Sure, here's a simple and delicious recipe for slow cooker spaghetti sauce:
Slow Cooker Spaghetti Sauce:
Ingredients:
- 1 pound (450g) ground beef or Italian sausage (or a mix of both)
- 1 onion, finely chopped
- 3-4 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 can (28 ounces/800g) crushed tomatoes
- 1 can (14 ounces/400g) diced tomatoes
- 1 can (6 ounces/170g) tomato paste
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional, for some heat)
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- 1 bay leaf
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- Grated Parmesan cheese and fresh basil for garnish
- Cooked spaghetti, for serving
Instructions:
In a skillet over medium heat, add the olive oil and sauté the chopped onion until it becomes translucent, about 2-3 minutes. Add the minced garlic and cook for another 30 seconds until fragrant.
Add the ground beef or Italian sausage to the skillet and cook until it's browned and fully cooked. If using both meats, make sure to cook them together until no pink remains.
Drain any excess fat from the skillet, then transfer the meat mixture to the slow cooker.
Add the crushed tomatoes, diced tomatoes, tomato paste, dried basil, dried oregano, dried thyme, red pepper flakes (if using), brown sugar, bay leaf, salt, and pepper to the slow cooker. Stir everything together to combine.
Cover the slow cooker with the lid and cook on low heat for 6 to 8 hours, or on high heat for 3 to 4 hours. The longer you cook it, the more the flavors will develop.
Before serving, taste the sauce and adjust seasoning as needed. Remove the bay leaf.
Serve the sauce over cooked spaghetti and garnish with grated Parmesan cheese and fresh basil.
This slow cooker spaghetti sauce is perfect for a comforting and flavorful meal. You can also make a larger batch and freeze the extra sauce for future use. Enjoy!