Slow Cooker Bolognese: A Hearty Pasta Sauce

This slow cooker bolognese sauce is made with ground beef, pork, crushed tomatoes, and Italian seasonings. It simmers in a crockpot for hours until it’s thick and rich. Serve it with pasta for a cozy comfort food dinner.

Bolognese, the meatiest meat sauce from Bologna, Italy, is on the docket today, and seeing as it’s October, now is the perfect time to try it. Unless you live on the other side of the world, in which case, save it until your fall season rolls around again. For the rest of us facing the upcoming cold-weather months, carpe diem.

Bolognese (also known as a type of ragu) is a simmer-for-hours pasta sauce, and so I’ve adapted it for a slow cooker so you can have your sauce and a life. Once assembled, you can leave it until it’s time to eat. The magic happens all on its own.

My recipe is an Americanized version made with ground beef, pork, and a little more tomato than the classic. However, what it doesn’t stray from is the texture and flavor. The sauce is rich, hearty, and velvety thick with a touch of creaminess that aligns with the traditional dish.

Like a good American, I pile it on top of a tangle of thick spaghetti, but tagliatelle, a flat ribbon-like pasta, would be more in line with the Italian way of doing things. Either way, it’s delicious.

Ingredients

• Meat: I use 90% lean ground beef and ground pork.
• Tomato paste: I add a 1/4 cup of this so the sauce has a deep tomato flavor. It also helps thicken the bolognese.
• Vegetables: There’s some onion, celery, carrots, and garlic.
• Balsamic vinegar: Many bolognese recipes call for dry red wine, but I prefer balsamic vinegar. Like wine, it adds a nice tang to the sauce.
• Seasonings: You can use dried oregano or dried Italian seasoning. You will also need some kosher salt and black pepper.
• Tomatoes: You will need crushed tomatoes and tomato puree.
• Whole milk: Don’t skip this – it makes a big difference! Milk helps tenderize the meat, adds richness, and balances out the acidity of the tomatoes.

Optional things you can add: If you want a kick of heat, add some red pepper flakes. For an extra herbal touch, add a bay leaf while it simmers. Just don’t forget to fish it out at the end. Garnish the sauce with grated Parmesan cheese and finely chopped fresh parsley.

How to Make It

☑️ Brown the beef and pork in a large skillet on the stovetop. Cook them over medium-high heat, breaking the meat apart as it cooks. Add the tomato paste and stir until it melts and coats the meat.

☑️ Combine the browned meat with the other ingredients in the slow cooker. Stir, place the lid on top, and cook on low heat for 8 hours or high for 4 hours. Taste the sauce and add more salt if you think it needs it.

☑️ Serve it with cooked spaghetti or other pasta that you like. Garnish with chopped parsley or fresh basil and Parmesan cheese.

Other Ways to Serve It

To quote a late-night infomercial, “But there’s more!” I love it with spaghetti, but you can use this sauce to make other comfort food dinners. Here are some ideas:

• Use it to make meat lasagna.
• Spoon some bolognese over baked potatoes and top them with grated Parmesan cheese.
• If you have leftover sauce, toast some bread and top it with a spoonful of sauce, a sprinkle of cheese, and chopped herbs for a quick and easy dinner.
• Make a carb-happy meal and serve it over mashed potatoes with chopped herbs and grated cheese.

If you go with spaghetti bolognese, a simple green salad and toasted garlic bread are the perfect side dishes for an epic spaghetti with bolognese sauce night.

This slow cooker bolognese will take the chilly edge off a cold day, so make it when you want to get your cozy on. I think you’ll love it.

Happy slow cooking,

More Slow Cooker Recipes

• BBQ Beef Sandwiches
• Sunday Sauce
• Queso Blanco
• Pulled Pork