Slow Cooker Baked Ziti, America's Test Kitchen

• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 lb hot Italian sausage, casings removed
• 1 onion, chopped
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 12 teaspoon dried oregano
• 12 teaspoon salt
• 12 teaspoon pepper
• 8 ounces ziti pasta
• 1 (28 ounce) can crushed tomatoes
• 1 (15 ounce) can tomato sauce
• 8 ounces whole milk ricotta cheese
• 4 ounces mozzarella cheese, shredded (1 cup)
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil

1. Make aluminum foil collar for slow cooker by folding 2 (18-inch-long) pieces of foil to make 2 (18 by 4-inch) strips.
2. Line perimeter of slow cooker with foil strips and spray with vegetable oil spray.
3. Heat oil in Dutch oven over medium-high heat until just smoking.
4. Cook sausage, breaking up pieces with spoon, until well browned, 6 to 8 minutes.
5. Add onion and cook until lightly browned, about 5 minutes.
6. Stir in garlic, oregano, salt, and pepper and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute.
7. Reduce heat to medium-low.
8. Add ziti and cook, stirring constantly, until edges of pasta become translucent, about 4 minutes.
9. Off heat, stir in crushed tomatoes and tomato sauce, scraping up any browned bits.
10. Transfer mixture to prepared slow cooker.
11. Cover and cook on low until pasta is tender, about 3 hours.
12. Using tongs, remove foil collar from slow cooker and stir gently to redistribute pasta.
13. Dollop ricotta over ziti and sprinkle with mozzarella.
14. Cover and let sit for 20 minutes to let cheeses melt.
15. Garnish with basil and serve.

olive oil, hot italian sausage, onion, garlic, oregano, salt, pepper, pasta, tomatoes, tomato sauce, milk ricotta cheese, mozzarella cheese, fresh basil

Taken from www.food.com/recipe/slow-cooker-baked-ziti-america-s-test-kitchen-525014 (may not work)