Slow Cooker Baked Ziti

Ingredients

• Ground beef

  80% lean meat / 20% fat, raw

  16 oz or 454g

• Onions

  Raw

  1 medium or 110g

• Garlic

  Raw

  1 cloves, minced or 3g

• Salt

  Table

  1 ½ tsp or 9g

• Basil

  Spices, dried

  1 tsp, leaves or 0.7g

• Parsley

  Spices, dried

  1 tsp or 0.5g

• Tomatoes

  Red, ripe, canned, packed in tomato juice

  3 ½ cup or 840g

• Pasta sauce

  Spaghetti/marinara, ready-to-serve

  2 ½ cup or 640g

• Chicken broth

  Soup, canned, less/reduced sodium

  2 ½ cup or 600g

• Whole wheat pasta

  Dry

  12 oz or 340g

• Mozzarella cheese

  Part skim milk

  2 cup, shredded or 224g

Directions

1. In a large skillet, cook the ground beef and finely chopped onion over medium heat until browned. Add the minced garlic and salt, cooking for an additional minute.
2. Transfer the beef mixture, basil, parsley, diced tomatoes, pasta sauce, and chicken broth to a 4-quart or larger slow cooker. Stir to combine.
3. Cook on low for 6 hours or on high for 3 hours.
4. Switch the slow cooker to high. Add the pasta and stir until combined. Cover and cook for an additional 15-30 minutes, stirring at the 15-minute mark.
5. Sprinkle with mozzarella cheese and cover for 3-5 minutes until the cheese is melted. Serve and enjoy.