This recipe for hearty and flavorful slow cooker pasta sauce takes just three steps, and is the perfect comfort food topping to all kinds of pasta!
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Why we love this recipe
This recipe for warm and wonderful slow cooker pasta sauce is (along with beef barley soup and chocolate pudding cake) one of the very top reasons I love and adore my slow cooker.
It takes just three simple steps – brown the meat, dump it into your slow cooker with a bunch of other ingredients, and let it cook all day, filling your kitchen with an irresistible meaty tomato sauce aromas. Cook up your favorite pasta…and you are DONE!
And as if all that wasn’t enough, this recipe makes a LOT of sauce, so after everyone has had their fill, just scoop the cooled leftovers into freezer bags, pop them in the freezer, and so long as you have pasta in the house somewhere you will be all set for future dinners when you are faced with a ravenous family and your mind is a blank.
Ingredients you need
Ingredient additions and substitutions
- Ground Beef: We usually use 80/20% fat content ground beef for this recipe, however you can swap in ground turkey if you prefer.
- Sugar: The sugar is in here to mellow the acidic flavor of the tomatoes. You can cut it in half if you want to – your pasta sauce will have a little sharper flavor but will still be delicious.
See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities and nutritional information.
How to make this recipe
Step 1: Cook up the ground beef in a large skillet until it is browned. Drain it and pour it into your slow cooker.
Step 2: Stir in all the remaining ingredients and mix them up well.
Step 3: Cover your slow cooker and cook your sauce on low for 8 hours.
PRO TIP: Tempting as it may be, don’t take the cover off of your slow cooker to peek during the cooking process. The heat level is low, and even a quick look will let too much heat escape. 💨
Recipe FAQs
That’s one of the best parts about this recipe! It goes with everything from spaghetti to ravioli…you can also use it as a lasagna sauce. Happiness!
Because the garlic is going to cook low and slow all day, it’s going to mellow out perfectly. I promise.
Mysteriously, we find that the canned tomatoes work even better than fresh for this recipe! But if you feel strongly about it, of course you can – I recommend peeling them first.
Pop your question (or comment, or suggestion) in the Comments section below and I will answer pronto!
This delectable sauce works with whatever pasta you have around. Sometimes I like it with those gorgeous wide pappardelle noodles in the picture above.
Sometimes I like it with good old spaghetti. Sometimes (shhhh…) I just spoon it out and eat it all by its delicious self.
Want to round out your meal?
We love a nice warm piece of bread to mop up every drop of this sauce, and you can’t beat our Almost No Knead Bread (super easy, just remember to start it the day before!). Or maybe some butter Focaccia!
And if you want to add on to this meal with a salad, we love this cherry tomato green bean salad with a purple (and green!) passion! And for dessert? Let’s have a skillet chocolate chip cookie!
Other pasta recipes we love!
Looking for more pasta inspiration? Here is our complete collection of pasta recipes!
We want to know what you think!
If you try this recipe, we would love to hear how it came out for you! I’d be super grateful if you could leave a star rating (you pick how many stars! 🌟 ) and your thoughts in the Comments section right below the recipe card.
Slow Cooker Pasta Sauce
This recipe for hearty and flavorful slow cooker pasta sauce takes just three steps, and is the perfect comfort food topping to all kinds of pasta!
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 8 hours, 10 minutes
- Total Time: 8 hours 25 minutes
- Yield: 10 servings
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Stovetop and Slow Cooker
- Cuisine: Italian
Ingredients
- 2 pounds ground beef
- 1 medium onion, chopped
- 8 cloves garlic, minced
- 3 14 oz cans chopped tomatoes, drained
- 2 15 oz cans tomato sauce
- 2 6 oz cans tomato paste
- 1/3 cup sugar
- 2 tablespoons dried oregano
- 2 teaspoons dried thyme
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
Instructions
- Cook beef in large skillet until browned.
- Drain and transfer to 5 quart slow cooker. Stir in all remaining ingredients, mix well.
- Cover and cook on low for 8-10 hours.
- Serve over your favorite pasta. Happy sigh.
Notes
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- Ground Beef: We usually use 80/20% fat content ground beef for this recipe, however you can swap in ground turkey if you prefer.
-
- Sugar: The sugar is in here to mellow the acidic flavor of the tomatoes. You can cut it in half if you want to – your pasta sauce will have a little sharper flavor but will still be delicious.
- Onion: We recommend a sweet onion for this recipe, but regular white and yellow onions work well too.
April says
Crock pot is the BEST way to cook and this sauce came out perfectly! Loved it!
Aren’t slow cookers the best kitchen invention EVER? :)
Jennifer Donaldson says
The only recipe I use to make my crockpot sauce. Everyone loves it!
Jennifer! Thank you! This made my day. :)
Oh yes, this is definitely an Irish girl’s take on Bolognese sauce! But if sure tastes good. :) And I’m sure you can leave the sugar out, although I find it mellows the tartness of the tomatoes a bit. One way or the other, thanks for your feedback and have a lovely day!
Eveling says
Sin duda uno de mis favoritos. Amo esta receta.
Muchas gracias! Es uno de los favoritos de mi familia tambiรฉn.
Hi Dianna! Technically a bolognese is a sauce that is slow cooked and mostly meat (as opposed to mostly tomato), and you are right that many of them have carrots and celery and onion in them. This is definitely a sauce that is heavier on the meat than the tomato, but it’s also true that it’s not traditional…starting with the fact that I am using a slow cooker! If you are looking for a fabulous and totally traditional bolognese, here’s a fabulous recipe from the wonderful Marcella Hazan. Happy cooking! http://leitesculinaria.com/84057/recipes-marcella-hazan-bolognese-sauce.html
mely says
Looks yummy plan to make this tomorrow. But I only have a 4qt crock pot do you think if I make 3/4 of the recipe it will fit? Also how many servings will this yield?
This makes a lot – enough for 8-10 servings depending on how big the servings are. I think you might want to cut it in half just to be safe! :)
Mely214 says
Looks yummy going to make it tomorrow but I only have a 4 qt crock pot. Do you think if I make 3/4 of the recipe it will fit. Also how many servings do you think it will yield. Going to feed about 5 hungry EMTs.
NoNoNannette says
I like your recipe it very close to the one I make, but I saute my onion with the meat and I also add fresh mushrooms. Always cooker it in my slow cooked all day on low. I do cook the beef in large skillet until browned with the oinons, mushrooms then drain and transfer to slow cooker
There’s nothing like sauce cooked all day in the slow cooker, right? Thanks for your suggestions. :)