Slow Cooker Spaghetti Sauce
112 Comments Aug 04, 2023
Updated Jul 23, 2025
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Slow Cooker Spaghetti Sauce is a hearty blend of beef, tomatoes, and aromatic herbs, slow-simmered to perfection. This flavorful meat sauce pairs beautifully with any type of pasta for a satisfying, homemade meal.
Featured Comment
“My all time favourite spaghetti sauce!! The splash of wine gives it a nice edge.”
– Kevin
When it comes to pasta sauce, your first thought might be to grab a few jars from the grocery store. While that’s certainly convenient, you can just as easily whip up a delicious, homemade sauce right in your own kitchen and also have plenty of leftovers. This is my mom’s recipe that I’ve adapted for the slow cooker. I think you’ll love it!
Recipe Ingredients
Ground Beef – Cooked and drained for a hearty base.
Canned Tomatoes – Crushed, diced (undrained), and tomato paste for rich texture and flavor.
Onion & Garlic – Diced onion and fresh minced garlic for depth and aroma.
Seasonings – A blend of brown sugar, oregano, basil, salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes for the perfect balance of sweet and savory.
How to Make Slow Cooker Spaghetti Sauce
- Cook the beef in a pan, then remove any excess grease.
- Combine all the ingredients in the Crockpot.
- Set the lid on and let simmer away. Remember, the longer this cooks, the better it gets.
Tips & Variations
- Meat Swaps: You can substitute one pound of Italian Sausage for the ground beef in this recipe. You can also use ground turkey or ground chicken or 2 lbs of frozen meatballs.
- Adding Wine: Add a half cup of red wine at the beginning of the recipe if you would like a red wine flavored sauce. I like to use red blend when I’m cooking (and for drinking).
- Veggies: Add additional vegetables such as diced carrots, celery, or mushrooms.
How to Serve:
Here is how I serve this spaghetti sauce from the slow cooker to my family and guests:
- Spoon this homemade spaghetti sauce over your favorite noodles—such as spaghetti, angel hair, or bucatini. Try zucchini noodles if you’re keeping it low-carb.
- You can also use this sauce for lasagna or try it in a ravioli lasagna for a fun and different twist.
- Serve it up with garlic bread, breadsticks, or any crusty bread you love to round out the meal.
- Reader Suggestion: Stir in some butter just before serving.
How to Store Extra Spaghetti Sauce:
Place extras in the fridge for up to four days. Or for more extended storage, spoon into small portions and freeze for up to three months. Great for last-minute budget meals.
Slow Cooker Spaghetti Sauce Recipe
How to Video
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
For serving:
- cooked noodles
- parmesan cheese
Instructions
- In a large skillet set to medium high heat, add the ground beef. Brown and crumble with a spatula or wooden spoon. Drain the fat.
- Add the meat to the slow cooker. Add the crushed tomatoes, diced tomatoes, tomato paste, brown sugar, onion, garlic, oregano, basil, salt, pepper and red pepper flakes. Stir.
- Place the lid on the slow cooker. Cook on LOW for 8 hours or HIGH for 4 hours. Do no open the lid during the cooking time.
- Serve with desired cooked noodles and top with parmesan cheese.
Sarah’s Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition info is auto-generated. This information is an estimate; if you are on a special diet, please use your own calculations.
More pasta night recipes:
Crockpot Spaghetti and Meatballs and Slow Cooker Baked Spaghetti are classic family favorites—one a saucy, hands-off dinner and the other a cheesy, layered casserole made right in the slow cooker.
Cincinnati Chili and Slow Cooker Bolognese Sauce are hearty meat sauces perfect for serving over spaghetti when you’re craving something rich and satisfying.
If you want something fun and easy, try Ravioli Lasagna. For a family style meal, try my slow cooker chicken spaghetti.
This looks delicious! Can you make the sauce, minus the meat, and freeze it? Then thaw it, and add the browned hamburger as you’re preparing the meal?
Yes, – I also have this Crockpot Marinara Sauce recipe you may like.
Please don’t call pasta “noodles” 🙂
This caught my eye as I’m looking for a new spaghetti sauce recipe, my question is this, can I use all crushed tomatoes instead of the diced tomatoes, still using the paste as well? I can’t do tomato chunks. Thank you
Yes, that will work fine!
Add some butter as an option near the end. Marcella Hazan would be proud.
Great recipe thank you.
Are these recipes available on tik tok ?
Hi Anthony! Some are! I need to start making more of them.
Will 4 QT crock pot be big enough for this recipe? Thank you
Yes!
How long will this last in the fridge? I need it for a big party (60 people) on Saturday. If I make it Thursday will it be ok for the party on Saturday?
I would make it fresh myself, ground beef can taste off if leftover that long.
Can you use meatballs and ground beef together in the crock pot
I don’t see why not!
Superb
This recipe sounds amazing! I have frozen tomatoes from my garden that I want to use up. Do you have a suggestion on how I could use them for this recipe?