Crock Pot Spaghetti Sauce is an easy crock pot recipe that's hearty and delicious. This slow cooker beef recipe will become your new go-to!
When morning walks start requiring a hoodie, neighborhood trees begin to change color, and Halloween candy starts appearing on grocery store shelves — I know crock pot season has officially arrived!
Not to say you can’t use a crock pot in the summertime – I mean it’s perfect in that it doesn’t heat up the house – but I usually associate crock pots with a warm and hearty dinner, like Crock Pot Spaghetti Sauce, which goes much better with the cooler temps that are inevitably heading our way.
We had “spaghetti night” every Monday when I was growing up, and this yummy tomato sauce simmered with herbs and ground beef all day totally took me back.
Except now I’m not 12, kicking my brother under the table, and getting told NOBODY IS EXCUSED UNTIL THEIR PLATE IS LICKED CLEAN! INCLUDING YOUR WARM MILK!
Now, normally I skip over crock pot recipes that require cooking outside the CP, but I made an exception for this spaghetti sauce. After all, it’s just browning 1lb ground beef in a skillet before draining and adding it to the crock pot with 1 medium onion.
To the beef and onion, add 28oz crushed tomatoes, 8oz tomato sauce, and 6oz tomato paste, which will cook down to create a fabulously rich and luscious tomato sauce.
Finally, add zee spices that will flavor the sauce: 2 teaspoons each dried oregano and basil, 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme,
2 small bay leaves, 1 Tablespoon brown sugar, and 3/4 teaspoons salt.
Add a pinch of red pepper flakes for a spicy kick (or leave it out – totally your call!) followed by 3 minced garlic cloves.
Mix everything up – then set it, and forget it, baby! That is to say, cook on low for 5-6 hours…
When time is up, stir in the magical ingredient that will take your sauce from good, to great: 2 Tablespoons butter. Don’t leave it out!
Scoop over cooked pasta then dig in to this easy, comforting spaghetti supper!
I cannot praise crock pot meals enough. I usually add everything to the pot at night, then place it on the base and turn it on in the morning. Could not be easier!
Some crock pot meals can be heavy and gloopy, but Crock Pot Spaghetti Sauce is right on the money. Give it a try sometime!
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground beef
- salt and pepper
- 1 medium onion, chopped
- 28 oz can crushed tomatoes
- 8 oz can tomato sauce
- 6 oz can tomato paste
- 1 Tablespoon brown sugar
- 1 bay leaf
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 2 teaspoons dried oregano
- 2 teaspoons dried basil
- 3/4 teaspoons salt
- 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1/4 teaspoon red chili pepper flakes, optional
- 2 Tablespoons butter
Directions
- Season ground beef with salt and pepper then brown with onion in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Drain then add to a 6 quart crock pot.
- Add all the ingredients except for the butter, stir to combine, then cook on low for 5-6 hours. Remove bay leaves, stir in butter, then serve over cooked pasta.
Nutrition
Nutritional values are estimates only. Please read our full nutrition information disclaimer.
Anything with OMG and garlic bread is good in my book. Great pics as well!
hey kristin!
first of all, this looks delish and i am definitely going to try it asap! second of all, a lot of times when i make spaghetti the sauce gets watery once its on the plate with the pasta … does this ever happen to you and do you have any tips for how to avoid it ? i can’t tell if its the pasta not being drained well enough, or the sauce being too liquidy …
thanks so much!
xo julia, julesinflats.com
I find it’s usually the pasta (especially the kind I used – the water gets trapped in the curls.) I just make sure to drain it really really well!
What type of pasta did you use? Thanks!
Cappellini!
I made this for dinner tonight and it was delicious! Thank you!
Hi Kristin, I was just wondering what size crock pot you use/what size crock pot would be appropriate for this recipe?
I have a 5 quart crock pot and it fit this recipe perfectly!
The smell of spaghetti reminds me of family too! Mom would simmer her spaghetti sauce for HOURS, but it be easier to do that in a crockpot.
You’re a genius.
I will definitely be trying this out and those memories of Mom are sure to rush back…. except now I can have wine with my spaghetti.
Yay for being an adult!
This is almost identical to my mom’s spaghetti sauce recipe! I used to walk in the door from school and smell the sauce, spaghetti was my favorite meal, I wish we had it every Monday! I make this sauce for my family now but usually don’t have time for the crock pot so it cooks on the stove while I’m cooking the noodles and garlic bread. The only difference is that I use white sugar, no red pepper flakes (Dad didn’t like spicy food) and I cook a few cloves of garlic with my beef/onion. I also never heard of adding butter at the end, how could it not be good with that? I’ll try it next time. YUM! I think I’ll make it this weekend, it’ll bring back great memories of mom’s kitchen! Thanks!
TOTALLY know what you’re talking about with having to finish your milk. YUCK!
Love coming home from work to have dinner already made! Just the other day I made Pepsi roast in the crockpot…it was just 3 or 4 ingredients and was super good and so tender! Plus we used the drippings to make gravy and stuck them in ziplock baggies in the freezer. Can’t wait for some mashed potatoes and gravy :)
Spaghetti sauce is hands down my favorite thing to make. There’s just something so comforting about the cooking process to me. I’m always looking for new recipes to try, so I’ll have to give this one a go! Have you ever added red wine to it?
I also usually like to shred a zucchini and add it in too for extra volume and veggie goodness. You can’t even tell it’s there!
Mmm looks good, might have to try this one. My favorite crock pot recipes are pulled pork, pot roast, and chili taco chicken from Skinnytaste. SOO good!
I love crock pot recipes and I especially love your HOT PINK BREAD KNIFE!!!! Where did you find that?
Thanks! Ben got it for me from Williams & Sonoma!
omg wow that garlic bread looks so good!!
This looks SO good. I can’t wait to try it! Thanks for sharing.