All the comforting, bubbly goodness of a classic oven-baked Italian pasta casserole transformed into an effortless, hands-off slow cooker meal! Hearty Italian sausage coins, tender bell peppers, and ziti pasta simmer directly in a rich marinara sauce before being smothered under a thick blanket of gooey mozzarella.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 3.5–4 hours (Low) or 2 hours (High)
- Servings: 6–8 people
🛒 Ingredients
- 1 lb: Sweet or hot Italian sausage links, pre-cooked and cut into thick rounds (or ground Italian sausage browned and crumbled)
- 12 oz (approx. 3.5 cups): Uncooked ziti pasta (Penne or Rigatoni work great too!)
- 1 jar (24 oz): Premium marinara or pasta sauce
- 1 can (14.5 oz): Diced tomatoes (undrained)
- 1 cup: Water or low-sodium chicken broth (needed to fully cook the dry pasta)
- 1 large: Green bell pepper, cored and thinly sliced
- 1 large: Red bell pepper, cored and thinly sliced
- 1 medium: Yellow onion, halved and thinly sliced
- 2 cloves: Garlic, finely minced
- 1 tbsp: Italian seasoning blend (oregano, basil, thyme)
- To taste: Salt and freshly cracked black pepper
- 2 cups: Shredded Mozzarella cheese (thick cut for a better pull)
- 1/4 cup: Grated Parmesan cheese
- Optional Garnish: Freshly chopped Italian flat-leaf parsley
👩🍳 Step-by-Step Instructions
- Prep the Slow Cooker: Lightly spray the inside of your slow cooker insert with non-stick cooking spray.
- Layer the Bases: Place the sliced Italian sausage coins across the bottom of the slow cooker pot. Layer the sliced red and green bell peppers, sliced onions, and minced garlic cleanly over the meat.
- Pour Sauces & Season: Add the jar of marinara sauce, the undrained can of diced tomatoes, and 1 cup of water (or broth) over the meat and vegetables. Sprinkle the Italian seasoning blend, salt, and black pepper over everything. Stir gently to combine.
- Slow Cook: Cover tightly with the heavy glass lid and cook on LOW for 3 to 3.5 hours (or HIGH for 1.5 to 2 hours) until the peppers are tender and the sauce is hot and bubbling.
- Dump the Pasta: About 30 minutes before you plan to serve, lift the lid and stir the uncooked dry ziti pasta directly into the bubbling sauce mixture. Ensure the noodles are fully submerged down into the hot liquid so they cook evenly.
- Simmer to Tender: Re-cover with the lid and continue cooking on HIGH for 20 to 25 minutes until the ziti pasta is soft, plump, and al dente.
- Add the Cheese Blanket: Turn off the heat. Stir the grated Parmesan cheese right into the pasta mixture. Then, completely blanket the top of the ziti with the 2 cups of shredded mozzarella cheese. Cover with the lid for 5–7 minutes until the cheese is completely melted and stringy from the residual heat.
- Garnish & Serve: Garnish with fresh chopped parsley directly inside the pot. Scoop hot into deep bowls, ensuring every serving gets a generous stretch of melted cheese!