If you’re looking for the best crockpot spaghetti sauce recipe, this one is a must-try! It’s rich, hearty, packed with flavor, and incredibly easy to make in the slow cooker. One of my favorite things about this homemade spaghetti sauce is that it makes a huge batch, which means you can enjoy it for dinner all week long and freeze the leftovers for later too!
I’ve been on a big freezer meal kick lately while recovering from surgery and preparing to go back to work. Having homemade meals stocked in the freezer has honestly been such a lifesaver. This freezer friendly spaghetti sauce is perfect for busy weeknights because all you have to do is thaw and reheat it for an easy dinner!
I actually mentioned this recipe years ago when I shared my favorite freezer meals, but I never posted the full recipe. So today, I’m finally sharing my go-to slow cooker spaghetti sauce recipe! If your family loves classic comfort food dinners like spaghetti night, trust me… you are going to LOVE this recipe.
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Why You’ll Love This Crockpot Spaghetti Sauce
- Easy slow cooker dinner recipe
- Perfect freezer meal for busy families
- Makes a large batch
- Rich homemade flavor with minimal effort
- Great for meal prep
- Can be made with ground beef, turkey, or Italian sausage
- Tastes even better the next day!
Ingredients Needed For Crockpot Spaghetti Sauce:
- 4 1/2 lbs ground beef
- 1 large onion, finely chopped
- 5 garlic cloves, minced
- 8 cups of crushed tomatoes (two 28 oz cans, plus one 8 oz can)
- 1/2 cup tomato paste
- 24 oz jar of good quality Marinara sauce (I often use the Rao’s brand)
- 2 teaspoons kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 2 tablespoons sugar
- 1 teaspoon ground oregano
- 1 teaspoon ground thyme
- 1 tablespoon dried parsley flakes
- 1 tablespoon dried basil
- 4 bay leaves
- 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 1 cup white wine (or red wine for a more robust flavor. You can also just use chicken or beef broth instead too)
- Cooked spaghetti for serving
- Minced parsley for serving
- Grated Parmesan for serving
How To Make Spaghetti Sauce In Crockpot:
First, heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef, chopped onion, and minced garlic. Cook until the beef is fully browned and the onions are soft. Drain off any excess grease.
Next, add the cooked beef mixture to a 6-quart crockpot. Pour in the crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, marinara sauce, and wine or broth. Then add the salt, black pepper, sugar, oregano, thyme, dried parsley, dried basil, bay leaves, and red pepper flakes.
Stir everything together well, place the lid on the crockpot, and cook:
- High: 4 hours
- Low: 6–8 hours
Once the spaghetti sauce is finished cooking, let it cool slightly while you prepare your spaghetti noodles according to package directions.
Serve the homemade spaghetti sauce over cooked spaghetti noodles and top with fresh parsley and grated Parmesan cheese if desired.
How To Freeze Crockpot Spaghetti Sauce:
This recipe makes the perfect freezer meal!
To freeze leftover spaghetti sauce:
- Let the sauce cool completely.
- Label freezer-safe bags or containers with the date.
- Pour the sauce into freezer bags.
- Lay bags flat in the freezer for easy storage.
Your homemade spaghetti sauce will stay fresh in the freezer for about 3–6 months.
When ready to use, simply thaw overnight in the refrigerator and reheat on the stove or in the microwave for an easy dinner.
Recipe Tips & Variations
One of my favorite things about this easy crockpot spaghetti sauce recipe is how customizable it is.
- Use red wine for a deeper, richer flavor
- Use white wine for a lighter flavor
- Swap the wine for chicken or beef broth if preferred
- Substitute ground turkey for a lighter option
- Try half ground beef and half Italian sausage for extra flavor
No matter how I make it, this spaghetti sauce always turns out delicious!
And while I would love to take credit for creating this recipe, I actually found it years ago in The Pioneer Woman Cooks: Come and Get It! by Ree Drummond. Ever since then, it has been my go-to homemade spaghetti sauce recipe and one I make over and over again.
If you love easy comfort food recipes, freezer meals, and cozy family dinners, this crockpot spaghetti sauce recipe is definitely one to save!
Crockpot Spaghetti Sauce
Ingredients
- 4 1/2 lbs ground beef
- 1 large onion chopped
- 5 garlic cloves minced
- 8 cups crushed tomatoes two 28 oz cans plus one 8 oz can
- 1/2 cup tomato paste
- 24 oz good quality marinara sauce
- 2 tsp kosher salt
- 1 tsp black pepper
- 2 tbsp sugar
- 1 tsp ground oregano
- 1 tsp ground thyme
- 1 tbsp dried parsley
- 1 tbsp dried basil
- 4 bay leaves
- 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes
- 1 cup white wine or red wine, or chicken/beef broth
- cooked spaghetti noodles for serving
- minced fresh parsley and grated Parmesan for serving
Instructions
- First, heat a large skillet over medium-high heat.
- Add the ground beef, chopped onion, and minced garlic.
- Cook until the beef is fully browned and the onions are soft. Drain off any excess grease.
- Next, add the cooked beef mixture to a 6-quart crockpot.
- Pour in the crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, marinara sauce, and wine or broth.
- Then add the salt, black pepper, sugar, oregano, thyme, dried parsley, dried basil, bay leaves, and red pepper flakes.
- Stir everything together well, place the lid on the crockpot, and cook:High: 4 hours Low: 6–8 hours
- Once the spaghetti sauce is finished cooking, let it cool slightly while you prepare your spaghetti noodles according to package directions.
- Serve the homemade spaghetti sauce over cooked spaghetti noodles and top with fresh parsley and grated Parmesan cheese if desired.
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