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Bowl of Slow Cooker Spaghetti Sauce over spaghetti, garnished with Parmesan cheese and basil on a wooden table

Slow Cooker Spaghetti Sauce

This Slow Cooker Spaghetti Sauce is the ultimate time-saving solution that offers rich and delicious homemade flavors without the fuss. It's a go-to recipe for busy weeknights, delivering the best slow cooker pasta sauce.
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Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 8 hours
Total Time 8 hours 20 minutes
Servings: 10 servings
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Italian
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 1 lb. ground beef
  • 28 oz. can crushed tomatoes
  • 28 oz. diced tomatoes (two 14 oz. cans, do not drain)
  • 6 oz. can tomato paste
  • 2 Tbsp. brown sugar
  • 1/2 cup diced white onion
  • 2 garlic cloves minced
  • 1 Tbsp. dried oregano
  • 2 tsp. dried basil
  • 1 tsp. salt
  • 1/4 tsp. black pepper
  • 1 pinch red pepper flakes
  • Cooked noodles (for serving)
  • Parmesan cheese (for garnish)

Method
 

  1. Set a large skillet over medium-high heat and add the ground beef.
  2. Brown the meat, using a wooden spoon to crumble it as it cooks. Once fully cooked, drain off any fat.
  3. Transfer the browned ground beef to your slow cooker.
  4. Add the crushed tomatoes, diced tomatoes, tomato paste, brown sugar, diced onion, minced garlic, dried oregano, dried basil, salt, black pepper, and red pepper flakes to the slow cooker.
  5. Stir everything together until well combined.
  6. Cover the slow cooker with the lid, and set it to LOW for 8 hours or HIGH for 4 hours. Resist the urge to open the lid during cooking—it lets out heat and slows things down.
  7. Once done, give the sauce a final stir, and serve over your favorite cooked noodles. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese for the ultimate finish.

Notes

Optional tips: Don’t skip browning the meat first to add flavor. This sauce freezes beautifully.