Name: Slow Cooker Baked Ziti Recipe
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 3 h 20 min
Total time: 3 h 35 min
Cuisine: Italian-American
Ingredients: 1 tablespoon olive oil; 1 pound Italian sausage (or ground beef or ground turkey); 1 small onion, chopped; 4 cloves garlic, minced; 28 ounce can crushed tomatoes; 15 ounce can diced tomatoes; 1 ½ teaspoons Italian seasoning; 1 teaspoon dried oregano; 1 teaspoon dried basil; ¾ teaspoon salt; ⅛ teaspoon black pepper; 2 ½ cups water; 16 ounces uncooked ziti pasta (or penne pasta); 1 cup (4 ounces) shredded mozzarella cheese

If you’re looking for a cozy, hands-off dinner that fills your home with the most amazing aroma, you’re going to love this Slow Cooker Baked Ziti Recipe. I absolutely love how this dish combines tender pasta, rich tomato sauce, savory Italian sausage, and melty mozzarella all cooked to perfection right in your slow cooker. It’s like giving yourself a warm hug on a plate — and the best part? You get to walk away and let the slow cooker do all the magic.

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Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Effortless Comfort Food: You toss ingredients in, set it, and enjoy a hearty dinner with almost zero hands-on time.
Rich, Homemade Flavor: The slow simmer of spices and sausage creates a robust sauce that tastes way better than store-bought.
Customizable and Family-Friendly: Swap meats or go veggie, and everyone will still go crazy for it!
Perfect One-Pot Meal: No need to boil pasta separately — the slow cooker does that too, saving you time and cleanup.

A close-up view of a black slow cooker filled with short tube pasta mixed with a reddish-orange tomato sauce and small pieces of browned meat. The pasta is covered with melted white cheese that stretches slightly over the top, sprinkled with small green herb bits. The textures include the smooth melted cheese, the firm pasta tubes, and the rough meat pieces, all sitting inside the slow cooker with some sauce peeking through. The background is a white marbled texture. photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7 - Slow Cooker Baked Ziti, baked ziti with sausage, easy slow cooker pasta, comfort food recipes, Italian casserole

Ingredients You’ll Need

Each ingredient in this Slow Cooker Baked Ziti Recipe plays a crucial role in giving you that perfect balance of flavors and textures. When choosing ingredients, fresh herbs and quality Italian sausage really up the game, though I’ll share tips if you want to make swaps without losing taste.

Flat lay of Italian sausage links, a small chopped onion, several garlic cloves, a can of crushed tomatoes opened to show the rich red sauce, diced tomatoes spilling slightly from an opened can, scattered dried Italian seasoning herbs including oregano and basil, a pile of uncooked ziti pasta tubes, and a small mound of shredded mozzarella cheese, all beautifully arranged with natural lighting and fresh, vibrant colors, placed on a white marble surface, photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7 - Slow Cooker Baked Ziti, baked ziti with sausage, easy slow cooker pasta, comfort food recipes, Italian casserole

Olive oil: Use good-quality extra virgin olive oil for a smooth start and depth of flavor when cooking the meat and veggies.
Italian sausage (or ground beef or turkey): Italian sausage adds spice and savory richness; feel free to switch to ground beef or turkey if you prefer leaner options.
Small onion: Adds sweetness and body to the sauce; I love chopping it finely to melt right into the mix.
Garlic cloves: Fresh minced garlic is a must; there’s nothing like that fragrant punch it brings.
Crushed tomatoes: This forms the thick, luscious base of your sauce. Choose no-salt-added if you’re watching sodium.
Diced tomatoes: Adds texture and a little brightness to balance the crushed tomatoes.
Italian seasoning: A blend of herbs key to that classic Italian flavor—don’t skip it!
Dried oregano: This herb brings a hint of earthiness and complements the sauce beautifully.
Dried basil: Just enough basil adds a sweet, aromatic note that lifts the whole dish.
Salt and black pepper: Essential for seasoning; adjust to your taste as the sauce simmers.
Water: It might seem odd, but adding water helps the pasta cook right in the slow cooker and keeps the sauce saucy.
Uncooked ziti pasta (or penne): Using uncooked pasta here is a game changer—less mess and perfectly tender pasta infused with sauce.
Shredded mozzarella cheese: The melty topping that brings it all together, making this baked ziti incredibly irresistible.

Note: You’ll find the complete list of ingredients, along with their exact measurements, in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Variations

I’m all about making recipes work for your tastes and lifestyle, so I encourage you to play around with this Slow Cooker Baked Ziti Recipe. Whether you’re feeding picky eaters or looking to lighten things up, there’s a variation perfect for you.

Meat Alternatives: I’ve tried this with ground turkey for a leaner version, and my family barely noticed the difference—it still came out rich and flavorful.
Vegetarian Swap: Replace the sausage with sautéed mushrooms and a mix of bell peppers for a veggie-packed twist that’s just as comforting.
Cheese Upgrade: Adding a bit of ricotta or Parmesan along with mozzarella makes the dish a little creamier and even more indulgent.
Spicy Kick: I sometimes toss in crushed red pepper flakes to turn up the heat, which my heat-loving friends adore.

How to Make Slow Cooker Baked Ziti Recipe

Step 1: Brown the Meat and Sauté Aromatics

Start by heating the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add your Italian sausage (or your chosen meat) and break it up with a spoon. Cook for about 3-4 minutes until it begins to brown. Then toss in the chopped onions and continue cooking until the meat is fully cooked and the onions are soft. Finally, stir in the minced garlic and cook for just another minute—the smell at this point is pure mouthwatering. Drain any excess grease to keep things from being greasy. This step develops a deep flavor base that’s essential for the final dish.

Step 2: Combine Sauce Ingredients in the Slow Cooker

Transfer your cooked meat mixture to your slow cooker. Next, add the crushed tomatoes, diced tomatoes, Italian seasoning, dried oregano, dried basil, salt, black pepper, and water. Give everything a good stir. Don’t worry if it looks really liquidy at this stage—that extra water is what allows the pasta to cook perfectly in the slow cooker later on. Cover it and set your slow cooker to HIGH for about 3 hours, or LOW if you prefer a longer simmer for around 6 hours. This slow cooking melds the flavors beautifully.

Step 3: Add the Pasta and Finish Cooking

After the sauce has simmered and developed those amazing flavors, it’s time to add the pasta. Stir in the uncooked ziti (or penne), pressing the pasta down gently so it’s mostly submerged in the liquid. Cover again and crank the slow cooker to HIGH. Cook for about 15-25 minutes, but here’s the trick: after 15 minutes, open it up and gently stir to ensure even cooking and prevent sticking. Pasta cooking times can vary by slow cooker, so keep an eye on it until tender. If you started on LOW, it might take a bit longer after switching to HIGH to cook the pasta through.

Step 4: Melt the Cheese and Serve

Once your pasta is perfectly tender, turn off the slow cooker and sprinkle the shredded mozzarella evenly over the top. Cover and let it rest for 5 minutes — this step is crucial because it allows the cheese to melt into gooey perfection without overcooking the pasta. Then dig in! You’ll find the luscious, cheesy top combined with the rich sauce below is beyond satisfying.

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Pro Tips for Making Slow Cooker Baked Ziti Recipe

Don’t Skip Browned Meat: Browning the sausage first adds a depth of flavor you just can’t get by tossing raw meat in the slow cooker.
Keep an Eye on Pasta Timing: Every slow cooker heats differently, so check the pasta early to avoid mushy noodles.
Press Pasta Into Liquid: Make sure the pasta is mostly submerged to ensure even cooking—stirring halfway through really helps too.
Use Fresh Mozzarella for More Gooeyness: If you want an extra cheesy finish, fresh mozzarella chunks spread on top work wonders.

How to Serve Slow Cooker Baked Ziti Recipe

The image shows a white bowl filled with rigatoni pasta covered in a bright red tomato sauce mixed with browned sausage pieces. On top, melted white cheese is stretched over some pasta, with small green parsley leaves scattered for garnish. A silver fork is inserted into the bowl, pulling some pasta and cheese up. The bowl rests on a light beige cloth on a white marbled background, with some green parsley leaves partially visible to the side. Photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7 - Slow Cooker Baked Ziti, baked ziti with sausage, easy slow cooker pasta, comfort food recipes, Italian casserole

Garnishes

I like to sprinkle a few fresh basil leaves or chopped parsley over the top right before serving — it adds a pop of color and a fresh brightness that really balances out the rich sauce and cheese. Sometimes, a sprinkle of grated Parmesan at the table makes it feel extra special, too.

Side Dishes

This Slow Cooker Baked Ziti pairs beautifully with a crisp green salad dressed lightly with lemon vinaigrette, and some garlic bread to sop up every last bit of sauce. I’ve also served it alongside roasted veggies — their caramelized sweetness cuts through the richness perfectly.

Creative Ways to Present

For gatherings or special occasions, I like to transfer the baked ziti to a beautiful oven-safe dish straight from the slow cooker, then add an extra layer of cheese on top and broil for a couple minutes to get that golden, bubbly crust. It turns an everyday meal into something festive without extra fuss!

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

After dinner, I let leftover baked ziti cool to room temperature, then transfer it to airtight containers and refrigerate. It keeps well for up to 3 days. I find the flavors actually deepen overnight, making leftovers a tasty next-day lunch or dinner.

Freezing

I’ve frozen portions in freezer-safe containers with great results. Just make sure to cool fully before freezing, and it keeps well for up to 3 months. When you’re ready, thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.

Reheating

Reheat leftovers in the microwave or oven covered to maintain moisture. If reheating in the oven, cover with foil and warm at 350°F until heated through, then uncover for a few minutes to refresh the cheesy top. You’ll love how the flavors hold up!

FAQs

Can I use whole wheat or gluten-free pasta in this Slow Cooker Baked Ziti Recipe?

Yes! You can substitute whole wheat or gluten-free pasta—just keep in mind that cooking times might vary slightly. For gluten-free pasta, start checking earlier to ensure it doesn’t overcook and become mushy.
Do I need to brown the meat before adding it to the slow cooker?

Browning the meat first adds incredible flavor and improves the texture, so I highly recommend it. It also helps reduce excess fat, making the sauce less greasy.
Can I prepare this Slow Cooker Baked Ziti Recipe ahead of time?

Absolutely! You can prepare the sauce and meat mixture a day ahead and refrigerate. Add the pasta and cook just prior to serving to get that perfectly tender texture.
What if my slow cooker runs hotter or cooler than average?

Slow cookers do vary, so I suggest checking the pasta a few minutes earlier than the recipe suggests to avoid overcooked noodles, especially when adding the pasta at the end.

Final Thoughts

This Slow Cooker Baked Ziti Recipe has become one of my absolute go-tos when I want comfort food without the fuss. I used to stress about timing pasta separately and prepping too many dishes, but this one-pot slow cooker method changed everything. Now, I can pop everything in, go about my day, and enjoy a delicious, cheesy meal that always makes my family smile. Give it a try—I promise it’ll become a favorite for your busy weeknights too.