Easy Crockpot Spaghetti Sauce

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Treat yourself to the ultimate comfort food with this Easy Crockpot Spaghetti Sauce. It’s rich, meaty, and bursting with Italian flavors, all effortlessly prepared in your slow cooker.

Suitable for Gluten Free and Paleo diets. Post includes Weight Watchers points.

top down view of crockpot spaghetti sauce inside the slow cooker

Know how certain foods will always have a special place in your heart? Well, spaghetti sauce is one of mine.

From the aroma while it simmers, to that rich and meaty flavor, it all makes me feel soooo happy which is exactly why Crockpot Spaghetti Sauce is the feel-good comfort food recipe I reach for again and again

On top of it being the ultimate comfort food, this Slow Cooker Spaghetti Sauce requires minimal effort and prep, so it’s perfect for busy weekdays when I’m short on time but still want to serve up a delicious and satisfying meal, just like this easy Crockpot Spaghetti.

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All you need for this incredible Slow Cooker Pasta Sauce is a handful of everyday ingredients and another handful of delicious herbs and spices. Yeap, you can use your everyday pantry staple ingredients to effortlessly make this flavorful homemade spaghetti sauce. 

Need more ideas easy dinner ideas? Then try this Crockpot Spaghetti and Meatballs.

one serving of slow cooker spaghetti sauce on top of pasta

Are you new to crockpot cooking? Then view this Compendium of Crockpot Wisdom, innovative methods, and ingenious hacks to ensure you get the most out of your Slow Cooker.

And once you’re done mastering this recipe, here’s another Italian favorite: Slow Cooker Tuscan Chicken Pasta.

Why Make This Crockpot Spaghetti Sauce

  • Great for Freezing – This Crockpot Spaghetti Sauce is a meal prep hero. Its versatility extends to the freezer, allowing you to prepare large batches in advance.
  • Fantastic Meal Prep Solution – When it comes to meal prep, this meat sauce truly shines. You can easily double or triple the recipe, creating an abundance of flavorful sauce to use for other meals or to freeze for later use. Great with Crockpot Mashed Potatoes.
  • Always a Crowd-Pleaser – One of the great things about this Crockpot Spaghetti Sauce is its universal appeal. Whether you’re serving a family dinner or hosting a gathering with friends, this rich and meaty crock pot spaghetti sauce is sure to please everyone’s palate.
  • Only Requires Minimal Prep and Minimal Effort – The beauty of this recipe lies in its simplicity. With just a handful of everyday ingredients, you can effortlessly create a flavorful pasta sauce that simmers to perfection in your slow cooker.
  • Uses Everyday Ingredients – You don’t need to scour specialty stores for exotic ingredients. This Crockpot Spaghetti Sauce relies on pantry staples and common herbs and spices that you likely already own.
  • Suitable replacement – It can serve as a suitable replacement in any recipe that calls for marinara sauce.

Want to make your meal prep even easier? Then check out this collection of awesome Dump and Start Crockpot Recipes for all sorts of stress-free dinner ideas.

Ingredient Notes

  • Lean Ground Beef – Start with high-quality lean ground beef, preferably 80% lean or higher, for a flavorful base that’s not overly greasy.
  • Onion – Dice and add an onion to infuse a sweet and aromatic depth of flavor to the sauce.
  • Crushed Tomatoes – You’ll need a generous amount of crushed tomatoes to form the tomatoey foundation of the sauce. This ingredient brings a robust tomato flavor that blends perfectly with the other components.
  • Diced Tomatoes – Complement the crushed tomatoes with diced tomatoes, adding texture and vibrant tomato bits to the sauce.
  • Balsamic Vinegar – A touch of balsamic vinegar elevates the overall taste, imparting a subtle tanginess that enhances the Italian flavors.
  • Maple Syrup – For a hint of natural sweetness, incorporate maple syrup, which balances the savory elements of the sauce so it is not too sweet or not too acidic. You can use sugar if you prefer.
  • Seasoning – Dried oregano contributes aromatic herbaceous notes that are quintessential in Italian cuisine. The Italian seasoning blend enhances the overall herb and spice profile of the sauce, infusing it with an authentic Mediterranean taste.
  • Garlic Purée and Minced Garlic – The combination of garlic purée and minced garlic cloves intensify the garlic essence, creating a savory backdrop for the sauce.
  • Bay Leaves – Add bay leaves for a subtle earthy undertone that complements the robust flavors of the sauce.
  • Salt and Black Pepper – Season your sauce with salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste, ensuring the perfect balance of flavors.
  • Bouillon Cube (Optional) – While optional, a crushed bouillon cube can further enrich the savory depth of the sauce, providing an extra layer of complexity.

Ready to learn how to make these Slow Cooker Spaghetti Sauce? Grab those tomatoes and the other ingredients, and I will show you…

Handy Tip: Use Good Kitchen Tools!

For the best tools to help make your recipe even easier and more successful, check out my collection of the Best Kitchen Tools on Amazon.

How To Make Spaghetti Sauce In The Crockpot

Get complete ingredients list and instructions from the recipe card below.

  1. Heat oil in a skillet. Add beef and onion and cook until beef is browned. Drain excess fat and add mixture to slow cooker.
  2. Add in the rest of the ingredients and mix.
  3. Cover and cook for 4 hours on high (not mixing) or 7-8 hours on low (make sure to mix once halfway through).
  4. Adjust seasoning to taste and serve over spaghetti noodles.
the finished slow cooker pasta sauce inside the crockpot and ready to serve

Expert Tips

  • Try adding a quarter cup of red wine for even more flavor. 
  • If you don’t have Italian seasoning, add extra oregano and some basil. While dried herbs work well, consider using fresh herbs if you have them on hand.
  • Roasting the herbs and spices before adding them to the crockpot will add a nice depth of flavor to this sauce.
  • Try mixing some parmesan cheese into the sauce as it’s cooking. 
  • Periodically taste the sauce as it cooks, and don’t hesitate to adjust the seasoning. This ensures that the sauce perfectly suits your taste preferences.
  • Cooking times may vary depending on the size, make, and model of your slow cooker. Make sure to consult your manual as necessary. 
the finished spaghetti sauce inside the crockpot

Delicious Variations

This Crockpot Spaghetti Sauce recipe is delicious as is, but here are some variations to try;

  • Swap ingredients – Use a half-pound of ground beef with a half-pound of Italian sausage. You can even use frozen meatballs. Swap in sugar or stevia, for maple syrup. 
  • Add vegetables – Try mushrooms, green pepper, celery, spinach, or kale. 
  • Add heat – Try a little bit of red pepper flakes or a small amount of chipotle or jalapenos. 
  • Make it lighter and healthier – Use ground chicken or ground turkey instead. If you add Italian sausage, you will want to omit or lower the amount of salt you use. 
a portion of the spaghetti sauce inside a glass storage container

Prep And Storage

This easy Spaghetti Sauce is always great to have on hand for quick set and forget family meals. 

  • Make Ahead – This recipe is so easy to make. And you can brown the ground beef beforehand and keep it in the fridge until ready to make. 
  • Reheat – If you want to reheat your sauce, try tossing it in a saucepan on the stove for a few  minutes or until it’s warm again once stirred 
  • Store – Make ahead and store in an airtight glass container in the fridge for up to 5 days. Put it in single-serving containers or bags to make reheating easier. Glass containers are better as the tomato sauce will stain plastic.
  • Freeze spaghetti sauce – Let it cool down, then transfer into storage containers. Label and freeze for 3 months.
  • Meal Prep – You can easily double or triple this recipe to make extra for other meals or freeze it later.
a bowl filled with pasta noodles topped with crock pot spaghetti sauce and served with a fork

FAQs

How Do I Make Thick Spaghetti Sauce?

To make your spaghetti sauce thicker, especially if it’s too watery or thin, you can add a small can of tomato paste. This will help to thicken the sauce and intensify the tomato flavor.

Can I Use Fresh Tomatoes?

Yes, you can use a bunch of fresh tomatoes. This is a great sauce to make when tomatoes are in season and abundant. Make extra and freeze to use for later. Just make sure to peel the skin off first though.

What Kind Of Pasta?

You can use any kind of pasta you have on hand to add to this tomato sauce. You don’t have to use spaghetti noodles.

Can I Use Jar Sauces In A Slow Cooker?

Yes, you can use jar sauces in a slow cooker.

However, jarred sauce can become more liquid in a slow cooker due to the slow cooking process. While cooking, meat and vegetables release moisture, which can thin out the consistency of pre-bought sauces.

Therefore, it’s important to be aware of this potential dilution and adjust the amount of jar sauce used in your slow cooker recipes to maintain the desired thickness.

Do You Have To Brown Ground Beef For Slow Cooker Spaghetti Sauce?

No, you do not have to brown ground beef for slow cooker spaghetti sauce. While it’s not strictly necessary to brown ground beef before adding it to slow cooker spaghetti sauce, doing so can enhance the flavor and texture of the sauce.

close up view of spaghetti sauce served over pasta

Similar Recipes

Looking for more EASY, delicious, and flavorful recipes? I’ve got you covered. Check out my full collection of Crockpot recipes, or start a few of my most popular recipes:

a portion of spaghetti sauce over noodles inside a ceramic bowl

Serve Crockpot Spaghetti Sauce With:

  • Frozen Garlic Bread In Air Fryer – Crusty garlic bread or breadsticks are great accompaniments for dipping into the sauce.
  • How To Make Meatballs– Serve the sauce with homemade or store-bought ground beef meatballs for a classic spaghetti and meatballs dish.
  • Classic Air Fryer Meatloaf – Once the meatloaf is cooked, slice it, and you can serve it with extra warm spaghetti sauce as a topping or drizzle.

Weight Watchers Points 

There are 4 Blue Plan SmartPoints in one serving of this.

Thank you for reading my slow cooker Spaghetti Sauce recipe post. And please come visit again as I continue to slice, dice, and dream up affordable Air Fryer recipesInstant Pot RecipesSouthern Recipes, and more. Thanks for supporting Recipes from a Pantry, food blog.

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top down view of crockpot spaghetti sauce inside the slow cooker
Print Recipe
5 from 5 votes

Crockpot Spaghetti Sauce

Creating this delicious and satisfying spaghetti sauce in the slow cooker is a breeze.
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time8 hours
Total Time8 hours 10 minutes
Course: Sauce
Cuisine: american, western, Italian
Diet: Gluten Free
Servings: 6 servings
Calories: 218kcal
Author: Bintu Hardy

Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 pound (454g) lean ground beef
  • 1 onion peeled and diced
  • 28 ounces (794g) crushed tomatoes
  • 28 ounces (794g) diced tomatoes
  • 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon maple syrup
  • 1 tablespoon dried oregano
  • 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
  • 1 teaspoon garlic purée
  • 2 garlic cloves minced
  • 2 bay leaves
  • salt to taste
  • black pepper to taste
  • 1 bouillon cube crushed (optional, but recommended)

Instructions

  • Heat oil in a skillet. Add beef and onion and cook until beef is browned. Drain excess fat and add mixture to slow cooker.
  • Add in the rest of the ingredients and mix.
  • Cover and cook for 4 hours on high (not mixing) or 7-8 hours on low (make sure to mix once halfway through).
  • Adjust seasoning to taste and serve over spaghetti noodles.
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Notes

  • Try adding a quarter cup of red wine for even more flavor.
  • If you don’t have Italian seasoning, add extra oregano and some basil. While dried herbs work well, consider using fresh herbs if you have them on hand.
  • Roasting the herbs and spices before adding them to the crockpot will add a nice depth of flavor to this sauce.
  • Try mixing some parmesan cheese into the sauce as it’s cooking.
  • Periodically taste the sauce as it cooks, and don’t hesitate to adjust the seasoning. This ensures that the sauce perfectly suits your taste preferences.
  • Cooking times may vary depending on the size, make, and model of your slow cooker. Make sure to consult your manual as necessary.
  • Storage – keep sauce in an airtight container inside the fridge for 5 days.
  • There are 4 WW Blue Plan SmartPoints in one serving of this recipe.

Nutrition

Calories: 218kcal | Carbohydrates: 22g | Protein: 20g | Fat: 7g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Trans Fat: 0.3g | Cholesterol: 47mg | Sodium: 577mg | Potassium: 967mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 13g | Vitamin A: 467IU | Vitamin C: 26mg | Calcium: 130mg | Iron: 6mg

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Recipe Rating




5 Comments

  1. 5 stars
    This spaghetti sauce was so delicious! Loved how easy it was to make right in the crockpot.

  2. 5 stars
    Minimal effort and slow cooker, I’m definitely making this. It also sounds like a perfect sauce!

  3. 5 stars
    Such a flavorful sauce! It looks amazing over that bed of spaghetti. Definitely a great use of the slow cooker.

  4. 5 stars
    I’m all for set-it-and-forget it cooking! This recipe looks like one my family will really love!