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Crockpot Baked Ziti with melted cheese and herbs, no-boil recipe with rich tomato sauce

Crockpot Baked Ziti (No-Boil)

The easiest baked ziti you'll ever make - just layer everything in your slow cooker and let it work its magic! No boiling required for perfectly al dente pasta.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 2 hours
Total Time 2 hours 15 minutes
Servings: 6 servings
Calories: 420
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 1 lb 16 oz ziti pasta, uncooked
  • 24 oz jar marinara sauce
  • 15 oz ricotta cheese
  • 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese divided
  • 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
  • 1 tsp Italian seasoning
  • 1/2 tsp garlic powder
  • 1/4 tsp black pepper
  • 2 cups water
  • 1/4 cup chopped fresh basil optional garnish

Method
 

  1. Step 1: Spray your crockpot with non-stick cooking spray for easy cleanup later.
  2. Step 2: In a large bowl, mix together ricotta, 1 cup mozzarella, parmesan, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, and black pepper.
  3. Step 3: Spread 1/3 of the marinara sauce on the bottom of the crockpot.
  4. Step 4: Add half the uncooked ziti pasta, then spread half the cheese mixture over the pasta.
  5. Step 5: Repeat layers with another 1/3 sauce, remaining pasta, and remaining cheese mixture.
  6. Step 6: Top with final 1/3 of marinara sauce and pour water evenly over everything.
  7. Step 7: Cover and cook on HIGH for 2 hours (don't open the lid during cooking!).
  8. Step 8: Sprinkle remaining 1 cup mozzarella on top, cover until melted (about 5 minutes).
  9. Step 9: Let sit for 10 minutes before serving to allow sauce to thicken.
  10. Step 10: Garnish with fresh basil if desired and serve hot.

Notes

For extra flavor, brown 1 lb Italian sausage and layer it with the pasta. The pasta will look dry when you first assemble it - this is normal! The water absorbs during cooking.