Slow Cooker Spaghetti Sauce

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Slow Cooker Spaghetti Sauce is a delicious and convenient meal that is perfect for busy weeknights or when you want to enjoy a comforting meal with minimal effort. The sauce is made by combining a variety of ingredients in a slow cooker and cooking it on low heat for several hours. During this time, the flavors meld together to create a rich and delicious sauce that is perfect for serving over spaghetti noodles.

Check out my Slow Cooker Chicken Stew and my Healthy Slow Cooker Chicken Stock for more delicious slow cooker recipes.

To make the spaghetti sauce in a slow cooker, simply place all of the ingredients in the slow cooker, stir to combine, cover, and let cook. When it's done, simply serve the sauce over cooked spaghetti noodles and garnish with grated Parmesan cheese and fresh basil, if desired. With this recipe, you can enjoy a delicious and satisfying meal with minimal effort and maximum flavor.

It's a hearty and filling meal that the whole family will love.

Why You'll Love This Recipe

• Convenience. Making spaghetti sauce in a slow cooker is incredibly convenient, as you simply add all of the ingredients to the slow cooker, cover, and let it cook for several hours without any additional attention required. This makes it an ideal meal for busy weeknights or when you want to enjoy a comforting meal with minimal effort.
• Flavor. The slow cooking process allows the flavors of the ingredients to meld together and intensify, resulting in a rich and delicious sauce.
• Heartiness. The addition of ground beef to the sauce makes it a hearty and filling meal that will satisfy even the hungriest of eaters.
• Versatility. This spaghetti sauce can be served over spaghetti noodles, but it can also be used as a base for other dishes, such as lasagna, pizza, or baked ziti.
• Feeds a crowd. This recipe makes a large amount of spaghetti sauce, making it perfect for feeding a crowd or for leftovers. You can easily double or triple the recipe if needed.

Ingredients You'll Need

• Olive Oil: Used to sauté the Garlic, Onion & Green Pepper, which creates a flavorful base for the sauce.
• Lean Ground Beef: Added to the pan and browned until fully cooked, then it is drained of any excess fat.
• Diced Tomatoes, Tomato Sauce & Tomato Paste: Added to the slow cooker along with the sautéed vegetables and browned ground beef.
• Salt, Garlic Powder, Dried Basil, Dried Oregano, Italian Seasoning, Worcestershire Sauce & Ground Black Pepper: Added to the sauce to add depth of flavor and season the sauce to perfection.

Step-By-Step Instructions

Step 1:

Heat the olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Add the garlic, onion, green pepper, and ground beef to the skillet and cook until the ground beef is thoroughly cooked through and no longer pink. Drain off any excess fat.

Step 2:

Transfer the meat to the slow cooker. Add the diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, tomato paste, all seasonings, and Worcestershire sauce to the slow cooker. Stir to combine.

Step 3:

Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours, or until the sauce is thick and fragrant.

NOTE: You can print the FULL recipe with all ingredients & detailed instructions below!

Expert Tips

• Sauté the aromatics. Sautéing the garlic, onion, and green pepper in olive oil before adding it to the slow cooker creates a deeper flavor and provides a foundation for the sauce.
• Brown the ground beef. Browning the ground beef before adding it to the slow cooker is important as it removes excess fat and intensifies the flavor. Make sure to drain the excess fat before adding it to the slow cooker.
• Use high-quality canned tomatoes. Using high-quality canned tomatoes, such as San Marzano, will ensure that your sauce has the best flavor possible.
• Season to taste. The recipe calls for specific seasonings, but you can adjust them to suit your taste. Try adding a pinch of red pepper flakes for a little heat, or extra basil for a brighter flavor.
• Experiment with proteins. This recipe calls for ground beef, but you can also use Italian sausage, ground turkey, or even mushrooms for a vegetarian version.

Variations

• Vegetarian: To make a vegetarian version of this spaghetti sauce, simply omit the ground beef and add extra vegetables, such as mushrooms, zucchini, or eggplant.
• Spicy: If you like your spaghetti sauce with a little heat, try adding a pinch of red pepper flakes or cayenne pepper to the sauce.
• Wine-based: To add a deeper, richer flavor to the sauce, try adding a splash of red wine when sautéing the vegetables.
• Herby: For a brighter, fresher flavor, try adding extra basil or thyme to the sauce.
• Creamy: To make a creamy spaghetti sauce, try adding a splash of heavy cream or a dollop of ricotta cheese to the sauce before serving.

Storing & Freezing

Storing: Store the spaghetti sauce in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. To reheat, transfer the sauce to a saucepan and heat over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until heated through.

Freezing: If you have a large batch of spaghetti sauce, you can freeze it for later use. Let the sauce cool completely. Spaghetti sauce can be frozen for up to 6 months in an airtight container or freezer bag.

Thawing: It is best to thaw frozen spaghetti sauce in the refrigerator overnight. You can also place the container in a bowl of warm water for a quicker thaw. Once thawed, transfer the sauce to a saucepan and heat over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until heated through.

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Slow Cooker Spaghetti Sauce

Erika

Slow cooker spaghetti sauce is a delicious and convenient meal that is perfect for busy weeknights or when you want to enjoy a comforting meal with minimal effort. The sauce is made by combining a variety of ingredients in a slow cooker and cooking it on low heat for several hours. During this time, the flavors meld together to create a rich and delicious sauce that is perfect for serving over spaghetti noodles.

4.91 from 20 votes

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 15 mins

Cook Time 8 hrs

Total Time 8 hrs 15 mins

Course Main Dish

Cuisine American

Servings 12 Servings

Calories 124 kcal

Equipment

• Crock-Pot 6-Quart Cooker
• Measuring Spoons
• Ceramic Non-Stick Covered Frypan

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x

• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 clove garlic diced
• 1 yellow onion diced
• 1 green bell pepper seeds removed and diced
• 1 pound 93/7 lean ground beef
• 56 ounce can diced tomatoes undrained
• 16 ounces tomato sauce
• 6 ounces tomato paste
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon dried basil
• 1 teaspoon dried pregano
• 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
• ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
• 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce

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Instructions

 

• Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Add the garlic, onion, green pepper, and ground beef to the skillet and cook until the ground beef is thoroughly cooked through and no longer pink. Drain off any excess fat. 
• Transfer the meat to the slow cooker. Add the diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, tomato paste, all seasonings, and Worcestershire sauce to the slow cooker. Stir to combine.
• Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours, or until the sauce is thick and fragrant.

Notes

• Sauté the aromatics. Sautéing the garlic, onion, and green pepper in olive oil before adding it to the slow cooker creates a deeper flavor and provides a foundation for the sauce.
• Brown the ground beef. Browning the ground beef before adding it to the slow cooker is important as it removes excess fat and intensifies the flavor. Make sure to drain the excess fat before adding it to the slow cooker.
• Use high-quality canned tomatoes. Using high-quality canned tomatoes, such as San Marzano, will ensure that your sauce has the best flavor possible.
• Season to taste. The recipe calls for specific seasonings, but you can adjust them to suit your taste. Try adding a pinch of red pepper flakes for a little heat, or extra basil for a brighter flavor.
• Experiment with proteins. This recipe calls for ground beef, but you can also use Italian sausage, ground turkey, or even mushrooms for a vegetarian version.
• Storing: Store the spaghetti sauce in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. To reheat, transfer the sauce to a saucepan and heat over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until heated through.
• Freezing: If you have a large batch of spaghetti sauce, you can freeze it for later use. Let the sauce cool completely. Spaghetti sauce can be frozen for up to 6 months in an airtight container or freezer bag.
• Thawing: It is best to thaw frozen spaghetti sauce in the refrigerator overnight. You can also place the container in a bowl of warm water for a quicker thaw. Once thawed, transfer the sauce to a saucepan and heat over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until heated through.

Nutrition

Calories: 124kcalCarbohydrates: 11gProtein: 2gFat: 4gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gCholesterol: 20mgSodium: 590mgFiber: 2gSugar: 6g

All nutritional information is based on third-party calculations and should be considered estimates. Actual nutritional content will vary with brands used, measuring methods, portion sizes and more.

Keyword hearty spaghetti sauce, slow cooker spaghetti sauce

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