This recipe for Crock-Pot Getting Sauced Spaghetti Sauce is a rich and meaty homemade spaghetti sauce that the whole family will adore over pasta!
Crock-Pot Getting Sauced Spaghetti Sauce
This month I decided to take part in the Crazy Cooking Challenge where bloggers select a themed recipe from another blog, try it and share it with you and each other! This month’s theme was Spaghetti! Now I love pasta and red sauce but I have always just made my own with no real “recipe” on the stove-top. This is actually my first pasta sauce in a crock-pot so I was happy to find one prepared that way so I didn’t have to think too much. I found a great recipe from Cravings of a Lunatic that I just had to try. The name alone, Lunatic’s Getting Sauced Spaghetti Sauce intrigued me. I made a few tweaks to it but the results were still divine. I don’t think my family knew what hit them!
Ingredients Needed:
- Extra Lean Ground Beef – I like to use the leanest ground beef that I can find which is usually a 96% lean and 4% fat, that way when I brown and crumble it there is hardly any excess fat that I need to drain off the meat.
- Italian Sausage Links – I used a package of sweet Italian sausage links but if you would like to add a little heat to this sauce you can use hot Italian sausages.
- Canned Whole Tomatoes – Using the best canned tomatoes you can afford will give amazing results with this recipe.
- Granulated Sugar – A little white sugar off-sets the acidity from the tomatoes and adds just a touch of sweetness to the sauce.
- Dried Oregano – Look for Italian oregano.
- Dried Basil – Spaghetti sauce is not complete with some basil.
- Onion Powder – A pantry staple onion powder adds some great flavor to this sauce.
- Garlic Powder – Along with some fresh garlic, I added garlic powder to really give this sauce a depth of flavor in the garlic department.
- Garlic – Whenever possible use fresh whole cloves of garlic and mince them yourself. However, in a pinch for time you can use pre-minced garlic that is found in jars from the grocery store. Just remember 1 teaspoon of minced garlic equals 1 clove of garlic.
- Concentrated Beef Stock – I used Knorr Homestyle Beef Stock, if you cannot find this particular brand of concentrated beef stock you can use the beef stock paste and a little water or a couple of beef bullion cubes and water.
- Tomato Paste – Nothing gives an Italian spaghetti sauce more depth of flavor that rich concentrated tomato paste. I love this stuff!
- Bay Leaves – Dried bay leaves add great flavor to the sauce. Just remember to fish them out of the sauce and discard them before serving.
Directions:
- In a large skillet on the stove-top, brown and crumble the ground beef until fully cooked. Drain off excess fat and add meat to a 6 quart or larger slow cooker.
- Cut Italian sausages into 1 inch pieces and add to the slow cooker.
- Add remaining ingredients to the slow cooker and stir to combine.
- Cover and cook on LOW for 4 to 6 hours, stirring every 2 hours to prevent the sauce from sticking on the sides.
- Remove bay leaves from sauce and discard.
- Serve sauce over cooked pasta or zucchini noodles (zoodles), adding freshly grated Parmesan cheese if desired.
Products Needed:
Check out these popular Italian slow cooker recipes!
- Crock-Pot Chicken Gnocchi Soup (Olive Garden Copycat) + Video
- Slow Cooker Pesto Chicken + Video
- Crock-Pot Chicken Brushetta Bake
- Slow Cooker Zuppa Toscana
- Crock-Pot Layered Lasagna Casserole + Video
Rating |
|
Servings | 6People |
Prep Time | 30Minutes |
Cook Time | 4 - 5Hours On LOW |
- 1.5 Pounds Extra Lean Ground Beef
- 1 Pound Italian Sausage Links
- 56 Ounces Canned Whole Tomatoes
- 2 Tablespoons Granulated Sugar
- 2 Tablespoons Dried Oregano
- 2 Tablespoons Dried Basil
- 2 Tablespoons Onion Powder
- 2 Tablespoons Garlic Powder
- 4 Cloves Garlic Minced
- 2 Tubs Concentrated Beef Stock I used Knorr Homestyle Beef Stock
- 12 Ounces Tomato Paste
- 4 Whole Bay Leaves
Ingredients
Servings: People
|
|
- In a large skillet on the stove-top, brown and crumble the ground beef until fully cooked. Drain off excess fat and add meat to a 6 quart or larger slow cooker.
- Cut Italian sausages into 1 inch pieces and add to the slow cooker.
- Add remaining ingredients to the slow cooker and stir to combine.
- Cover and cook on LOW for 4 to 6 hours, stirring every 2 hours to prevent the sauce from sticking on the sides.
- Remove bay leaves from sauce and discard.
- Serve sauce over cooked pasta or zucchini noodles (zoodles), adding freshly grated Parmesan cheese if desired.
*I don't own a garlic press (gasp!) so I minced my garlic. The original recipe called for pressing it. You should check the sauce about every hour in the last 2 hours of cooking.
Recipe Collections:
Italian Crock-Pot Recipes | Sauce Slow Cooker Recipes |
Italian Sausage Slow Cooker Recipes | Ground Beef Crock-Pot Recipes |
Spaghetti Crock-Pot Recipes | 6 Quart Slow Cooker Recipes |
I love that you used mine. I am so honoured. It turned out great and I adore your use of sausage. It’s okay I didn’t get a garlic press till I was like 40, and only cuz it was a gift. Lol. They are amazing though. I am so happy you liked this. The name was fun too. I never take anything seriously. It’s how I roll.
That means I’ve got about 5 months to get one! LOL Thank you for the inspiration and for stopping by Crock-Pot Ladies!
I was sort of hoping that the ‘sauced’ in the title meant a little kick from some kind of alcohol — alas… But, a very easy one to use in the solar oven and will definitely put it in the queue! Thanks for sharing. Come visit when you can. I’m #28.
Hey I’m all for adding a 1/2 cup of red wine. Or just drinking a glass or two with dinner. ;0
I love that it calls for beef stock!
#29
Me too! I had never used it before in a red sauce. Now I know what I was missing!
I love sauce recipes that call for sugar in them. Makes them soooo delicious.
Thanks for stopping by!
Oh yes, yummy slow cooker meals are fabulous! Easy, delish – what more can a girl ask for?
I hope you’ll stop by and visit my CCC – #75 Spaghetti Pie
🙂
ButterYum
Stopping by right now! Glad you could visit.
This looks great! Love yall!
Aww thanks for stopping by!
I bet this is amazing with the Italian hot sausage! I just recently bought a small two quart crockpot – perfect for cooking for two – and have been looking for some new recipes to try. I think your blog is great and will be following. #18
Thanks for visiting. I love hot sausage but you could also try it with sweet or maybe a flavored. Ahhh the possibilities… lol
I’d love to get sauced by this sauce, sounds delicious.
If you haven’t already, I’d love for you to check out my CCC entry: Tomato Sauce with Onion & Butter.
Lisa~~
Thanks for stopping by Lisa!
This looks wonderful–I’ve yet to try spaghetti in the crock pot, but after seeing this, I’m going to have to give it a try. Crock pot cooking is my favorite, especially during the work week!
Thank you! I was tempted to throw the noodles in there too but I did “cheat” on my crocking and cooked them on the stove. Glad you stopped by!
What does 2 tubs of beef stock mean? 8oz or 32oz? Ty
It’s little containers of concentrated beef stock. You could also just use 7 cups regular beef stock or beef broth.