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Close up of ridged ziti pasta tossed in thick marinara with browned ground beef crumbles inside a black slow cooker. (Slow Cooker Baked Ziti)

Slow Cooker Baked Ziti with Toasted Mozzarella and Savory Beef

This Slow Cooker Baked Ziti features ridged pasta tossed in a rich beef marinara, topped with a heavy blanket of mozzarella with toasted golden-brown spots. An easy, visually stunning crockpot dinner for busy weeknights.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 2 hours 30 minutes
Total Time 2 hours 45 minutes
Servings: 8 people
Course: Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: Italian-American
Calories: 545
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Primary Ingredients
  • 1 lb (450g) Lean Ground Beef Browned and crumbled
  • 1 lb (450g) Ziti Pasta Ridged, boiled for 2 minutes less than al dente
  • 48 oz (1.4L) Marinara Sauce Thick red tomato sauce
  • 3 cups (340g) Mozzarella Cheese Shredded, low-moisture
  • 1/2 cup (50g) Parmesan Cheese Finely grated
  • 1/4 cup (15g) Fresh Parsley Finely chopped
  • 1 tbsp (15ml) Extra Virgin Olive Oil For searing beef

Equipment

  • 1 6-Quart Slow Cooker Black ceramic insert preferred for visual contrast.
  • 1 Large Skillet For browning the beef.
  • 1 Kitchen Torch or Oven Broiler To achieve toasted cheese spots.

Method
 

Browning and Boiling
  1. Heat oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Add beef and cook until small crumbles are deeply browned and caramelized.
  2. Cook ziti in salted boiling water for 2 minutes less than the al dente package directions. Drain and set aside.
Slow Cooking
  1. In the black ceramic slow cooker pot, thoroughly toss the cooked ziti, browned beef crumbles, and marinara sauce until evenly coated.
  2. Cover and cook on LOW for 2-3 hours until the sauce is thick and bubbling.
  3. Spread the mozzarella over the top. Use a kitchen torch or oven broiler to create toasted, golden-brown bubbly spots on the cheese blanket.
  4. Scatter finely grated parmesan and chopped fresh green parsley over the center before serving.

Notes

Ensure the pasta is ridged to hold the sauce properly.
Do not skip browning the beef; it provides the essential visual crumbles and flavor depth.