Crockpot Chicken Ziti Slow Cooker
A comforting and easy slow cooker meal featuring tender chicken, ziti pasta, marinara sauce, and a blend of cheeses, all cooked together for a delicious, hands-off dinner.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 4 hours 30 minutes
- Total Time: 4 hours 45 minutes
- Yield: 6
Ingredients
1 pound boneless skinless chicken breasts
3 cups uncooked ziti pasta
4 cups marinara sauce
2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
1 cup ricotta cheese
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 medium onion, finely chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
2 cups low-sodium chicken broth
2 tablespoons olive oil
Fresh basil leaves, for garnish (about 6 leaves)
Instructions
In a skillet over medium heat, heat olive oil. Add chopped onion and cook until softened, about 3-4 minutes.
Add minced garlic to the skillet and cook for an additional 1 minute until fragrant. Remove from heat.
Place the chicken breasts in the bottom of the slow cooker.
Pour the cooked onion and garlic mixture over the chicken.
Add the marinara sauce, chicken broth, dried Italian seasoning, salt, and black pepper to the slow cooker. Stir gently to combine.
Cover and cook on low for 3 hours.
After 3 hours, remove the chicken breasts and shred them with two forks. Return the shredded chicken to the slow cooker and stir.
Add the uncooked ziti pasta to the slow cooker and stir to combine. Cover and continue cooking on low for 1 hour and 30 minutes, or until the pasta is tender.
Once the pasta is cooked, stir in the ricotta cheese, half of the shredded mozzarella, and half of the grated Parmesan cheese until well combined.
Sprinkle the remaining mozzarella and Parmesan cheese on top. Cover and cook for an additional 10-15 minutes until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
Turn off the slow cooker. Let the dish sit for 5 minutes before serving.
Serve garnished with fresh basil leaves.