Love baked ziti but hate turning on your oven? Look no further! Slow Cooker Cheesy Baked Ziti is here to save the day. With this recipe, you can enjoy the most flavorful baked ziti without breaking a sweat.
Ingredients:
- 1/2 brick (4 oz.) cream cheese, softened to room temperature
- 1/4 cup sour cream
- 1 pound cooked ground beef
- 1/2 cup ricotta cheese
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 3 sprigs of basil, chopped
- 2 (24 oz.) jars marinara sauce
- 1 (16 oz.) jar tomato sauce
- 1 cup water
- 16 oz. uncooked ziti pasta
- 1 1/2 cups shredded parmesan cheese
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
Instructions:
- Using a hand mixer, combine cream cheese, sour cream, ricotta cheese, garlic, and chopped basil in a medium bowl until well combined.
- In a separate bowl, stir together marinara sauce, tomato sauce, cooked ground beef, and water.
- Add about 2 cups of the tomato sauce mixture to a slow cooker. Top with half of the uncooked ziti pasta. Spread half of the cheese mixture over the pasta and sprinkle with half of the parmesan cheese.
- Repeat the layers with the remaining ingredients, ending with the tomato sauce.
- Cover and cook on HIGH for 2-3 hours.
- Sprinkle mozzarella cheese on top and cook for another 15 minutes on HIGH, covered, to allow the cheese to melt.
Bonus Recipe: Homemade Panettone
This easy panettone recipe is a simplified version of the original, but you won’t even notice the difference when you taste it! This traditional Italian sweet bread is increasingly popular during Christmas worldwide.
The original recipe is quite elaborate, using a special sourdough starter and a process that takes several days. In this recipe, we have simplified the process quite a bit. However, it still takes some time and has its tricks, but it’s definitely worth it!
The tradition of panettone dates back centuries, and nowadays, it’s an essential element in Christmas celebrations in many homes. Modern variations include versions with additional fillings, such as chocolate or cream, but the essence of panettone remains the same.
It’s a festive delicacy that is shared and enjoyed during the holiday season. Its unmistakable aroma and unique flavor make panettone a cherished culinary gift and a symbol of celebration during the end-of-year festivities.
Preparation Time:
- Serves 4 / 45 minutes / Medium difficulty
Ingredients:
Sponge:
- 400g special flour
- 10g instant yeast
- 4g strong dough improver
- 10g gluten
- 180ml water
- 80g sugar
- 10g butter
Reinforcement:
- 225g special flour
- 80g egg yolks (without whites)
- 110g sugar
- 80g salt
- 10g shine enhancer
- 6g emulsifier
- 5g wheat gluten
- 80g anti-mold agent
- 6g powdered milk
- 100ml water
- 5g strong dough improver
- 50g butter
- 45g margarine
- 180g raisins
- 170g candied fruit
- 80g panettone essence
Preparation:
Sponge:
- Place the flour and instant yeast in a mixer, mix them dry until everything comes together.
- Then add the water, dough improver, sugar, and knead.
- After a few minutes, add the butter and continue kneading until you get a regular, unrefined dough.
- Let it ferment for 2.5 to 3 hours.
Reinforcement:
- Place the sponge in the mixer with the egg yolks, sugar, salt, emulsifier, shine enhancer, and water.
- Knead until the mixture is homogeneous.
- Pre-mix the special flour with the powdered milk, anti-mold agent, wheat gluten, and strong dough improver.
- Continue kneading. When the dough starts to become elastic, add the margarine and essences, and keep kneading until you get a thin, elastic dough.
- Finally, add the raisins and candied fruit. Let the dough rest for a few minutes, then cut and shape it into desired units.
- Let it rest for 10 minutes, shape the dough into rolls for the second time, and place them in molds.
- Let it ferment for about three hours, then bake at 180 degrees Celsius for 60 minutes.
Now you can enjoy your homemade panettone!
Enjoy!
