Description
This Slow Cooker Spaghetti Sauce recipe delivers a rich, hearty tomato sauce simmered with ground beef, aromatic herbs, and spices. Perfect for busy days, this easy-to-make sauce bubbles away quietly in your slow cooker for 8 hours, developing deep flavors that pair perfectly with any pasta.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat
- 2 pounds ground chuck
Vegetables & Aromatics
- 1 medium onion, finely diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
Tomato Products
- 1 (28-ounce) can crushed tomatoes
- 1 (18-ounce) can tomato paste
- 1 (15-ounce) can tomato sauce
Seasonings & 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
Instructions
- Brown the Ground Beef: In a large skillet over medium-high heat, brown the ground chuck until thoroughly cooked, breaking it apart with a spoon. Drain any excess grease to avoid a greasy sauce. Set the beef aside.
- Prepare Slow Cooker: Lightly spray the crock of a 6-quart slow cooker with nonstick cooking spray to prevent sticking.
- Combine Ingredients: Add the diced onion, minced garlic, crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, and tomato sauce to the slow cooker. Mix everything together well.
- Add Seasonings and Meat: Stir in the sugar, dried basil, dried Italian seasoning, salt, black pepper, and Worcestershire sauce. Then add the browned ground beef and stir thoroughly to combine all ingredients evenly.
- Slow Cook: Cover the slow cooker and cook the sauce on low heat for about 8 hours. This allows the flavors to meld and develop a deep, rich taste.
- Final Touch and Serve: Once cooked, stir the sauce well and serve it warm over cooked pasta of your choice.
Notes
- For a thicker sauce, remove the lid during the last 30 minutes of cooking to allow some liquid to evaporate.
- You can substitute ground chuck with ground turkey or plant-based meat for a lighter or vegetarian option.
- If fresh herbs are available, substitute 1 tablespoon of fresh basil for the dried basil for a brighter flavor.
- This sauce can be refrigerated for up to 4 days or frozen for up to 3 months.
- Adjust salt and sugar according to your taste preferences or dietary needs.
