literally cannot mess it up!
Chrysa says
I’m so happy to hear that! I feel the same way that it’s almost foolproof! I haven’t had a “bad batch” either. 🙂
Mildred bernstein says
Mine also came out like mush and cooked in 2 hours on low. Any suggestions?
Chrysa says
I’m sorry to hear that, Mildred! Usually it is pretty foolproof if the exact ingredients listed are used. 2 hours on low normally would not even get to the cooked point so I really am stumped why it would be mush in such a short time.
Phyllis says
How do you both use a crock pot liner and brown it under the broiler? Won’t the liner melt under the broiler?