Discover the ultimate comfort food with this delectable slow cooker spaghetti sauce recipe!
This Crockpot spaghetti sauce is thick and rich with slow-cooked tomatoes and savory seasoned ground beef.
Perfectly seasoned and bursting with taste, this homemade sauce is sure to impress.
Spaghetti Sauce in the Slow Cooker!
- The secret to perfectly flavored roasted tomato sauce is utilizing the low, steady heat of a slow cooker.
- Spaghetti sauce makes dinner easy! Add a crispy salad with Italian dressing and a hunk of homemade bread to sop up all that delicious sauce!
- Use this sauce as a base for other delicious meals such as baked rigatoni, lasagna or stuffed peppers.
- Pair this Crockpot spaghetti sauce with spaghetti or linguine. Or opt for short, tubular pasta varieties such as penne, ziti, or rigatoni where the sauce can cling to every curve!
Ingredients and Variations
Beef: Ground chicken and turkey can be mixed with ground beef, but for a little more zest, add some ground Italian sausage. Use this hand meat chopper while cooking to break it up easily.
Tomatoes: Whole canned tomatoes add visual interest and texture, but two cans of diced tomatoes can be used instead.
Mushrooms: Canned or fresh mushrooms can be used interchangeably, and some shredded zucchini, carrots, and bell peppers can be added in for those picky eaters that don’t normally care for veggies!
Seasonings: Short on time? Whip up this quick DIY Italian seasoning blend and use it in everything from dips to dressings as well as spaghetti sauce.
How to Cook Spaghetti Sauce in a Slow Cooker
If your slow cooker has a saute function, no need to use the skillet!
- Cook ground beef and add it to a slow cooker with the remaining ingredients (as per the recipe below).
- Cover and cook on high for 4 hours or on slow for 8 hours (or longer). Garnish as desired, and serve.
Tips & Tricks
There are many ways to thicken, or thin out, spaghetti sauce.
- Add some reserved pasta water to the spaghetti sauce to thicken it.
- Make a slurry by mixing equal amounts of cornstarch and cold water together before adding them to the pot and letting the sauce cook down with the lid off.
- Thin out a sauce that’s too thick by adding some water or broth. Adding more canned tomatoes will only make the sauce more acidic.
- Feel free to double up the recipe and freeze portions for future meals!
How To Cook The Perfect Pasta
- Add a tablespoon of salt to boiling water and add noodles. Stir immediately to keep the noodles from sticking together.
- Cook spaghetti to “al dente” which is cooked but still firm.
- Do not rinse the pasta because the starch that’s been released helps the sauce cling to it.
- Reserve pasta water to thicken the sauce later, if needed.
Storing Spaghetti Sauce
- Slow cooker spaghetti sauce can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- Freeze for up to 3 months in zippered bags and thaw in the refrigerator overnight or back in the slow cooker on low.
Other Crockpot Recipes!
Slow Cooker Spaghetti Sauce
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 pounds ground beef
- 2 onions sliced
- 1 Tablespoon garlic powder
- 2 Tablespoons dried oregano dried
- 1 Tablespoon parsley dried
- 6 ounces tomato paste 1 small can
- 10-20 ounces sliced mushrooms drained, 1-2 cans
- 28 ounces diced tomatoes 1 large can
- 56 ounces canned whole tomatoes 2 large cans
- freshly ground black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Fry ground beef on medium-high heat until browned using a wooden spoon or meat chopper.
- Add browned meat, onions, seasonings, tomato paste, mushrooms, tomatoes, and pepper to slow cooker.
- Cook on high for 4 hours, or low 8 hours (or longer). Serve over cooked spaghetti and garnish with freshly cracked pepper, parsley, and parmesan cheese if desired.
Notes
- Choose quality ingredients for the best flavor. Sear or brown meat before adding it to the slow cooker.
- Substitute Italian mix or spaghetti seasoning packet in lieu of seasonings listed in the recipe.
- Add a second can of diced tomatoes for whole tomatoes if preferred.
- Allow the sauce to simmer on low heat for 6 to 8 hours.
- Adjust seasoning to taste towards the end of the cooking process.
Nutrition Information
Nutrition information does not include optional ingredients or garnish and is an estimate. It may change based on actual ingredients and cooking methods used.
©Our Zesty Life. Content and photographs are copyright protected. Sharing of this recipe is both encouraged and appreciated. Copying and/or pasting full recipes to any social media is strictly prohibited.
Like our recipes?
Follow us on Pinterest!
Pin this Slow Cooker Spaghetti Sauce recipe!
Can’t beat home made sauce!