Ingredients:
- 1 pound ground beef or Italian sausage
- 1 small onion, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 jar (24 oz) marinara sauce
- 1 can (15 oz) tomato sauce
- 1 can (15 oz) diced tomatoes, drained
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 1 box (16 oz) ziti or penne pasta, uncooked
- 1 cup ricotta cheese
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- Fresh basil or parsley for garnish (optional)
Instructions:
- Cook the Meat:
- In a skillet, cook the ground beef or Italian sausage over medium heat until browned.
- Add the diced onion and minced garlic, cooking until the onion is softened.
- Drain any excess fat.
- Prepare the Sauce:
- In the skillet, stir in the marinara sauce, tomato sauce, diced tomatoes, Italian seasoning, dried basil, salt, and pepper. Let it simmer for a few minutes to blend the flavors.
- Assemble in the Slow Cooker:
- Spray the inside of your slow cooker with non-stick cooking spray.
- Spread a thin layer of the meat sauce on the bottom of the slow cooker.
- Layer half of the uncooked ziti pasta over the sauce.
- Dollop half of the ricotta cheese over the pasta.
- Sprinkle with 1 cup of shredded mozzarella and 1/4 cup of Parmesan cheese.
- Repeat the layers: the remaining meat sauce, uncooked ziti, ricotta, mozzarella, and Parmesan.
- Cook:
- Cover the slow cooker and cook on low for 4-5 hours, or on high for 2-3 hours.
- The pasta should be tender, and the cheese melted and bubbly.
- Serve:
- Once done, serve the baked ziti directly from the slow cooker.
- Garnish with fresh basil or parsley if desired.
Enjoy your slow cooker baked ziti!