SLOW COOKER BAKED ZITI

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Slow Cooker Baked Ziti image

Great comfort food. For a healthier dish use ground turkey, skim-milk mozzarella, low-fat or skim-milk ricotta, and whole wheat pasta.

Provided by Stevo

Categories     Meat and Poultry Recipes     Pork     Sausage

Time 6h55m

Yield 20

Number Of Ingredients 17

1 pound ground beef
1 pound bulk sausage
1 tablespoon dried basil
1 tablespoon dried oregano
1 teaspoon ground black pepper
½ 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

Steps:

  • 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.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 405.3 calories, Carbohydrate 45.6 g, Cholesterol 44.3 mg, Fat 15.4 g, Fiber 4 g, Protein 21.5 g, SaturatedFat 6.3 g, Sodium 1066.7 mg, Sugar 5 g

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