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Crockpot Spaghetti Meat Sauce Recipe

4.7 from 103 reviews

This Crockpot Spaghetti Meat Sauce is a rich and flavorful slow-cooked sauce combining ground beef, Italian sausage, tomatoes, and aromatic seasonings. Perfect for a comforting pasta meal, it simmers all day to meld the robust flavors, making weeknight dinners effortless and delicious.

Ingredients

Scale

Meat

  • 1 lb 85/15 ground beef
  • 1 lb ground Italian sausage

Vegetables & Aromatics

  • 1 onion, diced
  • 3 garlic cloves, minced

Sauces & Tomatoes

  • 2 jars pasta sauce (24 oz each)
  • 28 oz can crushed tomatoes

Seasonings

  • 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
  • 1 tablespoon brown sugar
  • 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • 1 bay leaf
  • Salt and pepper, to taste

Instructions

  1. Brown the Meat: Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef and Italian sausage, breaking it into smaller chunks as it cooks until browned evenly.
  2. Sauté Aromatics: Add the diced onion and minced garlic to the skillet with the meat. Sauté for about 2 minutes until they soften and become fragrant. Then transfer the meat and aromatics into the slow cooker.
  3. Add Sauces and Seasonings: Pour the two jars of pasta sauce and the can of crushed tomatoes into the slow cooker. Add Italian seasoning, brown sugar, cayenne pepper, bay leaf, and season with salt and pepper. Stir everything well to combine.
  4. Slow Cook the Sauce: Cover the slow cooker and cook on LOW for 6–8 hours or on HIGH for 3–4 hours, allowing the flavors to meld and deepen.
  5. Serve: Remove the bay leaf. Serve the hearty meat sauce over cooked spaghetti noodles and garnish with freshly grated Parmesan cheese and herbs as desired.

Notes

  • For a spicier sauce, increase the cayenne pepper slightly or add crushed red pepper flakes.
  • Can be made ahead and refrigerated for up to 3 days or frozen for up to 3 months.
  • Use leaner meat options to reduce fat content if preferred.
  • Leftover sauce can be used as a base for lasagna or baked pasta dishes.
  • Be sure to brown the meat thoroughly to develop better flavor and reduce grease in the sauce.

Keywords: crockpot spaghetti sauce, slow cooker meat sauce, Italian meat sauce, easy pasta sauce, ground beef meat sauce