Slow Cooker Spaghetti Sauce is rich, hearty and easy to make. This sauce mixes flavorful ground beef and pork with vegetables and sweet tomatoes. Spice up your weekly pasta meal with this slow cooker bolognese sauce. 

SLOW COOKER SPAGHETTI SAUCE

We can all use a good spaghetti sauce recipe to come back to time and time again, right?

In my house we like two types of sauce for our pasta meals. One is a thinner vegetarian sauce and the other is today’s Slow Cooker Spaghetti Sauce that uses ground pork and ground beef.

When you look at the recipe you will probably realize it is very similar to a bolognese sauce recipe. 

This sauce recipe is hearty and filling.

I love it when I need a comforting meal to fill me up.

I especially like this sauce during the cold winter months.

The ground pork and beef aren’t the only stars of this recipe though, the vegetables shine brightly as well.

I add sweet onion, celery and carrots to this sauce but you can add any vegetables you fancy.

When I was a child my favorite meal that my mom made was spaghetti with meatballs. 

I remember the smell when it was spaghetti night at our house — it filled the house.

We would eat it alongside a big salad and crusty Italian bread. 

There was something comforting about that meal and every time I make it at home for my family I am reminded of those happy times.

Do you have a meal that does that for you? 

It is funny because my kids love spaghetti night as much as I do now.

This Bolognese style sauce is one of their favorites! 

COOKING METHOD AND TIPS

One thing I love about this Slow Cooker Spaghetti Sauce recipe is how easy it is to prepare.

I used my slow cooker for this recipe so that it could cook low and slow all day and bring out the flavors.

You can easily make this recipe on the stove as well.

For either recipe you will start by browning the meat and then sautéing the garlic, onion, carrots and celery.

SLOW COOKER VERSION: Add the browned meat and the sautéed vegetables into the slow cooker along with the remaining ingredients and cook on low for 6 to 8 hours or high for 3 to 4 hours.

Once it is done serve warm with pasta and crusty bread to soak up all that delicious sauce. 

STOVE TOP VERSION: For a stove top version brown the meat, sauté the veggies and then add the remaining ingredients in a large pot.

Give the sauce a good stir and reduce the heat to low and simmer for 1 to 4 hours.

The longer you simmer that sauce the more flavor will develop. 

WHAT INGREDIENTS CAN I ADD TO THIS SPAGHETTI SAUCE?

One of my favorite things to do with a sauce is bulk it up with vegetables.

This recipe works great with zucchini or mushrooms added in. 

Try changing up the meat you use to whatever you might have on hand.

I find that ground beef, pork or sausage works nicely.

I especially like using a combination of two ground meats to enhance the flavor. 

Spice up your sauce using crushed red pepper or cayenne pepper. 

Add a parmesan rind into your sauce the last hour of cooking in the slow cooker or stove for extra flavor and creaminess.

I always freeze the leftover parmesan rinds when we are done with them to throw in soups and sauces. 

Freeze your leftover spaghetti sauce for later. Make sure to cool completely and then place into a few gallon sized resealable freezer bags.

I like to lay them flat on a pan and place in the freezer until they are solid. Thaw and reheat in the microwave or on the stove to serve.

WHAT TO SERVE WTIH THIS SPAGHETTI SAUCE?

Lemon Arugula Salad with Pine Nuts

Avocado Kale Quinoa Salad 

Simple Kale Salad with Lemon Dressing 

Simple Garlic Parmesan Green Beans 

Green Beans with  Brown Butter

OTHER RECIPES YOU MIGHT LIKE:

One Pot Chicken Parmesan Pasta // The Chunky Chef

Chicken and Bacon Pasta with Spinach and Tomatoes // Julia’s Album

Lemon Garlic Parmesan Shrimp Pasta // The Recipe Critic