Description
A rich and hearty Slow Cooker Bolognese Sauce made with ground beef, tomatoes, red wine, and Italian herbs, simmered to perfection for hours. This comforting Italian classic is easy to prepare and pairs perfectly with spaghetti for a satisfying meal.
Ingredients
Scale
Sauce Ingredients
- 2 lbs ground beef
- 1 white onion, diced
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- ½ cup red wine
- 56 oz crushed tomatoes (two 28-oz. cans)
- 1 cup beef stock or beef broth
- 4 Tbsp tomato paste
- 2 Tbsp Italian seasoning
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp black pepper
- 1 Tbsp brown sugar
Pasta
- 16 oz dried spaghetti (uncooked)
Instructions
- Cook the ground beef: Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat and brown the ground beef, cooking it completely until no longer pink. Drain any excess fat and transfer the cooked beef to the bottom of the slow cooker pot.
- Sauté onion and garlic with wine: Using the same skillet, cook the diced onion and minced garlic over medium heat until the onion becomes translucent. Pour in the red wine and bring the mixture to a simmer, allowing it to cook for 2-3 minutes to burn off the alcohol. Pour this mixture into the slow cooker over the ground beef.
- Add remaining sauce ingredients and slow cook: Add the crushed tomatoes, beef stock, tomato paste, Italian seasoning, salt, black pepper, and brown sugar to the slow cooker. Stir well to combine. Cover and cook on HIGH for 3-4 hours or on LOW for 6-7 hours.
- Cook the spaghetti: About 20 minutes before the sauce is done, cook the spaghetti according to the package instructions on the stovetop until al dente. Drain and set aside.
- Adjust seasoning and serve: Before serving, taste the bolognese sauce and adjust salt or seasoning if needed. To serve, mix some sauce into the cooked spaghetti and then pour additional sauce over the top.
Notes
- Using red wine adds depth to the sauce but you can substitute with extra beef broth if preferred.
- Cooking the sauce low and slow in the slow cooker enhances the flavors and tenderizes the meat.
- Drain excess fat from the ground beef after browning to avoid greasy sauce.
- The brown sugar balances the acidity of the tomatoes.
- This sauce freezes well—store in airtight containers for up to 3 months.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 3-4 hours on HIGH or 6-7 hours on LOW
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: Italian
Keywords: slow cooker bolognese, bolognese sauce, slow cooker sauce, Italian meat sauce, spaghetti sauce, easy bolognese
