• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Crunchy Creamy Sweet

Easy Recipes for Busy Parents

  • All Recipes
  • Air Fryer
  • Asian
  • Dinner
  • Instant Pot
  • Dessert
  • About Us
menu icon
go to homepage
  • All Recipes
  • Subscribe
  • About Me
  • Contact
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • All Recipes
    • Subscribe
    • About Me
    • Contact
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
  • ×

    You are here: Crunchy Creamy Sweet / Slow cooker / Slow Cooker Bolognese Sauce

    Slow Cooker Bolognese Sauce

    Published: Nov 12, 2019 · Modified: Sep 1, 2021 by Anna 15 Comments · This post may contain affiliate links.

    Sharing is caring!

    4439 shares
    • Share
    • Tweet
    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    This Slow Cooker Bolognese Sauce is the best classic meat sauce ever! This rich and deep in flavor pasta sauce is cooked in a crock pot, served over fettuccine and topped with Parmesan. 

    Serve with Easy Garlic Bread or my Easy Focaccia Bread and you are in for a feast that didn't take much effort at all.

    Slow Cooker Bolognese Sauce over spaghetti on plate.

    That's exactly what this is - comfort food at it's best. This pasta sauce recipe will change your spaghetti game and you will love it! It's perfect for those days when pasta just seems boring and you need a big bowl of comfort food. We are bringing spaghetti back to our weekly dinner menus with this Slow Cooker Bolognese Sauce. A new family favorite! A steaming bowl of spaghetti with rich, slow cooker bolognese sauce is bound to make your soul and belly happy. Planning a relaxing weekend? This recipe is perfect for it! Minimal prep time and the magic happens in your slow cooker. Yes, please!

    Ingredients

    • olive oil
    • garlic cloves
    • red onion
    • carrots
    • celery
    • 1 lb ground beef
    • crushed tomatoes
    • half and half
    • tomato sauce
    • salt and pepper
    • Italian seasoning

    Instructions

    • Saute garlic and onion in a skillet for 2 minutes. Add carrots and celery and cook for a few minutes. Place sauteed vegetables in a 5-quart slow cooker.
    • In the same skillet, cook beef until no longer pink. Stir in half and half and tomato sauce and cook for about 4 minutes. Pour mixture over vegetables in crockpot.
    • Add crushed tomatoes and all of the seasonings to the slow cooker. Stir well.
    • Cook sauce on LOW setting for 6 to 8 hours.
    Ingredients for bolognese sauce in slow cooker.

    Can I freeze this sauce?

    Yes! You can make the sauce, cool completely and place in freezer-safe containers. Freeze for up to 6 months. Thaw the sauce in the fridge and heat up in a pan.

    Best tips

    • veggies: Don't let the carrots and celery throw you off. It is quite common for these veggies to be used in pasta sauce by Italian cooks, or so I have been told. I love the sweetness the carrots add to the sauce. The celery blends perfectly with onions and garlic.
    • garlic: Feel free to amp up the amount of garlic in this recipe. I used 3 cloves but I love it with 5 cloves even more. That's a personal preference. I just love garlic in my pasta dishes!
    • beef: When browning the beef, let it cook until you see little bits at the bottom of the pan - they have a ton of flavor
    • half and half: Adding half and half and one can of tomato sauce adds more flavor and richness to the dish.

    More homemade sauce recipes:

    • Roasted Garlic Cauliflower Alfredo Sauce
    • 5-Minute Pizza Sauce
    • Homemade Alfredo Sauce
    • Instant Pot Spaghetti
    • Mushroom Sauce

    If you like this recipe and make it, snap a photo and share it on INSTAGRAM! Tag me @crunchycreamysweet so I can check it out and leave a comment! 😀

    Slow Cooker Bolognese Sauce over spaghetti on plate.

    Slow Cooker Bolognese Sauce

    Author: Anna
    This Slow Cooker Bolognese Sauce is the best classic meat sauce ever! This rich and deep in flavor pasta sauce is cooked in a crock pot, served over fettuccine and topped with Parmesan. 
    5 from 10 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 15 minutes mins
    Cook Time 6 hours hrs
    Total Time 6 hours hrs 15 minutes mins
    Course Dinner
    Cuisine American
    Servings 6 people
    Calories 307 kcal

    Ingredients
     
     

    • 1 tablespoon olive oil
    • 3 garlic cloves minced
    • ¾ cup chopped red onion
    • 2 carrots diced
    • 2 celery stalks diced
    • 1 lb ground beef
    • 28 oz crushed tomatoes
    • ½ cup half and half
    • 4 oz tomato sauce
    • ½ teaspoon salt
    • ¼ teaspoon black pepper
    • 1.5 teaspoon Italian seasoning

    Instructions
     

    • In a large saucepan, heat up olive oil. Add garlic and onion. Saute for 2 minutes. Add carrots and celery. Cook for about 5 minutes.
    • Place sauteed vegetables in a 5 quart slow cooker. 
    • To the same saucepan, add beef and cook until done. Brown over medium heat, stirring often and breaking the meat. Cook until brown bites are visible on the bottom of the pan. Add half and half and cook 2 minutes or until most of the liquid evaporates. Add tomato sauce and cook the mixture for 3 minutes. Place in the slow cooker, next to vegetables.
    • Add crushed tomatoes and seasoning to slow cooker. Stir everything together. Cook on LOW setting for 6 to 8 hours. 
    • Serve over cooked spaghetti or fettuccine pasta. Top with Parmesan cheese and chopped parsley. 

    Notes

    1. Please note, that the nutrition value can vary depending on what product you use. The information below is an estimate. Always use calorie counter you are familiar with.
    2. Feel free to use ground turkey in place of beef.
    3. To freeze: cool the sauce completely, then place in freezer-safe container. Freeze for up to 6 months.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 307kcal | Carbohydrates: 16g | Protein: 16g | Fat: 20g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Cholesterol: 61mg | Sodium: 552mg | Potassium: 815mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 8g | Vitamin A: 3895IU | Vitamin C: 17.2mg | Calcium: 109mg | Iron: 3.7mg
    Tried this recipe?Leave a comment with rating below!

    This recipe was originally published on January 18th, 2017 and updated on November 12th, 2019.

    More SLOW COOKER RECIPES

    • Green bean casserole in a slow cooker.
      Slow Cooker Green Bean Casserole
    • Overhead shot of beef stew in soup bowl.
      Best Ever Slow Cooker Beef Stew
    • Three chicken tacos in baking dish.
      Slow Cooker Chicken Tacos
    • Teriyaki chicken on rice in a bowl.
      Best Slow Cooker Teriyaki Chicken

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

      Did you make this recipe? Let me know! Cancel reply

      Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

      Recipe Rating




    1. Phillip says

      February 05, 2021 at 2:48 pm

      5 stars
      Great recipe, set it and forget it until after work.... the family is going to be happy!

      Reply
      • Anna says

        February 05, 2021 at 10:25 pm

        Exactly! Thank you so much, Phillip!

        Reply
    2. Noreen Gamble says

      November 14, 2019 at 1:57 am

      Any thoughts on doing this in the Instant Pot?

      Thank you ahead, Anna

      Noreen

      Reply
    3. Suzy says

      November 13, 2019 at 12:20 am

      5 stars
      We've made something similar to this before but never thought to use the slow cooker! Such a great idea! Trying this ASAP!

      Reply
    4. Stephanie says

      November 12, 2019 at 6:59 pm

      5 stars
      We are huge pasta lovers but I've never been a fan of store-bought sauces so this was beyond delicious! Great recipe!

      Reply
    5. Jennifer says

      November 12, 2019 at 6:20 pm

      5 stars
      Looks SOO delicious! I am excited to try your recipe!

      Reply
    6. Katerina says

      November 12, 2019 at 4:16 pm

      5 stars
      Oh my, this sounds incredibly delicious! A must make!

      Reply
    7. Kristyn says

      November 12, 2019 at 3:59 pm

      5 stars
      Mmmm...I love this sauce!! It's rich & hearty & great with any pasta!! My family loves it!

      Reply
    8. Jeff says

      March 05, 2019 at 10:09 am

      5 stars
      Oh yeah, Amp up the garlic on mine!

      Reply
    9. Des says

      January 19, 2017 at 2:38 pm

      5 stars
      My ultimate comfort food right there!

      Reply
    10. carrie says

      January 19, 2017 at 9:59 am

      I just love a good homemade pasta sauce! And bonus points for being made in the slow cooker. 🙂

      Reply
    11. Lora says

      January 19, 2017 at 6:33 am

      5 stars
      There is nothing like a great Bolognese sauce! So nice to enjoy with a bowl of spaghetti and how great that you made it in a slow cooker...I bet your family was excited to know this sauce was what was for dinner!!

      Reply
    12. Dorothy says

      January 18, 2017 at 6:48 pm

      I love that the slow cooker will do the work! This is a perfect comfort food for winter!

      Reply
    13. Erin says

      January 18, 2017 at 4:29 pm

      The last time I made a Bolognese, I was a newlywed with tons of time on her hands and could babysit my sauce on the stovetop. Your rendition of the classic is going to be ADORED in my household because it sounds so good! Thanks for sharing this!

      Reply
    14. Erren says

      January 18, 2017 at 12:53 pm

      5 stars
      I have been blessed with this recipe!

      Reply

    Primary Sidebar

    Crunchy Creamy Sweet Anna

    Hi, I'm Anna! Thank you for stopping by! Here you will find easy and delicious recipes for busy people. My recipes are made with everyday ingredients and all of them are family approved!

    More about me →

    Easy Dinners

    • Square image of chicken in teriyaki sauce, rice and broccoli in a white bowl.
      Quick Teriyaki Chicken Rice Bowls Recipe
    • Asian chicken on rice.
      Easy Sesame Chicken Recipe
    • Square image of creamy garlic chicken in a skillet.
      Creamy Garlic Chicken
    • Lemon garlic chicken in a skillet.
      Creamy Lemon Garlic Chicken Recipe
    • Chicken in mushroom garlic sauce in pan.
      Creamy Mushroom Garlic Chicken
    • Beef noodle casserole in a baking dish.
      Cheesy Beef Noodle Casserole

    Popular Recipes

    • Cooked shrimp on a white plate.
      Air Fryer Shrimp
    • Square image of four Russet potatoes on a rack in the Instant Pot pressure cooker.
      Instant Pot Baked Potatoes Recipe
    • Noodles with peanut sauce and green onions in a white bowl with chopsticks.
      Thai Peanut Noodles Recipe
    • Square image of chicken nuggets with parsley on a white plate.
      Air Fryer Chicken Nuggets Recipe
    • Pasta salad with tomatoes and bacon in a glass serving bowl.
      BLT Pasta Salad Recipe
    • Square image of KFC coleslaw in a white bowl with red plaid napkin.
      KFC Coleslaw Copycat Recipe

    Featured in

    Logos of publications like yahoo, Parade magazine, MSN.

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • About Us
    • Privacy Policy
    • Accessibility Policy

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up! for emails and updates

    Contact

    • Contact

    As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright © 2023 Crunchy Creamy Sweet All rights reserved.

    © Copyright 2023 - Crunchy Creamy Sweet - Privacy Policy