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Slow Cooker Tomato Basil Ziti Casserole

Name: Slow Cooker Tomato Basil Ziti Casserole
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 180 min
Total time: 195 min
Yield: 6 servings
Cuisine: Italian-Inspired
Ingredients: 1 pound dry ziti pasta; 4 cups marinara sauce (homemade or store-bought); 1 ½ cups part-skim mozzarella cheese, shredded; ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese; 1 cup ricotta cheese; 1 medium onion, finely chopped; 3 cloves garlic, minced; 2 teaspoons dried basil or ¼ cup fresh basil, chopped; 1 teaspoon dried oregano; ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional); 1 ½ cups water or vegetable broth; Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste; 2 tablespoons olive oil

By PanPotPlates Editorial TeamPublished Apr 21, 2026 | Updated Oct 14, 2026

Italian-Inspired 195 mins slowcookerfamilydinnereasycomfortfoodmealprepbudget-friendly

Ziti slow-cooked in tomato sauce with ricotta, mozzarella and Parmesan. The sauce starts in a separate skillet; there is no oven-baking stage.

Prep 15 min

Cook 180 min

Total 195 min

Servings 6

Difficulty easy

Cuisine Italian-Inspired

Ingredients

Servings 6

1 pound dry ziti pasta
4 cups marinara sauce (homemade or store-bought)
1 ½ cups part-skim mozzarella cheese, shredded
½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 cup ricotta cheese
1 medium onion, finely chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced
2 teaspoons dried basil or ¼ cup fresh basil, chopped
1 teaspoon dried oregano
½ teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
1 ½ cups water or vegetable broth
Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
2 tablespoons olive oil

Ingredients for Slow Cooker Tomato Basil Baked Ziti Casserole

Instructions

Heat olive oil in a medium skillet over medium heat. Add the finely chopped onion and sauté until softened and translucent, about 3-4 minutes.
Add minced garlic, dried basil, oregano, and red pepper flakes if using. Cook, stirring frequently, until fragrant, about 1 minute.
Pour marinara sauce into the skillet and stir to combine. Remove from heat.
In the slow cooker pot, combine dry ziti pasta and water or vegetable broth.
Pour the tomato basil sauce mixture over the pasta. Stir gently to coat the pasta evenly with the sauce.
Add dollops of ricotta cheese evenly throughout the mixture. Fold gently to incorporate the ricotta, leaving creamy pockets visible for a rich texture.
Sprinkle 1 cup of shredded mozzarella evenly over the top.
Cover the slow cooker and cook on LOW for 2½ to 3 hours, until the pasta is tender and the sauce thickens.
About 15 minutes before serving, sprinkle the remaining ½ cup mozzarella and Parmesan cheese over the casserole. Cover and continue cooking until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
Once cooked, stir gently to combine the melted cheese throughout. Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste.
Garnish with fresh chopped basil if desired and serve hot.

Slow Cooker Tomato Basil Baked Ziti Casserole cooking in the recommended pan or pot

Tips

Pan Or Pot Required

This Slow Cooker Tomato Basil Ziti Casserole is designed for simple, hands-off cooking using a slow cooker (crockpot) .

Cookware Size Guidance

For best results, use a slow cooker with a capacity of 5 to 6 quarts for the Slow Cooker Tomato Basil Ziti Casserole .

Cookware Swap Guidance

This comforting casserole is crafted for the slow cooker to create tender ziti with minimal active prep.

Leftovers Quality

Reheat gently and add a splash of liquid when needed to keep the texture moist and tender.

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Slow Cooker Tomato Basil Ziti Casserole

Recipe Details

Ingredients

Instructions