Are you tired of spending hours in the kitchen preparing dinner? Do you want a delicious and easy meal that the whole family will love?
Look no further than this slow cooker ziti pasta bake recipe! Using a slow cooker is a game changer when it comes to simplifying dinner.
This recipe is not only easy to make, but it also results in a mouthwatering pasta dish that your taste buds will love!
I love that the slow cooker does all of the work for this recipe, including cooking the noodles.
That means cleanup is a breeze!
How I Lightened It Up:
Store bought pasta sauce has points in it, even if it’s a light marinara sauce. By making your own sauce you can save points.
I used a 28 oz. can of crushed tomatoes, which is 0 points. Adding garlic powder, onion powder, oregano, basil, Italian seasoning, grated Parmesan, salt, and pepper helped transform it into a delicious marinara sauce.
As always, I used a food scale to weigh the noodles. Since I used 12 oz. of noodles, I wanted to ensure the points were accurate.
Topping the pasta dish with cheese is the star of the show in my eyes. I used part-skim mozzarella cheese to help keep the points low.
Click here to track the points on your WW app.
Ingredients You Need:
- Crushed tomatoes (28 oz.)
- Ziti pasta (12 oz.)
- Garlic powder (1/2 teaspoon)
- Onion powder (1/2 teaspoon)
- Oregano (1/2 teaspoon)
- Basil (1/2 teaspoon)
- Italian seasoning (1/2 teaspoon)
- Salt (1/4 teaspoon
- Pepper (1/8 teaspoon)
- Grated Parmesan cheese (1 tablespoon)
- Chopped spinach (1/2 cup)
- Part-skim mozzarella cheese, shredded (1 cup)
How to Make Slow Cooker Baked Ziti:
Add the crushed tomatoes to the slow cooker. Stir in the garlic powder, onion powder, oregano, basil, Italian seasoning, salt, pepper, and Parmesan cheese.
Cover the slow cooker and cook on high for 1 hour.
When the hour is up, add 1 1/2 cups of water to the crock pot and pour in the uncooked pasta. Mix it together making sure the noodles are covered by the sauce.
Replace the cover and cook on high for 1/2 hour. Add the spinach and mix it all together.
I used frozen chopped spinach that I let thaw and drained.
Top the pasta with the mozzarella cheese. Cover the slow cooker and cook on low for 10 minutes, or until the cheese is melted.
All that’s left to do is eat it! With only one dish being used to make dinner, cleanup will be a breeze.
How to Serve and Store Leftover Baked Ziti Pasta:
To serve the leftover ziti pasta, simply reheat it in the microwave or oven until warmed through.
You can also add a splash of marinara sauce to help keep it moist. Garnish with some fresh basil or parsley to bring back those vibrant flavors.
If you have a large amount of leftover baked ziti pasta, you can portion it into individual servings and store them in airtight containers.
This makes it easy to grab a quick lunch or dinner for busy days. It will stay fresh in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days.
To store leftover baked ziti pasta for longer, you can also freeze it. Transfer individual portions or the entire dish into freezer-safe containers or zip-top bags.
Make sure to label them with the date and contents. It can be stored in the freezer for up to 3 months.
When you’re ready to enjoy your frozen ziti pasta, simply thaw it in the refrigerator overnight and then reheat it using your preferred method.
This makes for a convenient and delicious meal option whenever you need it.
Whether you’re enjoying leftovers the next day or saving them for later, you can savor the flavors of this slow cooker ziti pasta for days to come. Don’t let any of that deliciousness go to waste!
Here are some things I used for this recipe:
Yield: 6 servings
Click here to track the points on your WW app.
- 28 oz. crushed tomatoes
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon basil
- 1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/8 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 tablespoon grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 1/2 cups water
- 12 oz. uncooked ziti
- 1/2 cup frozen chopped spinach (thawed and drained)
- 1 cup part-skim mozzarella cheese, shredded
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Add the crushed tomatoes, garlic powder, onion powder, oregano, basil, Italian seasoning, salt, pepper, and Parmesan cheese to a crock pot. Stir together, cover the slow cooker, and cook on high for 1 hour.
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When the hour is up, add 1 1/2 cups of water to the crock pot and pour in the uncooked ziti. Mix it together making sure the noodles are covered by the sauce.
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Replace the lid and cook on high for 1/2 hour.
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Add the spinach and mix together. Top the pasta with mozzarella cheese, cover the slow cooker and cook on low for 10 minutes, or until the cheese is melted.
Here are some more WW friendly recipes:
Slow Cooker Chicken in Green Sauce
If you’re looking for some zero point recipes, check out my post 20 Zero Point Recipes or my post 20 (More) Zero Point Recipes. Both are filled with delicious recipes that won’t cost you a single point! They’re perfect for days when you’re running low on points, or trying to save up points for a night out.
If you’re looking for dessert recipes you can visit 50 Weight Watchers Freestyle Desserts. It’s filled with delicious desserts perfect for Weight Watchers!
Are you looking for a meal plan that’s Weight Watchers friendly? I have over 100 meal plans that you can choose from and I post a new one each week. Click here to check them out!
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