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
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
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Have you stopped by to read the ingredients and amounts on the storebought sauces? The sodium alone (Salt) will choke an entire herd of wild horses! I’ve been looking for a great low sodium sauce to make at home. and this looks like it. Stillneed to watch the sodium content of anything canned, and I will probably revert to fresh from the garden instead. But still, this is a great recipe to start. Thank you.
This is a great sauce I added more garlic it makes the house smell yummy
Can I use fresh tomatoes instead of the canned diced ones? (and maybe add a little water?)
You can, some say you need to drop the tomatoes in hot water and remove the skins first.
I cannot wait to try… have you ever added green peppers and mushrooms? If so i would tjink you would add yhe green peppers in the beginning along woth the onion. When would you add the mushrooms? Thanks
Hi! I would add them both at the beginning. Sounds like a great idea.
I work long hours and need to turn to use my crockpot more. Thank you for this recipe, can I be added to your email I really want to learn more healthy and tasty recipes for days that I work.
It was really good. So glad I tried it !
This was the best sause I’ve ever made! I did not want meat sauce, I wanted meatballs so I did not do the 1st step. I also reduced the garlic and oregano. Also, I hate diced tomato so I used 2 28oz crushed tomato. The whole house smelled wonderful! I made my own meatballs and tossed them in with the pre-cooked sausage at about 6 hours into the cooking time. This is a real “keeper” recipe for my family!!
Have you ever tried this with zucchini noodles? I just want to know if they would hold up well under the sauce. I’m a little inexperienced.
I have not tried either, sorry!
I love all your slow cooker recipes this one is especially good. Many of your recipes have become my tried and true. I find flately going to the instapot, have you ever considered making instapot recipes or showing how you can convert your slow cookers to the instapot.
No, at this point I only like cooking in my slow cooker. 🙂
This is just right!! I made different types of pasta. Kid friendly and Adult preference. Placed a few Cheeses on the side with chopped green onions to make it even better. Left overs went into an oven bake the next day. Yum!
This sauce was delicious and easy. It made a lot. I made it exactly with the ingredients and measurements in the recipe, perfect.
OUTSTANDING SAUCE !! Family Enjoyed it.
Can you freeze this sauce or how long can you store it?
About 3 months is the longest I would freeze it for.
How long do you cook the pasta before putting into the slow cooker? Love the recipes
The pasta should never be added to the pasta sauce in the crock pot.
One hour before you plan to serve dinner, fill a large pot with water, and bring to a boil on top of the stove. Turn off the heat and place a lid on the water. About 20 minutes before serving time, add olive oil to the water and bring to a boil.
Add the pasta to the boiling water and stir until the pasta is submerged in the water. If the water boils over, turn down the stove until the pasta is cooking, but not spilling on top of the stove.
Follow package directions for cooking the pasta. When the pasta is done, drain the water off and put the pasta back into the pot, add olive oil, and stir to coat the pasta. Cover the pasta with a lid until serving time.
This is delicious! It was so easy and everyone loved it!