Crockpot Spaghetti Meat Sauce Recipe
This hearty Crockpot Spaghetti Meat Sauce combines ground beef, Italian sausage, and a blend of flavorful seasonings slow-cooked to perfection. The rich tomato-based sauce infused with garlic, onion, and Italian herbs makes it an easy, comforting meal perfect for busy days.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 6 hours (LOW) or 3 hours (HIGH)
- Total Time: 6 hours 15 minutes (LOW) or 3 hours 15 minutes (HIGH)
- Yield: 8 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Ingredients
Scale
Meat
- 1 lb 85/15 ground beef
- 1 lb ground Italian sausage
Vegetables & Aromatics
- 1 onion, diced
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
Sauce & 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 and brown the ground beef and Italian sausage. Break the meat into smaller chunks as it cooks to ensure even browning and better texture.
- Sauté aromatics: Add the diced onion and minced garlic to the skillet and sauté for about 2 minutes until softened and fragrant. This step builds the base flavor for the sauce.
- Transfer to slow cooker: Move the browned meat, onion, and garlic mixture into the slow cooker. This allows the flavors to meld over low and slow heat.
- Add sauce and seasonings: Pour in the pasta sauce and crushed tomatoes. Add Italian seasoning, brown sugar, cayenne pepper, bay leaf, salt, and pepper. Stir everything thoroughly to combine all flavors evenly.
- Cook low and slow: Cover and cook on LOW for 6–8 hours or on HIGH for 3–4 hours. This slow cooking enhances the richness and depth of the sauce.
- Serve: Spoon the luscious meat sauce over cooked spaghetti noodles. Garnish with freshly grated Parmesan cheese and herbs for a classic finishing touch.
Notes
- For extra flavor, brown the meat in batches to avoid overcrowding the skillet.
- Adjust the cayenne pepper amount to control the spiciness.
- Use whole-wheat or gluten-free pasta to accommodate dietary preferences.
- Leftover sauce can be refrigerated for up to 4 days or frozen for up to 3 months.
- Omit the sugar for a lower-sugar version or substitute with a natural sweetener.
Keywords: Crockpot meat sauce, slow cooker spaghetti sauce, Italian meat sauce, easy dinner, ground beef sauce, Italian sausage sauce, hearty pasta sauce
Find it online: https://www.cheftara.com/crockpot-spaghetti-meat-sauce-recipe/
