Million Dollar Crock Pot Baked Ziti

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If you love creamy, cheesy pasta dishes, this Million Dollar Crock Pot Baked Ziti recipe is about to be your new favorite meal! This easy crock pot recipe delivers all the flavors of classic baked ziti with an extra creamy, rich and cheesy sauce.

Long vertical image of a serving of million dollar ziti.

What Makes Million Dollar Baked Ziti So Creamy?

The secret to this million dollar recipe is the blend of ricotta, mozzarella, cream cheese, and sour cream. The rich cheesy layers melt together in the crock pot, coating the ziti pasta with a decadent, rich and creamy sauce making every bite melt in your mouth.

Unlike traditional baked ziti, this million dollar crock pot version stays much more moist and cheesy by slow cooking it in a crock pot.

Once the baked ziti ingredients are layered in the slow cooker, you just set it and forget it. This makes this recipe perfect for the holidays. You can have dinner cooking while you are spending time with your family or dinner guests.

I love making baked ziti for my holiday meals. Everyone loves baked ziti for dinner! I love to make it for Christmas. When your tired of turkey and ham after Thanksgiving and want to make a holiday meal for dinner that is less traditional.

Uncooked Pasta Ziti Recipe

Another great reason I like to make baked ziti in a crock pot is there is no need to boil the pasta beforehand. The pasta will absorb the cheesy sauce ingredients and cook to a tender perfection.

Million Dollar Baked Ziti Ingredients

Below is a quick look at the ingredients and directions. You can find the entire ingredient amounts and step by step directions in the recipe card below. P. S. You can also save your favorite recipes to your personal recipe box! ⬇️

Here are the recipe ingredients you will need.

Browned ground beef: Adds a savory depth to the baked ziti, and provided hearty meat flavor.
Softened cream cheese: Adds a smooth, creamy base that enhances the dish's overall richness.
Sour cream: Adds just a hint of tangy creaminess that balances the flavors and adds to the rich creaminess of the sauce.
Ricotta cheese: Adds a light, fluffy creaminess that complements the other cheeses.
Minced garlic and minced parsley: Classic Italian seasonings that adds a hint of flavor to the ricotta cheese mixture.
Jarred pasta sauce or homemade meat sauce: Serves as the savory, backbone of this favorite pasta dish, and brings all of the ingredients together.
Water: Helps cook the pasta.
Uncooked Ziti pasta noodles: Is the classic pasta shape that holds on to the sauce so each bite is infused with the rich and creamy flavor of the sauce.
Mozzarella cheese: Is the perfect bubbly cheesy topping, that seals in the flavors adding a cheesy finish.

👇See the step by step directions below!

Step by Step Directions

Step 1: Brown the ground beef in a skillet. Drain the grease well and set aside.

Step 2: In a bowl mix the softened cream cheese, sour cream, ricotta cheese, garlic and parsley.

Cheeses combined in a bowl for baked ziti.

Step 3: In the bottom of a 7 or 8 quart slow cooker pour half of the pasta sauce. Pour half the box of the uncooked ziti noodles over the sauce and spread them evenly over the top.

Step 4: Spread half of the browned ground beef over the pasta. Spoon half of the cream cheese mixture over the meat and spread it evenly. Do not stir.

Layering meat, cheese, noodles, and cream cheese mixture.

Step 5: Spread the remaining pasta over the top in an even layer. Spread the remaining ground beef over the pasta. Dollop the remaining cream cheese mixture over the sauce and gently spread over the sauce.

Step 6: Pour the ½ cup of water into the empty sauce jar and swish around to get all the sauce. Pour it around the edges of the other ingredients. Place the lid on the crock pot and cook on low for 3 hours.

Millionaire Crock Pot Baked Ziti in the slow cooker before cooking.

Step 7: After 3 hours remove the lid and stir the ingredients together. Check the pasta to see if it is tender. If not recover and cook for 1 more hour then recheck.

Step 8: Once the pasta is tender sprinkle the top with mozzarella cheese and recover. Heat until the cheese has melted.

Melted mozzarella cheese over slow cooked pasta, meat and sauce.

Serving: Once the pasta is done and cheese has melted you are ready to serve.

Scooping a serving of cheesy baked ziti out of a slow cooker.

What to serve with baked ziti

Here are a few suggestions on what you can serve to make this a full meal.

Italian Bread: Sliced and butter homemade Italian bread. Or make garlic bread.
Sourdough Focaccia: Make fresh focaccia and top it with vegetables.
Side Salad: A classic chef salad with a creamy dressing.
Tomato Salad: Tomato and Mozzarella Salad goes well with pasta.
Dessert: Lemon Cheesecake is a perfect dessert.

Helpful Cooking Tools

Using the right tools is just as important as using the right ingredients. Make sure your recipes turn out perfect every time.

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Serving Million Dollar ziti on a dinner plate with salad and bread.

Recipe FAQs

Can I substitute ingredients in the Million Dollar Baked Ziti recipe?

You can substitute ground beef with ground turkey or Italian sausage for a different flavor profile. For a vegetarian option, consider using mushrooms or zucchini. If you're looking to make it gluten-free, use gluten-free pasta. Feel free to experiment with different cheeses like mozzarella, ricotta, or provolone to enhance the creaminess of this slow cooker pasta dish.

What are some serving suggestions for Crock Pot Million Dollar Baked Ziti?

Million Dollar Baked Ziti pairs wonderfully with a fresh green salad and a side of garlic bread to soak up the delicious sauce. For a complete meal, consider adding a side of roasted vegetables or a simple antipasto platter. This slow cooker pasta is also perfect for potlucks or family gatherings, as it can be easily transported and kept warm in the crock pot.

How can I store leftovers and reheat Crock Pot Million Dollar Baked Ziti?

To store leftover Million Dollar Baked Ziti, allow it to cool before transferring it to an airtight container. It can be refrigerated for up to 3-4 days or frozen for up to 3 months. To reheat the pasta place it in a microwave-safe dish and heat it in the microwave until warmed through. You can also reheat it in the oven at 350°F for about 20-25 minutes. If reheating from frozen, it's best to thaw the ziti in the refrigerator overnight before warming it up to ensure even heating and maintain that delicious million dollar flavor.

Savor the Ultimate Baked Ziti

This million dollar ziti elevates baked ziti to a new level, because it is made with classic oven-baked ziti ingredients plus cream cheese and sour cream to make it extra moist and cheesy. It is a perfect holiday recipe everyone will love.