Crock-Pot Baked Ziti!

By now you know how much I love my crock-pot. I used it for 75% (maybe more!) of the meals that I cook. Last night, our friends Carissa and baby Adelaide came over to visit, so I decided to throw some Ziti on. It's super simple and DELICIOUS!

Ingredients-
15oz Ricotta Cheese
1 Box of Ziti Noodles (Mine was 18oz)
1 Cup of Parmesan Cheese
2 Jars of Spaghetti Sauce
2 Cups of Shredded Mozzarella (Or any shredded cheese you have around!)
2 T Garlic Powder
1 Cup Water
1 Can of Diced Tomatoes (optional!)


Instructions-

First, spray the crock-pot with cooking spray really well. Next take 1/2 of a jar of spaghetti sauce and pour it in to cover the bottom of the crock-pot.

Next, Add 1/2 of your UNCOOKED ziti noodles. In a separate bowl, mix together Riccotta, Mozzarella, garlic, and Parmesan and spread 1/2 of your cheese mixture on top of the noodles. Spread 1/2 of the can of tomatoes then pour 1/2 of a cup of water over everything.

Next, pour the remaining 1/2 jar of spaghetti sauce on top. Spread another layer of noodles (the rest of the box) on top, then repeat the cheese layer and tomato layer and sauce layer (using the entire 2nd jar, you can use 1/2 if you don't want as much sauce). Finally, Pour your last 1/2 cup of water over the entire thing (this will help keep the noodles moist).

You can add more Parmesan or shredded cheese to the top for looks if you desire.
Cook on LOW in your crock pot for 4 hours or HIGH for 2 hours. I took a spatula and scraped the sides every 30 minutes or so just to make sure it wasn't sticking- but I had no problem getting it out in the end.


Serve with some delicious french bread and Italian Sausages!


For the Italian Sausages All I do is preheat the oven to 400 degrees. I lay the sausages side by side in a baking dish and top with red and green peppers as well as some onions. I then drizzle some olive oil over the top and bake for 45minutes (until they are cooked inside and out). It is best to take them out halfway through and flip them over so both sides get cooked evenly.


Delicious!