Imagine your favorite spaghetti bolognese sauce, simmered and seasoned to perfection, rich and flavorful… and all done conveniently in the slow cooker!
Your new favorite way to enjoy a bolognese-style pasta sauce… made easily in the slow cooker! Â Rich, flavorful, and perfect for an easy weeknight dinner!
Spaghetti is such a classic meal. Â Is there anything better than a big plate full of perfectly cooked pasta, topped with a rich and meaty sauce, some grated Parmesan cheese and fresh minced basil? Â Not in my book! Â
Except maybe some cheesy semi-homemade garlic bread to go with it! Now picture this… you can have that fantastic-tasting, lip-smackingly good, slow-simmered tasting sauce, with hardly any effort? Â How, you say? Â In your slow cooker!
That’s right, your slow cooker comes to the rescue once again!
For me, my favorite spaghetti sauces all have meat in them.  What can I say, I like meat 🙂  What about you?  Do you prefer meat-free spaghetti sauce?  A meat sauce?  Meatballs?
Usually, to get a great tasting sauce, you have to let it simmer and let those flavors meld together for a while… like several hours, or more. Â Well I don’t know about you, but I just don’t have that kind of time most nights.
Now you can walk in the door and smell a FANTASTIC sauce simmering away in your slow cooker!
This recipe uses both ground beef and mild Italian sausage, but feel free to change it up to fit your family’s tastes. Â It could be all Italian sausage, all beef, or you could go for a hot Italian sausage if you want to get spicy.
All you need to do is brown your meats with the onion and garlic… making sure you crumble up the meat pretty well.  For me, my best tool for that is my potato masher. I start with my wooden spoon to break it up into large chunks, then go to town mashing away with my potato masher.  It crumbles up meat like a pro!
Once the meat is browned, drain it, then add it to the bottom of your slow cooker. Â Next, add in the remaining ingredients, pop the lid on, set it to low, and you’re done!
This sauce cooks for 8 hours, so you’re free to go about your day. Â Then come dinner time, all you have to do is boil your pasta! Â Simple enough right?
You deserve this sauce… treat yourself!
LOOKING FOR MORE ITALIAN DINNER IDEAS?
- Semi-homemade garlic bread
- Cheesy garlic crescent rolls
- Slow Cooker Shredded Italian Beef
- Meatball Parmesan Bake
- 20 Minute Tortellini Carbonara
Did you make this? Be sure to leave a review below and tag me @the_chunky_chef on Facebook and Instagram!
Ingredients
- 2 Tbsp olive oil
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 lb ground Italian sausage
- 1 onion minced
- 2 carrots, very finely chopped
- 8 cloves garlic minced
- 3 - 14 ounce cans crushed tomatoes
- 1 - 24 ounce jar of your favorite marinara sauce (I use Newman's Own)
- 1 cup water
- 3 bay leaves
- 3 tsp better than chicken bouillon
- 3 tsp dried basil
- 2 tsp balsamic vinegar
- 2 tsp dried oregano
- 2 tsp sugar (to taste)
- 2 tsp kosher salt
- 2 tsp dried parsley
- 1/2 tsp dried thyme
- 1/2 - 1 tsp black pepper
- 1/2 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
Instructions
- Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium high heat. Add ground beef and Italian sausage, cooking until browned, about 5-6 minutes, making sure to crumble the beef and sausage as it cooks. The last 2-3 minutes, add onion, carrot and garlic to beef and cook. Drain in a colander to remove excess grease.
- Place meat mixture into bottom of slow cooker. Add remaining sauce ingredients and stir to combine. Cover and cook on LOW for 8 hours.
Want to save this recipe for later? Click the heart in the bottom right corner to save to your own recipe box!
Chef Tips
Nutrition Disclaimer
The Chunky Chef is not a dietician or nutritionist, and any nutritional information shared is an estimate. If calorie count and other nutritional values are important to you, we recommend running the ingredients through whichever online nutritional calculator you prefer. Calories can vary quite a bit depending on which brands were used.
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Monkey mom says
Made this with King Arthur gf all- purpose flour plus 1 teaspoon zanthum gum. Added 1 teaspoon yeast to warmed water and 1 tablespoon sugar and allowed it to bloom. Then added 1 egg and flour mixture , beat on medium speed for approximately 2-3 mins in mixer. Let rest for 4 hours in the mixing bowl. Followed the rest of the instructions and was very happy. Beautiful presentation and great taste!
The Chunky Chef says
I’m happy to hear you were able to adapt the recipe to your GF needs!! So glad you loved it 😀
deveaux says
do you think the bread would work without the cheese? I want to make is dairy free..
thanks
The Chunky Chef says
Hi Deveaux! It would definitely work without the cheese 🙂
Tricia says
I am planning on making this tomorrow and I can’t wait to try it. I’m especially excited about the bread. I don’t have a dutch oven so do you think I could make it in my stoneware baker?
The Chunky Chef says
Hi Tricia!! I’m so excited that you’re trying the recipes 😀 Does your stoneware baker have a lid?
Cindy @ Hun... What's for Dinner? says
This Bolognese sauce looks fantastic! I am featuring you this week over at Simple Supper Tuesday. We would love for you to join us again this week, starting Monday night at 8pm EST.
The Chunky Chef says
Thank you so much!! I’m honored to be featured 😀 I’ll be sure to stop on by!
Pinterest Addicted says
This looks so tasty and easy!! I had no idea about using the potato masher for meat. I’m such an impatient cook. I’ll have to try using it next time. Thanks for sharing!
The Chunky Chef says
Thank you!! I’m the same way, I don’t have much patience and the potato masher just makes it so easy and quick 🙂
Lou Lou Girls says
Hello beautiful! This looks so amazing. I can’t wait to try it. Pinned and tweeted. Thank you for being a part of our party and we hope to see you on Monday at 7 pm. We can’t wait to party with you! Happy Valentines’ Day! Lou Lou Girls
The Chunky Chef says
Hi there! Thank you so much!! I can’t wait to bring more recipes to your great party 😀 😀 Happy Valentine’s Day to you as well!
Free says
That Looks So Delicious. Every Since I’ve Gotten Pregnant I Am Definitely A Big Fan Of Spaghetti So This Is Definitely Something That I know I Have To Try.
The Chunky Chef says
Thank you!! Oh I certainly understand pregnancy cravings… congratulations and I hope you love the recipe 😀
beth b says
Wow — I can’t wait to make this sauce AND the bread!! It looks so delicious — perfect for a winter evening. Love your step by step directions and wonderful photos!!
Will be a return visitor for sure!!
The Chunky Chef says
Aww thank you so much! Your comment just made my night! 😀 I hope you try it and LOVE it as much as we did 🙂
Elaine says
I love this…I love that it is in a slow cooker! Hey I would love for you to share your stuff on My 2 Favorite Things on Thursday-Link Party that starts tomorrow!! I would love to have you!! http://www.cookinandcraftin.com/my-2-favorite-things-on-thursday-link-party-6/
The Chunky Chef says
Thank you!! We’re all about the slow cooker here 😀 Sure, I’ll be sure to stop by, thank you for the invite 😀 😀
Elaine says
I am following you on google+ and pinterest!! Love your stuff!! Thanks for sharing on My 2 Favorite Things on Thursday! Hope you come back and share some more!! Pinned!
The Chunky Chef says
Thank you so much!! The follows are greatly appreciated 😀 I’ll be sure to return the foodie love 🙂
Tampa Cake Girl says
Another fabulous recipe! Love it! Pin it!
The Chunky Chef says
Thank you so much!! It’s so hearty 😀
Thalia @ butter and brioche says
I definitely will be making spaghetti bolognese for dinner tonight after seeing this inspiring post! Thanks for the easy slow cooker recipe.
The Chunky Chef says
That’s awesome, hope you love it!! 😀
skd says
You are right Amanda. It really is a classic meal. Warm, comforting food. Your bread looks gorgeous. And congrats on your milestone. Well done!
The Chunky Chef says
Thank you so much 😀 I was so happy with how the bread turned out 🙂
Frugal Hausfrau says
You’ll laugh, but I make a Slow Cooker Sauce, too, that I have been meaning to post – it sits, partially finished in my drafts while I cheat on it, looking at other sauces! This looks delicious, and I think the slow cooker can’t be beat as far as a method for this sauce goes!
The Chunky Chef says
Lol that is too funny 🙂 High five on the slow cooker sauces!! 🙂
Cindy @Cindys Recipes and Writings says
I love a good bolognese! Thanks Amanda for sharing at Foodie Friends Friday!
The Chunky Chef says
Thank you!! I love stopping by Foodie Friends Friday 🙂
rue says
Gosh that looks good…. I’m going to run out of ink from printing out your recipes lol
The Chunky Chef says
Lol, thank you!! 🙂 😀
Michaela says
I’ve also never thought of the slow cooker for Bolognese. Great time saver for my favorite meal.
Michaela
The Chunky Chef says
Thank you! I hope you LOVE it 🙂
Cynthia @ Whole Food | Real Families says
This looks fantastic!! I am a total cheater. I make a million gallons of sauce without the meat and then can or freeze it. Then at dinner time, I just brown whatever meat I want and pile on the sauce I’ve already prepped. I can also use it like marinara that way. Mostly, I just love that it makes a huge shortcut on nights that dinner has to be quick. I can’t wait to try this in the slow cooker. And the bread looks amazing!!!
The Chunky Chef says
Thank you so much!! That’s a really smart way to do sauce 🙂 Sounds like something I would do lol… gotta make dinnertime a little easier 🙂
Dini @ Giramuk's Kitchen says
I saw this yesterday on pinterest and already pinned it 😀 Looks delicious!
The Chunky Chef says
Thank you so much!! 🙂
Josette says
Wow!! First of all- it is hard to beat sauce that has been simmering for hours- SUCH amazing flavor. Looks perfect. BUT your bread looks AMAZING!! (I especially love the “ugly” photo by the way 😉 ) The 12 to 18 hour rise time requires a little planning (sometimes a problem for me!) but the results are certainly worth it- I think the bread brought your fiesta worthy meal up a few notches!! Thanks for bringing it to the party & have a lovely weekend!
The Chunky Chef says
Awww well thank you!!! Bread is a huge weakness of mine… I LOVE it! But I hate spending $4 on a loaf of bread that we eat in one sitting… so I was so excited to find a recipe that won’t cost anywhere near that much to make 😀 Lol, glad you love the “ugly” pic 😉 Enjoy your weekend! 🙂
Thao @ In Good Flavor says
What a great dinner! I can imagine how good the house must smell with the bolognese simmering all day. I love easy to make yeast bread recipes…this one sounds easy and looks delicious.
The Chunky Chef says
Thank you so much!! I walked outside and came back in and was blown away by how amazing the whole house smelled from the sauce… mouthwatering! We sure love our Italian meals around here 🙂