Crockpot Spaghetti Meat Sauce Recipe
This Crockpot Spaghetti Meat Sauce recipe is a hearty and flavorful slow-cooked sauce combining ground beef, Italian sausage, and a rich blend of tomatoes and seasonings. Perfect for an easy weeknight meal, this sauce simmers gently in a slow cooker for hours, allowing the flavors to meld beautifully. Serve it over your favorite spaghetti noodles and garnish with Parmesan and fresh herbs for a comforting Italian classic.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 6 to 8 hours (slow cooker LOW) or 3 to 4 hours (slow cooker HIGH)
- Total Time: 6 hours 15 minutes to 8 hours 15 minutes (LOW) or 3 hours 15 minutes to 4 hours 15 minutes (HIGH)
- Yield: 6 to 8 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: Italian
Ingredients
Scale
Meat and Aromatics
- 1 lb 85/15 ground beef
- 1 lb ground Italian sausage
- 1 onion, diced
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
Tomato Sauce and Seasonings
- 2 jars pasta sauce (24 oz each)
- 28 oz can crushed tomatoes
- 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1 bay leaf
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Brown the Meat: Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef and Italian sausage, breaking them up into smaller chunks as they cook. Continue browning until the meat is fully cooked and no longer pink.
- Sauté Aromatics: Add diced onion and minced garlic to the skillet with the browned meat. Sauté for about 2 minutes until the onion softens and the garlic becomes fragrant. This step enhances the depth of flavor in the sauce.
- Combine Ingredients in Slow Cooker: Transfer the cooked meat, onion, and garlic mixture to your slow cooker. Pour in the two jars of pasta sauce along with the crushed tomatoes. Add Italian seasoning, brown sugar, cayenne pepper, bay leaf, and season with salt and pepper. Stir everything thoroughly to combine the flavors.
- Slow Cook the Sauce: Cover the slow cooker and cook the sauce on LOW for 6 to 8 hours, or on HIGH for 3 to 4 hours. This slow simmer allows the ingredients to meld and develop a rich, hearty taste.
- Serve: Remove the bay leaf before serving. Ladle the meat sauce over cooked spaghetti noodles and garnish with freshly grated Parmesan cheese and fresh herbs if desired. Enjoy a delicious and comforting Italian meal.
Notes
- For a spicier kick, increase the cayenne pepper or add red pepper flakes.
- Use leaner meats to reduce fat content, but the flavor may be less rich.
- Brown sugar balances acidity in the tomatoes; you can adjust or omit depending on taste.
- Leftovers can be refrigerated for up to 4 days or frozen for up to 3 months.
- This sauce pairs well with other pasta types like penne or fettuccine.
Keywords: Crockpot spaghetti sauce, slow cooker meat sauce, Italian meat sauce, easy pasta sauce, ground beef spaghetti sauce, ground sausage pasta sauce
Find it online: https://thefoodrecipe.com/crockpot-spaghetti-meat-sauce-recipe/
