Slow Cooker Spaghetti sauce is slow-cooked and full of vegetables and herbs; perfect over any shape of pasta.
We love pasta night at our house. When we aren’t making this classic spaghetti sauce in our crock pot, we have Pesto Mozzarella Chicken and pasta or Cajun Chicken Fettuccine.
How to make slow cooker spaghetti sauce:
You will need these 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
- ½ cup diced white onion
- 2 garlic cloves minced
- 1 Tbsp. dried oregano
- 2 tsp. dried basil
- 1 tsp. salt
- ¼ tsp. black pepper
- pinch red pepper flakes
Directions:
- Set a skillet over medium-high heat. Brown and crumble the beef. Drain the fat.
- Add remaining ingredients to the slow cooker. Stir
How long do I cook spaghetti sauce in the slow cooker?
- Place the lid on the slow cooker. Cook on LOW for 8 hours or on HIGH for 4 hours.
- Stir and serve on desired noodles. I use bucatini noodles, they are a larger noodle with a hollow in the center and goes great with slow cooker spaghetti sauce.
How do I make a thick spaghetti sauce?
A small can of tomato paste is what I use thicken this spaghetti sauce. Do not forget to add it or you will have a watery sauce.
Can I use Italian sausage instead of ground beef?
- You can substitute one pound of Italian Sausage for the ground beef in this recipe.
- Cut the salt in half for the recipe in half if you use Italian sausage.
Can I add frozen meatballs instead of ground beef?
Use a 2 lb. bag of frozen meatballs if desired in place of the groung beef.
Can I add uncooked noodles into the sauce in the slow cooker?
DO NOT add uncooked noodles to the slow cooker. The slow cooker doesn’t get hot enough, fast enough to properly cook noodles. The noodles will turn out mushy.
Can I make this vegetarian?
- Add soy crumbles to this recipe instead of ground beef if desired.
- Or add chopped carrots, celery and mushrooms.
Can I add red 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).
How should I serve Slow Cooker Spaghetti Sauce?
- Pour over cooked noodles. Standard spaghetti, angel hair or bucatini.
- Parmesan cheese
- Green salad and dressing
- Garlic bread
More pasta night recipes:
- Slow Cooker Baked Spaghetti
- Slow Cooker Spaghetti Sauce with Kielbasa
- Slow Cooker Garlic Butter Chicken and Pasta
- Slow Cooker Southwestern Cheesy Chicken Pasta
- Slow Cooker Creamy Chicken Spaghetti
- Slow Cooker Cheesy Chicken Penne
- Slow Cooker Chicken Tetrazinni
- Slow Cooker Zucchini Bolognese
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Slow Cooker Spaghetti Sauce
Homemade spaghetti sauce slow cooked to perfection. Just pour over noodles when you arrive home.
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Servings: 10
Calories: 148kcal
Equipment Needed:
- Slow Cooker- 6 quart or larger
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.
How to Video:
Recipe Notes:
Can I use Italian Sausage instead of ground beef?
- You can substitute one pound of Italian Sausage for the ground beef in this recipe.
- Cut the salt in half for the recipe in half if you use Italian sausage.
- Add soy crumbles to this recipe instead of ground beef if desired.
- Or add chopped carrots, celery and mushrooms.
Nutrition:
Calories: 148kcal | Carbohydrates: 16g | Protein: 12g | Fat: 5g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 29mg | Sodium: 511mg | Potassium: 723mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 10g | Vitamin A: 531IU | Vitamin C: 19mg | Calcium: 81mg | Iron: 4mg
Made this recipe?I want to see your photos! Tag me on Instagram @themagicalslowcooker
Is the carb count with or without noodles?
LOVE this sauce!!! Didn’t realize how much it made. I froze what was left over and it was just as good. Will cut recipe in half next time.
How much pasta should I cook for this amount of sauce?
I’m thinking about 3/4- 1 pound.
Can I put the meatballs in the sauce raw?
yes, that will work fine.
Try it with purple cabbage instead of noodles. I love it.
I made this a few times now and the family loves it the only thing is for noodles I use Chinese noodles because they are so thin and I found once you boil the noodles for 3 min drain get sauce pan and butter and cook noodles in pan some they turn out great
I seen your recipe for this sauce and cooking it at t his very minute in my so cooker, I have made and tossed many other spaghetti sauce recipes in the trash, I’m hoping yours is going to be a keeper! I used mild ground Italian sausage 1 lb. My wife Susan who battled brain cancer died and her awsome recipes went with her, everyone is eating good in Heaven!
I hope you like this recipe Charles. I’m so sorry about your wife, you were lucky to enjoy her recipe while you did.
It’s a keeper, I added a half of chopped bell pepper. Added more Basil and oregano one quarter cup Merlot wine. Definitely Will make it again, so good and so easy. Thx for sharing this recipe!
Almost forgot I also added 18 home made meatballs.
I will be adding frozen meatballs instead of ground beef. When do I add them? Thanks
I would add them the last 2 hours.
Can this sauce be used for lasagna?
Yes, it will work very well.
Can I use 1 can of tomato sauce instead of two cans of diced tomatoes?
You probably can without issue.
What size can of tomato sauce?
I would do the same amount of ounces you are substituting for (which may be more than one can).
YUM MY SON LOVES SPEGHETTI 24/7
Well, I will continue to “tinker” with this recipe. I found this sauce to be very watery. Seems like it needed more tomato sauce. I didn’t care for it. And the flavor was a little bland and I’m not sure why. Great idea, loved the crushed tomatoes, I’ll just add more tomato sauce next time.
Fantastic Recipe ! This is our new to go pasta sauce.
The additional secret ingredients to add are a pinch of cinnamon and a pinch of nutmeg. Trust me !!
You can also use Ground Turkey instead of Ground Beef. In addition, if you want to save time you can buy minced garlic in a container and use a teaspoon.
Delicious! Crock pot sauce, I use fresh tomatoes and added yellow, red and orange peppers and mushrooms. I also added a bit more pepper flakes, love spicy hot food. This is our weekly go-to working from home.
This is my go to spaghetti sauce, I quadruple the recipe and split it up in 16 oz containers and freeze them. My household LOVES the taste of this sauce and we will never go back to store bought again! Thanks for such a great recipe!! I would give it 10 stars if I could!