Print
clock clock iconcutlery cutlery iconflag flag iconfolder folder iconinstagram instagram iconpinterest pinterest iconfacebook facebook iconprint print iconsquares squares iconheart heart iconheart solid heart solid icon
spaghetti sauce over spaghetti noodles with fork

Slow Cooker Spaghetti Sauce

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star No reviews
  • Author: Ashlea Carver
  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 8 hours
  • Total Time: 8 hours 15 minutes
  • Yield: 8 1x
  • Category: Dinner
  • Method: Slow Cooker
  • Cuisine: Italian Inspired

Description

This Slow Cooker Spaghetti Sauce Recipe is exactly the easy button dinner you need on busy nights. Made with lots of veggies and plenty of protein, it’s a hearty, filling sauce that simmers for hours and tastes absolutely incredible with hardly any work. 


Ingredients

Units Scale
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 pound lean ground beef
  • 1 pound Italian sausage
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons salt, plus more to taste
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper, plus more to taste
  • 6 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 small yellow onion, small diced
  • 1 small green bell pepper, small diced
  • 1 large carrot, peeled and small diced
  • 28 ounce can of peeled tomatoes
  • 28 ounce can crushed tomatoes
  • 6 oz tomato paste
  • 3/4 cup beef broth
  • 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon italian seasoning
  • 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
  • 1/2 tablespoon honey or brown sugar
  • 1 dried bay leaf
  • 1 parmesan rind
  • cooked pasta, for serving
  • chopped parsley, for serving
  • grated parmesan cheese, for serving
  • you favorite pasta, for serving

Instructions

  1. Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Once hot, add the ground beef and Italian sausage. Cook until browned and fully cooked through, breaking it up as it cooks. Transfer the cooked meat to the base of your slow cooker. 
  2. Next, to the same skillet, add the onion, bell pepper, and carrot. Sauté over medium-high heat for 5-6 minutes until the onion becomes translucent. Transfer the veggies to the slow cooker. 
  3. Next, add the peeled tomatoes, crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, broth, balsamic vinegar, Italian seasoning, crushed red pepper flakes, honey, dried bay leaf, and parmesan rind to the slow cooker and give it a stir. 
  4. Cook the spaghetti sauce on high for 4-5 hours or on low for 6-8 hours. Add a bit more salt and pepper to taste, stir, and then serve the sauce over your favorite cooked pasta topped with grated parmesan cheese and fresh parsley.