This crock pot baked ziti with ricotta and sausage recipe is an easy, super flavorful dinner made with only 7 ingredients! Italian sausage, creamy ricotta cheese in a flavorful marinara sauce, and of course, penne pasta! This one is sure to please even the pickiest eaters.
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Why You'll Love This Baked Ziti in a Slow Cooker
Easy Recipe! I know my family LOVES any and all Italian dishes with noodles. I love this italian sausage penne pasta because it is easy to throw together into the crock pot, and the ingredients are all flavorful and can be adjusted to what your family likes.
Super Flavorful. This recipe is loaded with Italian seasonings from the sausage, and you can choose mild, hot, or sweet! You can even do a mixture of hot and sweet, one of my favorite combinations.
Only Seven Ingredients! Any recipe that requires minimal ingredients is one that I will continue to gravitate toward making. With the price of groceries, I love that this meal is affordable, and everyone enjoys eating it.
Crock Pot Baked Ziti Ingredients
Here are the ingredients you will need to make this slow cooker baked ziti:
- Olive Oil: you can use extra virgin olive oil or your preferred oil. This is used to help prevent the noodles from sticking together.
- Uncooked Ziti Pasta (also called Penne): substitute with your preferred noodle if desired. Cooking times may differ for different styles of noodles.
- Eggs: act as a binder in the ziti. If you prefer a saucier ziti, omit them.
- Italian Sausage: cook and crumble before adding to the crockpot. Make sure to drain the fat before adding it to the crockpot.
- Marinara Sauce: use homemade pasta sauce, or use your favorite store-bought brand.
- Whole Milk Ricotta: you may substitute with cottage cheese if you do not like ricotta.
- Mozzarella Cheese: shredded mozzarella cheese pairs best with this dish!
- Grated Parmesan Cheese: finely grated parmesan cheese adds flavor, saltiness, and of course, creaminess.
- Optional: fresh basil for garnish.
For exact ingredient quantities, please see the recipe card below!
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Substitutions and Variations
- Use any style of Italian sausage (sweet, hot, or a combination) in this recipe. Usually, you can find mild, hot, or sweet in your local grocery store. You can also mix two types for another level of flavor.
- Sneak in some veggies and add chopped mushrooms or bell peppers (one will be sufficient). Adding grated carrots or zucchini is another way to get vegetables in without your family knowing. 🙂
- Substitute the sausage with lean ground beef, ground turkey, or even pepperoni for a fun twist!
- Use your homemade marinara sauce in this recipe or your favorite store-bought marinara.
- Replace any of the cheeses in this recipe with the ones you prefer. You can use cottage instead of ricotta cheese, shredded pepper jack instead of mozzarella, and feta instead of parmesan.
How To Make Baked Ziti in a Crock Pot
1. In a medium-sized bowl beat eggs, the stir in ricotta and Italian seasoning.
2. Coat the inside of the crock pot with nonstick spray. Spread 1 cup of pasta sauce over the bottom of the slow cooker.
3. Place ⅓ of the dry ziti noodles. Followed by ⅓ of the marinara sauce, ricotta and egg mixture, sausage, shredded mozzarella cheese, and parmesan.
4. Repeat with 2 more layers, ending with mozzarella. Cover and cook on high for 2 to 4 hours or until the pasta is tender the center.
For full details on how to make this, please see the recipe card below!
How to Serve Slow Cooker Ziti
- Garnish with fresh herbs! My favorites for Italian dishes are basil, parsley, or oregano.
- Top with additional shredded cheese of your choice, and add your favorite seasonings, such as onion or garlic powder.
Meal idea! Serve this delicious hearty baked ziti with a light side salad like a green salad or Caesar. Add a slice of your favorite garlic bread or breadsticks for the perfect dinner!
Crock Pot Baked Ziti Tips
- Don't forget to spray nonstick spray on your crock before cooking. This helps prevent anything from crusting and makes for an easier cleanup afterward.
- Use a slow cooker liner for an easy, mess-free cleanup when you're all done. No hard scrubbing means more relaxing after dinner!
Italian Sausage Penne Pasta FAQ's
Store your leftovers in the fridge in an air-tight container for up to 3 days after cooking.
Reheat in the microwave or in a saucepan on the stove. Reheat until your desired temperature is met. Add any additional cheese if you'd like!
When reheating from the freezer, pull your container to thaw in the fridge at least 24 hours ahead of time. When reheating, you may need to add a little water if it's too thick. Heat until your desired temperature, and enjoy!
Freeze in an air-tight container in the freezer for up to 6 months. Make sure to date your container with a piece of tape for easy tracking.
On the high setting, the pasta cooks in about 2-4 hours. Check your pasta for doneness about halfway through cooking.
You do not need to cook the pasta before adding it to the slow cooker. The marinara in this recipe will help cook the pasta. When you add dry noodles to cook in a crock pot, you must ensure moisture.
📖 The recipe.
Slow Cooker Baked Ziti
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 eggs
- 8 ounces whole milk ricotta (cottage cheese may also be used)
- 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
- 64 ounces marinara sauce
- 16 ounces dry penne pasta
- 16 ounces cooked italian sausage (cooked, crumbled, and drained)
- 16 ounces mozzarella cheese (shredded)
- ½ cup parmesan cheese (finely shredded)
- optional: fresh basil for garnish
Instructions
- In a medium sized bowl beat eggs, the stir in ricotta and Italian seasoning.
- Coat the inside of the crock pot with nonstick spray. Spread 1 cup of marinara sauce over the bottom.
- Place ⅓ of the dry penne pasta in a single layer. Pour ⅓ of the remaining marinara sauce, then spread ⅓ of the ricotta egg mixture over the top of the sauce. Sprinkle in ⅓ of the cooked sausage, ⅓ of the mozzarella, then ⅓ of the parmesan cheese. Repeat with 2 more layers, ending with mozzarella on the top of the final layer.
- Cover and cook on high for 2 to 4 hours or until the pasta is tender in the middle.
Video
Notes
- Don't miss all of our helpful hints, substitution ideas, cooking tips, and other delicious recipes that can be found in our post. Check it out!
- VARIATIONS: Use mild, spicy or sweet Italian sausage. Ground beef and pepperoni can be used in place of the sausage if preferred. Use any favorite marinara sauce.
- TIP: The outside will cook faster than the inside and it will begin to brown, this is okay. The pasta should be tender but not gluey when done. For a saucier ziti, omit the eggs.
- SERVING SUGGESTIONS: Serve with extra marinara sauce if desired. Garnish with fresh basil or parsley and extra cheese if desired. Pairs well with a caesar salad and breadsticks.
Nutrition
© 2025 Slow Cooked Eats
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