slow cooker baked ziti

Ingredients

• Servings: 20
• 1 pound ground beef
• 1 pound bulk sausage
• 1 tablespoon dried basil
• 1 tablespoon dried oregano
• 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 2 onions, chopped
• 2 cloves garlic, chopped
• 1 (29 ounce) can tomato sauce
• 1 (28 ounce) can crushed tomatoes
• 1 (28 ounce) can diced tomatoes
• 1 (16 ounce) jar chopped roasted red peppers
• 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese, divided
• 1 (15 ounce) container ricotta cheese
• 1 cup grated parmesan cheese
• 2 (16 ounce) packages ziti pasta

Recipe

Preparation Time: 25 mins Cook Time: 6 hrs 20 mins

Ready Time: 6 hrs 55 mins


• stir ground beef, sausage, basil, oregano, pepper, and salt together in a bowl.
• cook and stir beef mixture in a large skillet over medium-high heat until browned and crumbly, 7 to 10 minutes.
• heat olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. saute onions and garlic in hot oil until slightly golden and tender, 10 to 12 minutes.
• stir beef mixture, onion mixture, tomato sauce, crushed tomatoes, diced tomatoes, and red peppers together in a large bowl.
• stir 1 cup mozzarella cheese, ricotta cheese, and parmesan cheese together in a separate bowl.
• spoon 1/3 of meat mixture into the slow cooker; top with 1/2 the ziti pasta. drop 1/2 the cheese mixture by rounded tablespoons over the ziti; carefully spread cheese mixture over ziti using the back of the spoon. repeat layering process 1 more time. pour remaining meat sauce over the top and place the lid on the slow cooker.
• cook on low for until ziti is tender, 6 to 7 hours (or cook on high for 3 to 5 hours).
• sprinkle remaining 1 cup mozzarella over the top of the baked ziti and let stand until melted, about 10 minutes.