Slow Cooker Spaghetti Sauce Recipe
This Slow Cooker Spaghetti Sauce recipe offers a rich, slow-simmered tomato and beef sauce that’s perfect for a comforting pasta dinner. Combining ground beef, crushed and diced tomatoes, and a blend of herbs and spices, this sauce develops deep, savory flavors over hours of slow cooking, making it an effortless and delicious meal base for your favorite pasta dishes.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 8 hours on LOW or 4 hours on HIGH
- Total Time: 8 hours 15 minutes (using LOW setting)
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Category: Sauce
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: Italian
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 1 lb. ground beef
- 28 oz. can crushed tomatoes
- 28 oz. diced tomatoes (two 14 oz. cans, do not drain)
- 6 oz. can tomato paste
- 2 Tbsp. brown sugar
- 1/2 cup diced white onion
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 Tbsp. dried oregano
- 2 tsp. dried basil
- 1 tsp. salt
- 1/4 tsp. black pepper
- 1 pinch red pepper flakes
To Serve
- Cooked noodles (such as spaghetti)
- Parmesan cheese, for topping
Instructions
- Brown the Ground Beef: In a large skillet over medium-high heat, add the ground beef. Cook it until fully browned, using a spatula or wooden spoon to crumble the meat. Once browned, drain off any excess fat to reduce greasiness in the sauce.
- Combine Ingredients in Slow Cooker: Transfer the cooked ground beef into the slow cooker. Add the crushed tomatoes, diced tomatoes (including their juice), tomato paste, brown sugar, diced onion, minced garlic, dried oregano, dried basil, salt, black pepper, and red pepper flakes. Stir thoroughly to evenly combine all the ingredients.
- Slow Cook the Sauce: Cover the slow cooker with its lid and set it to cook on LOW for 8 hours or HIGH for 4 hours. Avoid opening the lid during cooking to maintain steady heat and moisture.
- Serve: When the sauce is done, spoon it generously over cooked noodles of your choice. Top with freshly grated Parmesan cheese for added flavor and serve hot.
Notes
- For a richer flavor, brown the beef with a small amount of olive oil.
- Do not drain the diced tomatoes to keep the sauce moist and flavorful.
- Adjust red pepper flakes to your preferred spice level or omit if sensitive to heat.
- This sauce can be refrigerated for up to 4 days or frozen for up to 3 months for easy meal prep.
- For a vegetarian version, omit the ground beef and add sautéed mushrooms or lentils instead.
Keywords: slow cooker spaghetti sauce, easy spaghetti sauce, beef spaghetti sauce, homemade pasta sauce, slow cooker recipes
Find it online: https://kitchenbyclara.com/slow-cooker-spaghetti-sauce-recipe/
