Name: Slow Cooker Spaghetti Sauce Recipe
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 8 h
Total time: 8 h 15 min
Cuisine: Italian
Ingredients: 2 pounds ground chuck; 1 medium onion, finely diced; 2 cloves garlic, minced; 1 (28-ounce) can crushed tomatoes; 1 (18-ounce) can tomato paste; 1 (15-ounce) can tomato sauce; 1 teaspoon sugar; 2 teaspoons dried basil; 2 teaspoons dried Italian seasoning; 1 teaspoon salt; 1/4 teaspoon black pepper; 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce

Description

This Slow Cooker Spaghetti Sauce recipe offers a rich, flavorful sauce perfect for a comforting pasta dinner. With ground chuck browned to perfection and simmered slowly with a blend of crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, and savory seasonings, it develops deep, hearty flavors. Ideal for easy meal prep, this sauce can be made ahead and enjoyed over your favorite cooked pasta for a classic Italian-inspired meal.

Ingredients

Scale

Meat

2 pounds ground chuck

Vegetables and Aromatics

1 medium onion, finely diced
2 cloves garlic, minced

Tomato Base

1 (28-ounce) can crushed tomatoes
1 (18-ounce) can tomato paste
1 (15-ounce) can tomato sauce

Seasonings and Flavorings

1 teaspoon sugar
2 teaspoons dried basil
2 teaspoons dried Italian seasoning
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce

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Instructions

Brown the Meat: Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat and add the ground chuck. Cook until browned throughout, breaking it into smaller pieces as it cooks. Drain the excess grease and set the browned meat aside.
Prepare the Slow Cooker: Lightly spray the inside of a 6-quart slow cooker with nonstick cooking spray to prevent sticking and aid cleanup.
Combine Ingredients: In the slow cooker, add the finely diced onion, minced garlic, crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, and tomato sauce. Stir well to combine all tomato ingredients.
Add Seasonings and Meat: Mix in the sugar, dried basil, dried Italian seasoning, salt, black pepper, and Worcestershire sauce. Add the browned ground beef back into the slow cooker and stir everything thoroughly to combine evenly.
Cook the Sauce: Cover the slow cooker and cook the sauce on low heat for about 8 hours. This slow simmering allows the flavors to meld and the sauce to thicken.
Serve: Once cooked, stir the sauce well and serve hot over your favorite cooked pasta for a delicious meal.

Notes

For added depth, consider using a splash of red wine or adding chopped bell peppers when combining ingredients.
Low and slow cooking in the crockpot helps develop richer flavors than quick stovetop simmering.
Leftover sauce can be refrigerated for up to 4 days or frozen for up to 3 months.
To reduce fat, choose lean ground beef or substitute with ground turkey.
Adjust seasoning to taste before serving, especially salt and pepper.