Made from scratch with ground beef, canned tomatoes, and a handful of pantry seasonings, this easy slow cooker spaghetti sauce simmers into a rich, meaty sauce. It comes together with minimal hands-on prep, makes a big batch for feeding a crowd, and freezes beautifully for easy dinners down the road.

A wooden spoon holds a scoop of chunky tomato meat sauce over a pot filled with the same sauce.

5 star review

“This is one of my go-to recipes for an easy meal that the kiddos love. We do different noodles to switch it up. The last time I made it was with Rotel diced tomatoes instead of regular (it’s all I had in pantry). You must try it!”

– Amy
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My Favorite Homemade Spaghetti Sauce in the Slow Cooker!

Okaaaay, easy dinners are my whole thing, and this crockpot spaghetti sauce is one I come back to again and again! All you have to do is brown the ground beef and onion, add everything to the slow cooker, and walk away while it simmers into a rich, meaty sauce that tastes like it took way more effort than it did. It’s the kind of from-scratch sauce that beats anything from a jar, and it’s economical enough to feed a whole crowd over a pound of pasta!

A couple of notes from testing that I want to pass along. First, don’t skip the tomato paste, because it’s what thickens the sauce as it cooks down in the slow cooker and gives it that deep, concentrated flavor. Second, the optional honey at the end is definitely worth adding IMO, since a touch of sweetness balances the acidity of the canned tomatoes and rounds the whole thing out. You can use sugar instead or leave it out entirely if you want, but I think adding it makes a big difference.

The one thing worth knowing is that I tested this without browning the meat first, and while the sauce still tastes great, the texture of the beef comes out softer than I like. If that doesn’t bother you, feel free to skip the browning step for even easier prep, but I think the few extra minutes are worth it. This sauce is also a dream to make ahead, so double the batch and freeze half for a future dinner (highly recommend using it in my famous baked ziti with meat!). Spoon this sauce over a pot of pasta with a side of my garlic bread for a complete dinner the whole family will love!

Ingredients including ground beef, diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, tomato paste, and spices are arranged inside a black slow cooker.
Thick red meat sauce with ground beef and tomatoes in a black slow cooker, stirred with a wooden spoon.

Robyn’s Testing Tips for Easy Crockpot Meat Sauce

  • For a richer, more developed flavor, add a quarter cup of red wine to the pan after browning the beef and let it reduce slightly before everything goes into the slow cooker.
  • Skip adding uncooked noodles directly to the slow cooker, as they tend to come out gummy and unevenly cooked; cook your pasta separately and serve the sauce on top!
  • I prefer the homemade version, but you can swap in a 24-ounce jar of marinara for the crushed tomatoes, diced tomatoes, herbs, and spices if you want an even faster shortcut version.
  • Either 80% or 95% lean ground beef works here; the higher-fat blend adds more flavor, while the leaner option still turns out tender over the long cook time.
  • Make a double batch and freeze half in portioned containers for up to 3 months, so you always have a homemade dinner ready to reheat!
A plate of spaghetti topped with meat sauce, grated cheese, and chopped parsley, with a fork on the side.
A wooden spoon holds a scoop of chunky tomato meat sauce over a pot filled with the same sauce.
5 stars (5 ratings)

Slow Cooker Spaghetti Sauce (Ground Beef)

Developed and tested by A woman with long blonde hair, smiling, holds and pours a bottle of oil in a modern kitchen setting.Robyn Conley Downs
Servings: 6
Prep: 10 minutes
Cook: 3 hours
Total: 3 hours 10 minutes
This slow cooker spaghetti sauce is a rich, from-scratch meat sauce with ground beef, made in the crockpot and ready to freeze or feed a crowd.
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Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1/2 medium yellow onion, finely chopped
  • 1 pound ground beef
  • 1 (28 ounce) can crushed tomatoes
  • 1 (15 ounce) can diced tomatoes, drained
  • 1 (6 ounce) can tomato paste
  • 1 teaspoon granulated garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon no-salt added Italian seasoning
  • 1 ½ teaspoon kosher salt, divided

To Add at The End

  • 1 tablespoon honey, optional

Equipment

Instructions 

Slow Cooker Instructions

  • To a large pan or dutch oven, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the onion and cook 3-4 minutes or until softened.
  • Add the beef, sprinkle with ½ teaspoon salt, and stir to break the meat apart. Cook until the meat is no longer pink. Optional: Drain off excess fat and discard.
  • Add the cooked meat and onion mixture to a 6-quart slow cooker. Add the crushed tomatoes, diced tomatoes, tomato paste, garlic powder, Italian seasoning, and 1 teaspoon salt, stirring to combine.
  • Cover and cook on high for 3-4 hours or low for 5-6 hours or until the meat is very tender. Do not remove the lid during the cooking process.
  • Uncover and add the honey if using. Stir and taste, adding additional salt if desired.
  • Serve over 1 pound cooked spaghetti or noodles of choice.

Notes

  • Honey: The natural sweetness of the honey can balance out the acidity of the tomatoes for an extra delicious sauce. You can use sugar instead, or skip it.
Course: dinner, Dressings & Sauces, Main Course
Cuisine: American, Italian

Nutrition Information:

Serving: 1 (of 6), Calories: 230kcal, Carbohydrates: 4g, Protein: 21g, Fat: 11g, Saturated Fat: 4g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g, Monounsaturated Fat: 7g, Cholesterol: 54mg, Sodium: 635mg, Potassium: 232mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 3g, Vitamin A: 9IU, Vitamin C: 1mg, Calcium: 22mg, Iron: 2mg
Nutrition disclaimer
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