By Becky Hardin
Updated Sep 16, 2025
I love creamy, cheesy baked ziti, and making it in the slow cooker is so simple! This Crockpot Baked Ziti recipe features a delicious Italian seasoned pasta sauce with three different kinds of cheese and hearty sausage. My whole family loves it!
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Easy Crockpot Baked Ziti Recipe
When I’m craving classic baked ziti but don’t want the hassle, I make this crockpot version instead. It’s hands-off, super easy, and still delivers all the cheesy, saucy goodness I love. My family goes crazy for it every time—rich sauce, melty cheese, hearty pasta…it’s everything that makes baked ziti a classic, just in slow cooker form.
Ingredients1x2x3x
- ▢ 1 tbsp olive oil
- ▢ 1 lb. Italian sausage casings removed, sweet or mild also work
- ▢ ½ onion chopped
- ▢ 3 cloves garlic minced
- ▢ 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- ▢ 36 oz. marinara sauce (1½ jars)
- ▢ 1½ cups low-sodium beef broth
- ▢ 1 lb. dry ziti pasta (1 box), any short shaped pasta is good
- ▢ 1 cup ricotta cheese
- ▢ 2 cups mozzarella cheese
- ▢ grated Parmesan cheese optional, for topping
- ▢ fresh basil optional, for topping
Video
Instructions
- Add the olive oil to a very large skillet or Dutch oven over medium heat. 1 tbsp olive oil
- Once heated, add the sausage and use a wooden spoon to break it up into chunks. Brown the sausage and drain any fat that remains in the pan. 1 lb. Italian sausage
- Add in the onion, garlic, and Italian seasoning, sautéing until the onions are soft. ½ onion, 3 cloves garlic, 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- Pour the marinara sauce and broth over the meat and stir until combined. 36 oz. marinara sauce, 1½ cups low-sodium beef broth
- Spray the crockpot with nonstick cooking spray.
- Spread a layer of meat sauce in the bottom of the slow cooker covering it completely.
- Top with half of the uncooked pasta. 1 lb. dry ziti pasta
- Drop 4-5 spoonfuls of ricotta over pasta. 1 cup ricotta cheese
- Sprinkle ½ cup mozzarella cheese over the ricotta. 2 cups mozzarella cheese
- Repeat with another layer of meat sauce, the remaining pasta, the remaining ricotta, and ½ cup mozzarella. Spread the remaining meat sauce over the top.
- Cover and cook on high for 1½-2 hours or on low for 2-4 hours. At the lower end of the cook time, check to make sure the pasta isn’t getting mushy.
- Top with remaining mozzarella cheese.
- Serve with grated Parmesan and fresh basil, if desired. grated Parmesan cheese, fresh basil
Equipment
- Dutch Oven
- Crockpot
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
How to Make Crockpot Baked Ziti Step by Step
Gather your ingredients and cook the sausage: Heat 1 tbsp of olive oil in a very large skillet or Dutch oven set over medium heat. Once heated, add 1 lb. of Italian sausage, using a wooden spoon to break it into chunks. Brown the meat, drain the fat, and then add ½ of a chopped onion, 3 minced cloves of garlic, and 1 tsp of Italian seasoning, sautéing until the onions are soft. Pour 36 oz. (1½ jars) of marinara sauce and 1½ cups of low-sodium beef broth over the meat and stir until combined.
Fill the crockpot: Spray the crockpot with nonstick cooking spray. Cover the bottom of the crockpot with a layer of meat sauce. Top with half a pound of uncooked ziti, 4-5 spoonfuls of ricotta, and ½ cup of mozzarella cheese.
Repeat with another layer of meat sauce, the remaining half pound of pasta, the remaining half cup of ricotta, and ½ cup of mozzarella. Spread the remaining meat sauce over the top.
Cook: Cover the crockpot and cook on high for 1½-2 hours or on low for 2-4 hours. Top with the remaining 1 cup of mozzarella cheese.
Garnish and serve: Serve with grated Parmesan and fresh basil, if desired.
Recipe Variations
- Use a different sausage. Try chicken or turkey, or use ground beef, chicken, or turkey.
- Make a creamy sauce . Swap half of the broth for heavy cream.
- Add veggies . Finely chop carrots, zucchini, mushrooms, or bell peppers and add to the sauce.
How to Store
Store leftover crockpot baked ziti in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat in a baking pan in a 350°F oven until warmed through, about 30 minutes.
Freeze crockpot baked ziti in an airtight container or Ziplock bag for up to 2 months. Let thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.
Serving Suggestions
I love serving this hearty pasta with plenty of garlic bread on the side to soak up all that rich sauce. A crisp kale salad adds just the right amount of freshness and balance to the meal, and I like to finish it off with chocolate pudding for dessert. It’s the kind of dinner that’s cozy, satisfying, and perfect for gathering around the table with family.
more crockpot pasta recipes to try
Crockpot Goulash
Crockpot Stuffed Shells
Crockpot Mac and Cheese
Crockpot Chicken Tetrazzini
Crockpot Baked Ziti Recipe
Equipment
- Dutch Oven
- Crockpot
Ingredients
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 lb. Italian sausage casings removed, sweet or mild also work
- ½ onion chopped
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- 36 oz. marinara sauce (1½ jars)
- 1½ cups low-sodium beef broth
- 1 lb. dry ziti pasta (1 box), any short shaped pasta is good
- 1 cup ricotta cheese
- 2 cups mozzarella cheese
- grated Parmesan cheese optional, for topping
- fresh basil optional, for topping
Instructions
- Add the olive oil to a very large skillet or Dutch oven over medium heat. 1 tbsp olive oil
- Once heated, add the sausage and use a wooden spoon to break it up into chunks. Brown the sausage and drain any fat that remains in the pan. 1 lb. Italian sausage
- Add in the onion, garlic, and Italian seasoning, sautéing until the onions are soft. ½ onion, 3 cloves garlic, 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- Pour the marinara sauce and broth over the meat and stir until combined. 36 oz. marinara sauce, 1½ cups low-sodium beef broth
- Spray the crockpot with nonstick cooking spray.
- Spread a layer of meat sauce in the bottom of the slow cooker covering it completely.
- Top with half of the uncooked pasta. 1 lb. dry ziti pasta
- Drop 4-5 spoonfuls of ricotta over pasta. 1 cup ricotta cheese
- Sprinkle ½ cup mozzarella cheese over the ricotta. 2 cups mozzarella cheese
- Repeat with another layer of meat sauce, the remaining pasta, the remaining ricotta, and ½ cup mozzarella. Spread the remaining meat sauce over the top.
- Cover and cook on high for 1½-2 hours or on low for 2-4 hours. At the lower end of the cook time, check to make sure the pasta isn’t getting mushy.
- Top with remaining mozzarella cheese.
- Serve with grated Parmesan and fresh basil, if desired. grated Parmesan cheese, fresh basil
Video
Nutrition
By Becky Hardin
Published Jul 12, 2017
This Essential Grocery List is an absolute life saver for my family on the busy weeks. When I started this journey to learn how to cook, I quickly realized that the first step in cooking is having staple ingredients on hand. I want to avoid having to run out to the grocery store every single time I prepare a new recipe. Having a well-stocked pantry has made my life in the kitchen so much simpler, because when it’s time to cook, I have what I need.
Essential Grocery List
It’s so helpful to have a basic grocery list to help me remember which foods to buy at the store. This food shopping list is my go-to!
It’s better to stock up on things like grains, seasonings and spices, baking essentials, oils, condiments, canned and frozen foods, etc. so I can just grab them when I need them. These things have a long shelf life , so I keep them in my kitchen for convenience.
However, I do have to go to the supermarket sometimes, and there’s a way to make that trip easy and hassle-free: I keep a grocery list! If I go in blindly, I’ll leave with things I don’t need, and nothing that actually helps me prepare a good meal.
In the list below, I’ve compiled everything I always have on my stock-up grocery list.
I’ve got you covered! I created an easy grocery list filled with all of the essentials. Plus there’s a free printable version that you can take with you to the grocery store. It has everything you need to stock your pantry, your freezer, and your refrigerator.
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List
What to Buy at the Grocery Store
This is the perfect grocery list filled with all the basics and essentials. It should help get you going if you’re new to cooking, or if you’re just left staring helplessly at an empty pantry and don’t know how to fill it.
When I first started cooking, things could seem overwhelming. I quickly realized that they more prepared I could be, the more confident I felt. If you already have the basics in your kitchen, then you can shop stress-free.
So print out our easy grocery list, stock up your pantry and fridge, and you’ll be cooking in no time!
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List for the perfectly stocked pantry and freezer!
Fresh Produce
- Apples
- Bananas
- Strawberries
- Avocados
- Bell Peppers
- Carrots
- Broccoli
- Garlic
- Lemons/Limes
- Onion
- Parsley
- Cilantro
- Basil
- Potatoes
- Spinach
- Tomatoes
GRAINS
- Breadcrumbs
- Pasta
- Quinoa
- Rice
- Sandwich Bread
- Tortillas
MEAT/PROTEIN
- Chicken
- Eggs
- Ground Beef
- Sliced Turkey
- Lunch Meat
DAIRY
- Butter
- Sliced Cheese
- Shredded Cheese
- Milk
- Sour Cream
- Greek Yogurt
BAKING GOODS
- Baking powder
- Baking Soda
- Granulated Sugar
- Brown Sugar
- Flour
- Honey
- Vanilla Extract
- Dry Yeast
- Chocolate Chips
- Cocoa Powder
- Powdered Sugar
FREEZER
- Fruit and Berries
- Frozen Veggies (Corn, Peas, Broccoli, etc)
- Juice Concentrate
- Pizza or Other Convenience Meals
- Pie Crust
- Cookie Dough
CANNED/DRIED GOODS
- Chicken stock/broth
- Salsa
- Diced Tomatoes
- Jam/Jelly
- Peanut Butter
- Pasta Sauce
- Beans (Black Beans, Chickpeas, Baked Beans, etc)
- Soups
- Tuna
- Green Chiles
- Canned Veggies
- Coffee or Tea
Get more details on the best non-perishable and pantry foods
CONDIMENTS/SPICES
- Black Pepper
- Chili Powder
- Cinnamon
- Crushed Red Pepper
- Cumin
- Garlic Powder
- Ketchup
- Mustard
- Mayo
- Nutmeg
- Paprika
- Salt (Course Sea Salt and Kosher Salt)
- Soy Sauce
- Steak Sauce
- Hot Sauce/ Buffalo Sauce
- Salad Dressings
OILS/VINEGARS
- Apple cider vinegar
- Balsamic vinegar
- Coconut Oil
- Olive Oil
- Vegetable/Canola Oil
- Red Wine Vinegar
- White Vinegar
- Cooking Wine
- White Wine Vinegar
SNACKS
- Crackers
- Nuts
- Quick Oats
- Popcorn
- Tortilla Chips
- Cereal
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List for the perfectly stocked pantry and freezer!
Click ☝🏻 for my FREE Grocery List Printable!
I hope this essential grocery list can help you buy what you need and make your home cooking so much easier!
Stock Your Kitchen
Find more ideas for your grocery list, stock up your kitchen, and print more cooking guides and charts to keep handy!
Non-Perishable Foods to Stock Up On
Frozen Vegetables to Stock Up On (and Recipes to Make)
Ultimate List of Cooking Herbs for Your Kitchen
Ultimate List of Cooking Spices for Your Kitchen
Cooking Oil 101: Types of Cooking Oils to Use
26 Types of Pasta and When to Use Them
What Fruits and Vegetables are in Season?
Meat Temperature Chart (Free Printable)
How to Meal Prep (Guide for Beginners)
Basic Cooking Measurements & Kitchen Conversion Chart
