Slow Cooker Ziti

1/2 pound ground beef
1/2 cup of chopped cooked spinach (optional)
1 teaspoons dried Italian seasoning
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 jar (25 oz.) pasta sauce
1 cup ricotta cheese
1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese, divided
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
8oz. ziti pasta, uncooked

BROWN ground beef and onion in a large skillet over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally, until beef is no longer pink. Stir in seasoning to evenly coat meat. Stir in pasta sauce. Stir in spinach. Set aside.

MIX 1 cup mozzarella cheese, the ricotta and Parmesan in a medium bowl. Spoon 2 cups of the meat sauce into the slow cooker; top with 2 cups uncooked ziti pasta. Drop half of the cheese mixture, by rounded tablespoons, over pasta; carefully spread over pasta using back of spoon. Layer with 2 cups meat sauce, the remaining pasta and the remaining cheese mixture. Top with the remaining meat sauce, completely covering all the pasta and cheese mixture. Place lid on slow cooker.

COOK on LOW for 4 to 5 hours or until noodles are tender.

CAREFULLY remove lid to allow steam to escape. Sprinkle food with the remaining 1 cup mozzarella cheese; let stand 10 minutes until melted. Serve food directly from the slow cooker.

*I made this Wednesday instead and it was really good. I sprayed the crockpot before adding so the noodles wouldn't get crunchy from touching the sides. It worked. I also only cooked it about 3 1/2 hours and the noodles were already done. About 1/3 of the kids liked it. They are just picky.

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