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Slow Cooker Spaghetti Meat Sauce Recipe

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3.9 from 2 reviews

This Slow Cooker Spaghetti Meat Sauce recipe delivers a rich, flavorful tomato sauce simmered to perfection with ground beef, Italian sausage, and a blend of aromatic herbs. It offers the convenience of a slow cooker for an effortless, tender sauce that beautifully complements any pasta, with an optional stovetop method for quicker preparation.

  • Total Time: 8 hours 10 minutes
  • Yield: 10 servings

Ingredients

Meat

  • 1 pound ground beef
  • 1/2 pound sweet Italian sausage

Vegetables and Aromatics

  • 1 cup onions (finely diced)
  • 3 cloves garlic

Tomato Base

  • 1 24 ounce can crushed tomatoes
  • 1 15 ounce can petite diced tomatoes
  • 1 15 ounce can tomato sauce
  • 1/4 cup tomato paste

Seasonings and Herbs

  • 1 teaspoon beef bouillon
  • 1-2 tablespoons brown sugar
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 1 teaspoon dried basil
  • 2 teaspoons dried oregano
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper

Cheese

  • Parmesan cheese rind (optional)
  • 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese (grated, plus more for garnish)

Instructions

  1. Brown the Meat: Working in two batches, brown the ground beef and sweet Italian sausage in a pan over medium-high heat until fully cooked. Drain off excess fat and transfer the meat to the bottom of your slow cooker.
  2. Add Remaining Ingredients: Stir in all the diced onions, garlic, crushed tomatoes, petite diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, tomato paste, beef bouillon, brown sugar, bay leaves, dried basil, dried oregano, dried thyme, salt, black pepper, and the Parmesan cheese rind if using, mixing well to combine.
  3. Slow Cook the Sauce: Cover and cook on LOW for 7-8 hours or on HIGH for 4-5 hours, until the meat is tender and the flavors have melded beautifully.
  4. Thicken the Sauce: Stir in the grated Parmesan cheese, then cook on HIGH with the lid off for an additional 20-30 minutes to allow the sauce to thicken and develop further depth.
  5. Finish and Serve: Remove the bay leaves from the sauce. Serve hot over your favorite cooked noodles and garnish with additional grated Parmesan cheese if desired.
  6. Alternative Stove Top Method – Brown Meat: In a large stockpot, brown the ground beef and Italian sausage over medium-high heat. Remove the meat and drain excess fat.
  7. Sauté Aromatics: Add a tablespoon of oil to the pot and sauté onions until translucent. Add garlic and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant.
  8. Simmer Sauce: Add all remaining ingredients except the grated Parmesan cheese to the pot. Bring to a simmer, reduce heat to low, cover, and let simmer for 2-3 hours until the meat is tender.
  9. Thicken and Finish: Remove the lid and allow the sauce to simmer for an additional 10-20 minutes until it thickens. Stir in the grated Parmesan cheese before serving.

Notes

  • For richer flavor, include the optional Parmesan rind during cooking.
  • Brown sugar balances the acidity of the tomatoes; adjust amount to taste.
  • This sauce freezes well for up to 3 months.
  • Remove bay leaves before serving to avoid bitterness.
  • Serve with spaghetti or any pasta of your choice.
  • For gluten-free, ensure pasta used is gluten-free; the sauce itself is gluten-free.
  • Author: Daisy
  • Prep Time: 20 minutes
  • Cook Time: 7 hours 50 minutes
  • Category: Sauce
  • Method: Slow Cooking
  • Cuisine: Italian

Find it online: https://dishiary.com/slow-cooker-spaghetti-meat-sauce-recipe/