The easiest, most comforting baked pasta dish you will ever have–all made in your slow-cooker. Perfect for busy days.
If you have been following me for any amount of time, you know I love my Slow Cooker recipes. Hello, they are a busy parent or working person’s dream come true!
How hard is it to work 10 hours and then spend hours making dinner? Or trying to help your kids with homework, while watching something on the stove?
The slow cooker, crock-pot, whatever you call it, is the answer my friends.
My most favorite comforting meal as a child, was my mom’s pasta and her homemade sauce. When I came home from school and smelled the tomatoes and oregano, I knew dinner would be good!
I turned my Mom’s pasta into a one pot, easy, slow-cooker meal by making my homemade tomato sauce in the slow cooker, and then adding pasta and cheese at the end.
YES, you heard me right! You can cook your pasta in the slow cooker! Your life is changed for the better now! 
This is beyond simple, only dirties up one dish, and is reminiscent of lasagna. Can you ever think of a time that lasagna only required one dish? No Way!
Make your life easier and try out this Baked Pasta for the Slow Cooker.
Baked Ziti for the Slow Cooker
Ingredients
- 28 ounce can tomato puree
- 6 ounce can tomato paste
- 2 cups water
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 teaspoons dried oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes optional
- 1 16 ounce package whole grain rotini or ziti
- 1 cup cottage cheese
- 1 cup mozzarella cheese shredded
- Fresh Parmesan for serving
Instructions
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Mix together tomato puree, tomato paste, water, oil, honey, and spices together in slow cooker. Set to low and cook for 4-5 hours.
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Turn slow cooker to high and mix in pasta and cottage cheese. Top with cheese. Cover and let cook for about 45 minutes for whole grain pasta and 25 minutes for white pasta.
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Serve with Parmesan cheese.
For this recipe I recommend:
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This looks so good!
Such comfort too!
love baked ziti! haven’t tried it in the slowcooker, good idea.
I was so surprised it worked!
This screams comfort!
And without even lifting a finger–the best kind of meals!
Dear Kristen, I am heading to the store in an hour picking up the ingredients for this slow cooker meal. (For tonight!) Perfect for these busy soccer nights. Thank you!
Yea!!! It is going to save you so much stress and feed your hungry crew after soccer!
WOW! Pinning this one for sure… slow cooker meals are my jam this time of year. Pop the food in before naps and have dinner ready without afternoon meltdowns. That’s how most meals go in our house 🙂
Totally hear you! We need to avoid those afternoon meltdowns at all costs!
I’m happy to discover your blog through The SITS Girls Facebook Group. Awesome recipe! I’ll give this a try someday and let my family taste it. Perfect for snacks on a movie night!
I hope your family loves it!
This looks so delicious! And I love that it is for the slow cooker! Thanks for sharing on Creative K Kids’ Tasty Tuesdays link up. I have also pinned your recipe to our tasty Tuesday’s Pinterest Board. Hope to see you back next week!
Slow Cooker meals are always the best!
Can and how would you add meat?
Stephanie, you can certainly add meat. You can brown up ground beef or sausage (1 pound) and add to remaining ingredients and cook as directed. You can also add raw sausage links and let cook with sauce–remove before serving and slice up and stir back into dish. Enjoy!