Slow Cooker Baked Ziti

Name: Slow Cooker Baked Ziti
Cuisine: European, Italian, Mediterranean
Ingredients: 1 lb ground beef (or turkey or Italian sausage); ▢1 onion finely chopped; ▢1 teaspoon minced garlic; ▢1½ teaspoon salt; ▢1 teaspoon dried basil; ▢1 teaspoon dried parsley; ▢28 oz can diced tomatoes; ▢650 ml jar pasta sauce (about 2 ½ cups); ▢2 ½ cups low sodium chicken broth (or beef or vegetable); ▢375 gram box Penne or Ziti or other short pasta (about 4 cups); ▢2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese

5 steps

Updated at: Sun, 30 Mar 2025 21:44:36 GMT

Nutrition balance score

Unbalanced

Glycemic Index

Low

Glycemic Load

High

Nutrition per serving

Calories643.1 kcal (32%)

Total Fat27.6 g (39%)

Carbs63.8 g (25%)

Sugars12.3 g (14%)

Protein34.5 g (69%)

Sodium1535 mg (77%)

Fiber4.5 g (16%)

% Daily Values based on a 2,000 calorie diet

Ingredients

6 servings

1 lbground beef

or turkey or Italian sausage

1onion

finely chopped

1 teaspoonminced garlic

1 ½ teaspoonsalt

1 teaspoondried basil

1 teaspoondried parsley

28 ozcan diced tomatoes

650mlpasta sauce

2 ½ cupslow sodium chicken broth

or beef or vegetable

375 gramPenne

box, or Ziti or other short pasta

2 cupsshredded mozzarella cheese

Instructions

Step 1

In a large skillet, cook ground beef and onion until browned. Stir in garlic, salt, basil and parsley and cook 1 minute. (OPTIONAL: you can also add the raw onion and spices right into the slow cooker to save on time)

Step 2

Add beef mixture, tomatoes, pasta sauce and broth to a 4qt (or larger) slow cooker. Stir. (Try swapping ½ cup of the broth for ½ cup of cream for a creamy, tomato-based pasta.)

Step 3

Cook on low for 6 hours or high for 3 hours.

Step 4

Turn slow cooker to high. Add pasta and stir until combined. Cover and continue cooking for 15-30 minutes (depending on how hot your slow cooker is) — check and stir at the 15 minute mark.

Step 5

Sprinkle with cheese and cover for 3-5 minutes until cheese is melted.