Spaghetti Sauce Recipe In Slow Cooker
Who doesn’t love a good spaghetti dinner? It’s a classic for a reason. But making the perfect sauce can be time-consuming and requires constant attention. That’s where a slow cooker comes in! With a little bit of prep work, you can have a delicious, homemade spaghetti sauce ready to go when you get home from work. Here’s our favorite recipe for spaghetti sauce in a slow cooker:
Ingredients:
- 2 cans (28 ounces each) of crushed tomatoes
- 1 can (6 ounces) of tomato paste
- 1 onion, chopped
- 2 cloves of garlic, minced
- 1 green bell pepper, chopped
- 1 teaspoon of dried basil
- 1 teaspoon of dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon of salt
- 1/2 teaspoon of black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon of red pepper flakes (optional)
- 1/4 cup of red wine (optional)
- 1 pound of ground beef or Italian sausage (optional)
Instructions:
- Start by browning the ground beef or Italian sausage in a skillet. Drain any excess fat and transfer the meat to the slow cooker.
- Add the chopped onion, minced garlic, and chopped green bell pepper to the slow cooker.
- Add the crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, dried basil, dried oregano, salt, black pepper, and red pepper flakes (if using) to the slow cooker. Stir everything together until well combined.
- If you’re using red wine, add it to the slow cooker now.
- Cover the slow cooker and cook on low for 6-8 hours, or on high for 3-4 hours.
- Once the sauce is done cooking, give it a taste and adjust the seasoning as needed.
Tips:
- If you don’t have a slow cooker, you can easily make this sauce on the stovetop. Brown the meat and sauté the vegetables in a large pot, then add the remaining ingredients and simmer for 1-2 hours over low heat.
- If you like a chunkier sauce, you can leave the bell pepper in larger pieces or even add additional vegetables like chopped carrots or celery.
- If you’re not a fan of ground beef or Italian sausage, you can leave it out entirely or substitute with ground turkey or chicken.
- This recipe makes a large batch of sauce, so feel free to freeze any leftovers for later use.
Conclusion:
This spaghetti sauce recipe in a slow cooker is a game-changer for busy weeknights. With just a little bit of prep work in the morning, you can come home to a delicious, homemade sauce that’s perfect for topping your favorite pasta. Plus, since it makes a large batch, you can easily freeze any leftovers for an easy dinner down the road. Give this recipe a try and see how easy it is to make your own spaghetti sauce from scratch!
