Crock Pot Ziti With Spinach, Ricotta, and Tomato Sauce
So easy and so good! Note: I made a very quick tomato sauce for this. You can use jar sauce if you'd like but since this sauce only takes 20 minutes to cook, I think it's worth the effort because it really does make a difference. I served this with a side salad and garlic bread.
INGREDIENTS
Nutrition- 1
- 1
- 4
- 2teaspoons sea salt
- 1⁄4teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
- 1⁄4cup unsalted butter
- 2
- 1
- 1⁄4teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
- 1⁄4cup grated parmesan cheese
- 2tablespoons olive oil
- cooking spray, for greasing crock pot
- 1
- 1
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DIRECTIONS
- For the sauce:
- Heat a medium sauce pan over medium heat. Add olive oil and garlic. Brown garlic about 2 minutes then discard the garlic but reserve the oil. To the garlic flavored oil, add the crushed tomatoes, whole onion, butter, 1 teaspoons sea salt, and crushed red pepper flakes. Bring to a boil, then reduce to simmer partially covered for 20 minutes. Remove onion and discard when done.
- In a large bowl, combine ricotta cheese, egg, spinach, 2 tablespoons parmesan cheese, 1 teaspoons salt and fresh ground black pepper. Mix well to combine. Add ziti, toss to combine.
- Spray the crock pot with cooking spray. Add about 1/2 cup of sauce, then add 1/4 of the pasta mixture. Repeat 3 more layers (4 layers in total) ending with sauce. Sprinkle 2 tablespoons of parmesan cheese over the top.
- Cover and cook on low for 4 to 5 hours depending on your slow cooker.
- If you have any sauce left over. Save it in case you want to add more to the finished dish.
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