Slow Cooker Spaghetti Meat Sauce

Jump to the Recipe

My Italian grandmother loved cooking for her family, and would happily work in the kitchen day and night making the best meatballs, pasta, and tomato sauce.

This slow cooker spaghetti meat sauce has the extra added bonus of some vegetable goodness. Your kids will never know carrots are hiding in this flavorful recipe! Make it now for your next dinner: https://foodal.com/recipes/sauces/slow-cooker-spaghetti-meat-sauce/

While I love making homemade gnocchi just like my grandmother taught me, many times my hectic schedule gets in the way from enjoying a home-cooked meal.

And I’m sure many of you have to deal with your own crazy schedules – we’re just too darn busy to channel our inner nonna to make an Italian dinner.

Thank goodness for slow cookers.

Looking for a new slow cooker recipe? Make our easy spaghetti meat sauce. We share the recipe now: https://foodal.com/recipes/sauces/slow-cooker-spaghetti-meat-sauce/

You can easily prep and forget our hearty spaghetti meat sauce in the slow cooker that would make any grandmother smile with pride! It’s like a lazier version of the classic spaghetti and meatballs, without allllll that time spent having to roll out meatball after meatball!

In addition to the delicious chunks of ground beef, sausage, and tomatoes, this recipe is also packed with veggies like grated carrots and green peppers.

Learn how to make a delicious, hearty, and meaty slow cooker spaghetti sauce. We share the recipe now: https://foodal.com/recipes/sauces/slow-cooker-spaghetti-meat-sauce/

Served with spaghetti and topped with basil and freshly grated Parmesan cheese, you’ll enjoy every bite of this dish that’s easy and healthy to make for the whole family.

Prep it in the morning before starting your busy day, and arrive back home in the evening to a mouthwatering, slow-cooked creation!

The Recipe

Recipe for Meat and Veggie Sauce | Foodal.com
The Best Slow Cooker Spaghetti Meat Sauce
Votes: 18
Rating: 3
You:
Rate this recipe!
Print Recipe
Want a healthy sauce for pasta, but don't have time to stay in the kitchen? Prep and forget our hearty meat sauce packed with veggies in the slow cooker.
Servings Prep Time
8 servings 15 minutes
Cook Time
4 hours
Servings Prep Time
8 servings 15 minutes
Cook Time
4 hours
Recipe for Meat and Veggie Sauce | Foodal.com
The Best Slow Cooker Spaghetti Meat Sauce
Votes: 18
Rating: 3
You:
Rate this recipe!
Print Recipe
Want a healthy sauce for pasta, but don't have time to stay in the kitchen? Prep and forget our hearty meat sauce packed with veggies in the slow cooker.
Servings Prep Time
8 servings 15 minutes
Cook Time
4 hours
Servings Prep Time
8 servings 15 minutes
Cook Time
4 hours
Ingredients
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 large sweet onion
  • 3 cloves fresh garlic finely minced
  • 1 lb ground beef
  • ½ lb bulk Italian sausage mild or hot, depending upon your preference
  • 2 large carrots peeled and grated
  • 1 large sweet bell pepper diced
  • 3 15 ounce cans diced tomatoes
  • 1 6 ounce can tomato paste
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
  • 2 teaspoons dried basil
  • minced fresh basil for garnish
  • freshly grated Parmesan cheese for garnish
Servings: servings
Units:
Instructions
  1. Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the onions and garlic. Saute until transparent, but not brown.
  2. Add the ground beef and the Italian sausage. Cook until the meat is browned, breaking up large chunks.
  3. Drain the meat thoroughly in a colander, pressing down to remove most of the grease. Transfer to a large pot insert of a slow cooker.
  4. Add all of the other ingredients: carrots, peppers, tomatoes, tomato paste, salt, pepper, and basil. Stir until everything is fully mixed.
  5. Cover and cook on high for 4 hours, or on low for 8 hours. Serve over your favorite pasta. Garnish with fresh basil and freshly grated Parmesan cheese.
Recipe Notes

 

 

Nutritional Information*

Nutrition Facts
The Best Slow Cooker Spaghetti Meat Sauce
Amount Per Serving
Calories 274 Calories from Fat 153
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 17g 26%
Saturated Fat 6g 30%
Trans Fat 1g
Polyunsaturated Fat 1g
Monounsaturated Fat 5g
Cholesterol 61mg 20%
Sodium 404mg 17%
Potassium 567mg 16%
Total Carbohydrates 11g 4%
Dietary Fiber 2g 8%
Sugars 6g
Protein 18g 36%
Vitamin A 81%
Vitamin C 66%
Calcium 6%
Iron 14%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

 

Cooking by the Numbers…

Step 1 – Prep the Ingredients

How to Make Spaghetti Meat Sauce in the Slow Cooker | Foodal.com

Measure the olive oil, salt, red pepper flakes, and dried basil. Open the cans of diced tomatoes and tomato paste.

Set out the ground beef and sausage.

Using a sharp knife and sturdy cutting board, chop the onion and bell pepper. Mince the garlic, or put it through your garlic press. Peel and finely grate the carrots.

Step 2 – Saute the Onions and Garlic

How to Make a Meat and Vegetable Tomato Sauce | Foodal.com

Heat the olive oil in a large saute pan over medium-high heat. Saute the onions and garlic until transparent, but not too brown.

Step 3 – Brown the Meat

Slow Cooker Meat Sauce | Foodal.com

Add the ground beef and the Italian sausage to the saute pan. Cook until the meat is browned, breaking up any large chunks with a wooden spoon.

Transfer to a colander in the sink. Press down with a spoon to squeeze out any extra liquid and grease. Place in a slow cooker.

Step 4 – Combine and Cook

Crock Pot Spaghetti Sauce | Foodal.com

Add all of the other ingredients to the slow cooker: carrots, peppers, tomatoes, tomato paste, salt, pepper, and dried basil. Stir until everything is fully mixed.

Cover and cook on high for 4 hours, or on low for 8 hours.

Homemade Spaghetti Meat Sauce | Foodal.com

Step 5 – Serve

The Best Recipe for Slow Cooker Spaghetti Meat Sauce | Foodal.com

Pour a few hefty spoonfuls over your favorite cooked pasta.

Going gluten-free? Serve it over any of your favorite grain varieties, like quinoa or amaranth.

Garnish with fresh basil and freshly grated Parmesan cheese. Serve, and enjoy!

An Easy, Slow-Cooked Italian Dish

Too busy to stay in the kitchen all day to cook a delicious Italian dinner? Bring out your slow cooker to make this hearty spaghetti meat sauce!

How to Make the Perfect Slow Cooker Spaghetti Meat Sauce | Foodal.com

You’ll love the chunks of beef, sausage, and tomatoes, as well as the heavenly aroma of garlic and basil – you’ll nearly forget that this dish is made with nutrient-packed carrots and bell peppers, too.

Need more ideas to pour on top your pasta? Try more of our recipes:

Have a little extra time on your hands? Set aside that box of noodles and learn how to make your own basic semolina pasta.

How do you like to health-ify your favorite Italian dishes? What are some of your favorite slow cooker meals? Send me a message in the comment section below!


Don’t forget to Pin It!

Are you looking for a healthy sauce for pasta, but don't have time to stay in the kitchen the whole day? Bring out the slow cooker! Prep and forget our hearty meat sauce that's packed with veggies. Made with ground beef, sausage, and tomatoes, you won't even notice this delicious sauce has a few secret, nutrient-packed ingredients. Get the recipe now on Foodal.

Photos by Nikki Cervone, © Ask the Experts, LLC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. See our TOS for more details.

*Nutritional information derived from a database of known generic and branded foods and ingredients and was not compiled by a registered dietitian or submitted for lab testing. It should be viewed as an approximation.

About Nikki Cervone

Nikki Cervone is an ACS Certified Cheese Professional and cheesemonger living in Pittsburgh. Nikki holds an AAS in baking/pastry from Westmoreland County Community College, a BA in Communications from Duquesne University, and an MLA in Gastronomy from Boston University. When she's not nibbling on her favorite cheeses or testing a batch of cupcakes, Nikki enjoys a healthy dose of yoga, wine, hiking, singing in the shower, and chocolate. Lots of chocolate.

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