Slow Cooker Spaghetti Sauce is slow-cooked and full of beef, vegetables, seasonings, and herbs, making it the meat sauce recipe to serve over any shape of pasta.
We love pasta night at our house. When we aren’t making this classic spaghetti sauce in our crockpot, we have Cincinnati Chili, Pesto Mozzarella Chicken Pasta, Cajun Chicken Fettuccine, Slow Cooker Bolognese Sauce, or Ravioli Lasagna.
Why you should cook spaghetti sauce in the slow cooker
When it comes to pasta sauce, your first thought may be to pick up a few jars from the local grocery store. And while that may be the easiest thing to do, you can easily make a delicious sauce right in your own kitchen. Skip the jar sauce and use this great recipe to make a sauce that’s absolutely delicious.
You only need a few pantry staple ingredients, most of which you may already have on hand. This basic recipe is also versatile meaning not only can you serve it in a variety of ways, but you can also switch up some of the ingredients to make the perfect meaty sauce.
Recipe Ingredients
- Ground Beef: Grab at least 1 lb. of beef for this recipe. You’ll brown it and drain excess fat before adding it to the crock pot.
- Canned Tomatoes: To harness the taste of fresh tomatoes, this recipe calls for a can of crushed tomatoes, a can of diced tomatoes (don’t drain), and a can of tomato paste (helps thicken spaghetti sauce). (You can use fire-roasted tomatoes if desired).
- White Onion: Diced and tossed into the sauce to add both flavor and heartiness to the meaty sauce.
- Garlic: I like to use fresh garlic cloves (minced) to capture the bold flavor of this ingredient.
- Seasonings: Brown sugar, dried oregano, dried basil, salt, black pepper, and red pepper flakes come together to make the best spaghetti sauce.
Step-by-Step Directions
Step One – Add the crushed tomatoes, diced tomatoes, tomato paste, brown sugar, onion, garlic, oregano, basil, salt, pepper and red pepper flakes to the crock pot.
Step Two – In a large skillet set to medium high heat, add the ground beef. Brown ground beef and crumble with a spatula or wooden spoon. Drain the fat. Add the meat to the remaining ingredients in the slow cooker and stir.
Step Three – Cover and cook the homemade spaghetti sauce on LOW for 8 hours or HIGH for 4 hours. Do not open the lid during cooking time. Serve the tomato sauce with desired cooked noodles. Enjoy!
How should I serve Slow Cooker Spaghetti Sauce?
- Pour the meat sauce over cooked noodles. Standard spaghetti, angel hair, shredded zucchini noodles, or bucatini are some options to consider. I prefer bucatini noodles, they are a larger noodle with a hollow in the center and go great with slow cooker spaghetti sauce.
- Top your crock pot spaghetti sauce with fresh herbs, a dash of Italian seasoning, and parmesan cheese.
- This pasta sauce also pairs well with garlic bread, garlic sticks, or any bread of your choice.
Recipe FAQs
A small can of tomato paste is what I use to thicken this spaghetti sauce. Do not forget to add it or you will have a watery sauce.
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. You can also use ground turkey or ground chicken.
Use a 2 lb. bag of frozen meatballs if desired in place of the ground beef.
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.
Add soy crumbles to this recipe instead of ground beef if desired. Or add chopped carrots, celery, bell peppers, and fresh sliced mushrooms. A can of fire roasted diced tomatoes would taste great as well.
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).
Add any remaining sauce into an airtight container and store in the fridge for up to a week. You can also make this a jarred sauce and store it for months. If you’re not familiar with canning sauces, you can use freezer bags to store the sauce for up to 6 months. Allow it to defrost before cooking.
Want to make more magic in your crockpot? Stay up to date and subscribe to my newsletter and follow along on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest and YouTube.
Slow Cooker Spaghetti Sauce
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:
Sarah’s Notes:
- 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 Information:
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:
- Slow Cooker Baked Spaghetti
- Slow Cooker Tomato Butter Sauce
- Slow Cooker Puttanesca Sauce
- 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 Tetrazzini
- Slow Cooker Pizza Meatballs
- Slow Cooker Zucchini Bolognese
Blag says
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
Charles (Chuck) Peters says
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!
Sarah Olson says
I hope you like this recipe Charles. I’m so sorry about your wife, you were lucky to enjoy her recipe while you did.
Chuck Peters says
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!
Chuck Peters says
Almost forgot I also added 18 home made meatballs.
Beverly says
I will be adding frozen meatballs instead of ground beef. When do I add them? Thanks
Sarah Olson says
I would add them the last 2 hours.
Anonymous says
Is this two hours low or high?
Sarah Olson says
Either would work fine. You can not overcook frozen meatballs, they only get better in the slow cooker (any temp).
Tanya says
Can this sauce be used for lasagna?
Sarah Olson says
Yes, it will work very well.
Martyna Sprague says
Can I use 1 can of tomato sauce instead of two cans of diced tomatoes?
Sarah Olson says
You probably can without issue.
Sharon L Brewer says
What size can of tomato sauce?
Sarah Olson says
I would do the same amount of ounces you are substituting for (which may be more than one can).
MOM OF TWO says
YUM MY SON LOVES SPEGHETTI 24/7
William says
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.
Pinnie says
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.
Rebecca Oswald says
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!
Elmo says
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.
Dennis white says
This is a great sauce I added more garlic it makes the house smell yummy
Emily says
Can I use fresh tomatoes instead of the canned diced ones? (and maybe add a little water?)
Sarah Olson says
You can, some say you need to drop the tomatoes in hot water and remove the skins first.
Joyce says
Like the recipe easy to mskr