Slow Cooker Spaghetti and Meat Sauce

Rich and meaty Slow Cooker Spaghetti and Meat Sauce is so full of flavor! A homemade meat sauce recipe that I been making for over 30 years.

I have been making this recipe for slow cooker spaghetti and meat sauce for years. It was a favorite amongst my son's track and field team. A great dish for those busy days. Make in the morning and let it simmer all day in the slow cooker. You can also cook it on the stovetop for a quicker version. Be sure to double the recipe as it makes great leftovers and freezes very well. This meat sauce is great to use in lasagna and as well as my Baked Spaghetti Pie.

Step by step instructions and tips for making this meat sauce

Simple ingredients that are great to keep stocked in your pantry. Can you substitute ground turkey for ground beef? Absolutely, it tastes great.

Brown ground beef and transfer to a heated crockpot. Using the same pan sauté onions and garlic. I sauté onions until translucent, add minced garlic for about the last 2 minutes. Don't burn the garlic or it will be bitter.

Add tomato sauce to deglaze the pan and scrap up the good browned bits. These browned bits give great, extra flavour to the sauce. Add all remaining ingredients except parmesan and butter.

Heat the sauce, then stir into the ground beef. Transfer to slow cooker and cook on low setting for at least 2 hours.

Cook up some spaghetti and serve with a fresh salad like my Avocado Citrus Salad and some garlic bread.

This post was originally published March 24, 2012. Occasionally I update with fresh tips, content, and photos. Current update March 17, 2020.

Slow Cooker Spaghetti and Meat Sauce

Laureen King

My favourite meat sauce recipe. Thick, hearty and so delicious!

4.09 from 24 votes

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Prep Time 20 mins

Cook Time 2 hrs

Total Time 2 hrs 20 mins

Course Beef, Dinner

Cuisine American

Servings 8

Calories 314 kcal

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x

• 2 pounds extra lean ground beef
• 1 teaspoon salt I usually use Kosher salt
• 1 teaspoon fresh ground pepper
• 4 cloves garlic finely minced
• 1 onion chopped
• 2 cans tomato paste 5.5 oz size
• 2 cans tomato sauce 8 oz size
• 1 can tomato soup
• ½ - 1 cup water add water until sauce is consistency you like
• 1 ½ teaspoon basil
• 1 ½ teaspoon oregano
• 1 teaspoon thyme
• 3 small bay leaves
• 2 tablespoon butter
• ½ cup parmesan cheese

Instructions

 

• Brown ground beef and transfer to a heated crockpot.
• Using the same pan sauté onions and garlic. I sauté onions until translucent, add minced garlic for about the last 2 minutes. Don't burn the garlic or it will be bitter.
• Add the tomato sauce to deglaze the pan and scrap up the good browned bits.
• Add all remaining ingredients except parmesan and butter.
• Once heated add to ground beef in the crockpot stir well.
• Cook on low setting for at least 2 hours. I usually let sauce cook all afternoon until ready to serve.
• Add parmesan cheese and butter about the last hour of cooking.
• Serve with spaghetti.

Nutrition

Calories: 314kcalCarbohydrates: 25gProtein: 31gFat: 10gSaturated Fat: 5gCholesterol: 82mgSodium: 1857mgPotassium: 1624mgFiber: 5gSugar: 16gVitamin A: 1665IUVitamin C: 27.6mgCalcium: 135mgIron: 6.1mg

Keyword meatsauce, spaghetti sauce, pasta sauce

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