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    Home ≫ Main Dish

    Slow Cooker Meat Sauce

    Updated January 8, 2022. Originally Posted September 1, 2020 By Nikole Berg

    1.1K shares
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    overhead view of a plate of spaghetti with basil leaves
    overhead view of a plate of spaghetti with basil leaves
    meat sauce in a crockpot with spaghetti on a plate with text overlay
    overhead view of a white plate with a helping of spaghetti
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    overhead view of a plate of spaghetti with basil leaves
    overhead view of a plate of spaghetti with basil leaves

    This Slow Cooker Meat Sauce is perfect for your next spaghetti night dinner. Made with ground beef and Italian sausage, it's hearty and full of tomato flavor. The best part, it's simple to make because it cooks in the crockpot. Leftovers are great for a delicious homemade lasagna.

    overhead view of a white plate with a helping of spaghetti

    Why you'll want to make it

    It's easy to make thanks to the crockpot. Nothing beats the slow cooked flavor of an Italian meat sauce or "gravy". After browning the meat, you can set this and forget it.

    It's made with easy to find fresh and pantry ingredients. I love recipes that can be thrown together with ingredients I already have. Crushed tomatoes are a staple in my pantry and I always have some ground beef stored in the freezer.

    It's a classic meat sauce the whole family will love. My family can't get enough of this meat sauce! We love it on spaghetti and since this recipe makes such a big batch, I always have enough to freeze for a future dinner or to make lasagna.

    ingredients

    overhead view of meat sauce ingredients on a baking sheet

    Step by Step Instructions

    In a large pan, cook ground beef, Italian sausage, chopped onions, and garlic until the meat is no longer pink. Season with salt and pepper. I don't add any oil because the meat renders plenty of fat.

    a pan with raw meat and onions of left -cooked on the right

    Add meat mixture to your crock pot or slow cooker. Add crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, water, sugar, Worcestershire sauce, and herbs. Mix together until well combined. Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours or high for 4 hours.

    cooked meat in slow cooker insert on right- meat with added tomato sauce and spices

    Expert tips and Variations

    We love this meat sauce on pasta like spaghetti or penne and even zoodles (zucchini noodles).

    If you don't like or want Italian sausage, add half a pound more of ground beef. You can also try ground pork or make the entire recipe with ground turkey.

    This sauce is slightly sweet so if you prefer more zing, leave out the sugar and replace one can of tomato paste with tomato sauce (puree). You can also add a teaspoon of crushed red pepper.

    straight on angle close up of spaghetti piled on plate

    More Meaty Recipes to Check out

    Easy Ground Beef Chili

    Instant Pot Beef Brisket

    Ground Beef Tacos

    Easy Sloppy Joes

    Turkey Taco Soup

    Ramen Noodles with Beef

    If you make this recipe, I’d love for you to give it a ★ rating  below. And since you made it this far, let’s also connect on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest!

    📖 Recipe

    overhead view of a plate of spaghetti with basil leaves

    Slow Cooker Meat Sauce

    Recipe by Nikole Berg
    This Slow Cooker Meat Sauce is perfect for your next spaghetti night dinner. Made with ground beef and Italian sausage, it’s hearty and full of tomato flavor. The best part, it’s simple to make because it cooks in the crockpot. Leftovers are great for a delicious homemade lasagna.
    5 from 5 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 15 minutes mins
    Cook Time 4 hours hrs
    Total Time 4 hours hrs 15 minutes mins
    Course Dinner, lunch, Main Dish
    Cuisine American, International, Italian
    Servings 8 cups
    Calories 231 kcal

    Ingredients
     
     

    • 1 pound ground beef I prefer lean such as 90% or leaner
    • ½ pound Italian sausage
    • 1 medium onion finely chopped
    • 3 cloves garlic finely chopped
    • ½ teaspoon salt or to taste
    • ½ teaspoon pepper or to taste
    • 1-28 ounce can crushed tomatoes
    • 2-6 ounce cans tomato paste
    • ¼ cup water
    • 2 tablespoons sugar
    • 3 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
    • 2 tablespoons dried parsley
    • 1 teaspoon dried basil
    • ½ teaspoon rubbed sage
    • ¼ teaspoon marjoram
    • 2 bay leaves
    US Customary - Metric

    Instructions
     

    • In a large pan or dutch oven, cook the ground beef, Italian sausage, onion, and garlic until cooked through and no longer pink. Drain off fat, if desired. Season with salt and pepper.
    • Transfer the cooked meat mixture to the insert of a 5 quart slow cooker or crockpot. Add the crushed tomatoes through the marjoram and stir to combine ingredients.
    • Cook on low for 8 hours or on high for 4 hours. Discard bay leaves before serving.
    • Serve with your favorite pasta.

    Notes

    • We love this meat sauce on pasta like spaghetti or penne and even zoodles (zucchini noodles).
    • If you don't like or want Italian sausage, add half a pound more of ground beef. You can also try ground pork or make the entire recipe with ground turkey.
    • This sauce is slightly sweet so if you prefer more zing, leave out the sugar and replace one can of tomato paste with tomato sauce (puree). You can also add a teaspoon of crushed red pepper.
     

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1CupCalories: 231kcalCarbohydrates: 8gProtein: 16gFat: 15gSaturated Fat: 6gCholesterol: 58mgSodium: 517mgPotassium: 425mgFiber: 1gSugar: 5gVitamin A: 125IUVitamin C: 5mgCalcium: 35mgIron: 2mg
    Keyword bolognese, gravy, marinara, meat sauce, spaghetti sauce, tomato sauce
    Tried this recipe?Click here to leave a helpful tip!

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    1.1K shares
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    About Nikole Berg

    Nikole is the creator and photographer behind The Travel Palate, a food and travel blog featuring quick and flavorful recipes and getaway guides. Nikole hopes to inspire your inner foodie whether you're in the kitchen or traveling on your next adventure.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Lee

      April 14, 2019 at 5:29 pm

      Family really enjoyed this recipe.

      Reply
    2. Sheryl

      January 19, 2019 at 2:57 pm

      mmm. . . this looks yummy.

      Reply
      • Nikole

        January 19, 2019 at 3:03 pm

        Thank you Sheryl! I hope you enjoy it!

        Reply

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