Name: Eggplant and Sausage Slow Cooker Baked Ziti
Prep time: 25 min
Total time: 240 min
Ingredients: 4 ounces bulk sweet Italian sausage; 4 cups peeled and chopped eggplant; 2 medium fennel bulbs, trimmed, cored, and thinly sliced; 1 (14.5 ounce) can crushed fire-roasted tomatoes; 0.5 cup water; 0.25 cup dry white wine; 2 tablespoons tomato paste; 2 cloves garlic, minced; 1 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning, crushed; 6 to 8 ounces dried cut ziti or penne pasta; 0.5 cup snipped fresh basil; 1 cup shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese (4 ounces); Snipped fresh basil

Eggplant and Sausage Slow Cooker Baked Ziti

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Using a slow cooker makes this Italian style dish an easy meal for any night of the week.

EatingWell Test Kitchen

Updated on July 9, 2019

Prep Time:

25 mins

Additional Time:

3 hrs 35 mins

Total Time:

4 hrs

Servings:

Yield:

6 servings

Nutrition Profile:

Diabetes Appropriate Egg Free Healthy Aging Heart Healthy Low Sodium Low-Calorie Nut-Free Soy-Free

Jump to Nutrition Facts

Ingredients

4 ounces bulk sweet Italian sausage
4 cups peeled and chopped eggplant
2 medium fennel bulbs, trimmed, cored, and thinly sliced
1 (14.5 ounce) can crushed fire-roasted tomatoes
½ cup water
¼ cup dry white wine
2 tablespoons tomato paste
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning, crushed
6 to 8 ounces dried cut ziti or penne pasta
½ cup snipped fresh basil
1 cup shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese (4 ounces)
Snipped fresh basil

Directions

In a large skillet cook sausage over medium-high heat until brown, using a wooden spoon to break up meat as it cooks. Drain off fat.
In a 5- to 6-quart slow cooker combine sausage, eggplant, fennel, tomatoes, water, wine, tomato paste, garlic and Italian seasoning. Cover and cook on low-heat setting for 6 to 7 hours or on high-heat setting for 3 to 3 1/2 hours.
If using low-heat setting, turn to high-heat setting. Stir in pasta and basil. Cover and cook for 30 minutes (see Tip). Stir pasta mixture. Sprinkle with cheese. Cover and cook for 10 minutes more. Let stand, uncovered, for 5 to 10 minutes before serving. Sprinkle with additional basil.

Tips

Tip: Skip the last 30 minutes of cooking by tossing eggplant mixture and basil with 6 to 8 ounces of cooked pasta. Sprinkle with cheese; continue as directed.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

255	Calories
5g	Fat
38g	Carbs
14g	Protein

Nutrition Facts
Servings Per Recipe 6
Serving Size 1 1/4 cup
Calories 255
% Daily Value *
Total Carbohydrate 38g	14%
Dietary Fiber 6g	21%
Total Sugars 7g
Protein 14g	28%
Total Fat 5g	6%
Saturated Fat 3g	15%
Cholesterol 18mg	6%
Sodium 479mg	21%

Nutrition information is calculated by a registered dietitian using an ingredient database but should be considered an estimate.

* Daily Values (DVs) are the recommended amounts of nutrients to consume each day. Percent Daily Value (%DV) found on nutrition labels tells you how much a serving of a particular food or recipe contributes to each of those total recommended amounts. Per the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the daily value is based on a standard 2,000 calorie diet. Depending on your calorie needs or if you have a health condition, you may need more or less of particular nutrients. (For example, it’s recommended that people following a heart-healthy diet eat less sodium on a daily basis compared to those following a standard diet.)

(-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient. If you are following a special diet for medical reasons, be sure to consult with your primary care provider or a registered dietitian to better understand your personal nutrition needs.