Slow Cooker Bolognese Recipe

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Published: March 17, 2022Author: Camille Beckstrand
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This Slow Cooker Bolognese is a thick, flavorful meat sauce that goes perfectly over pasta. Once you try this, you'll never buy pre-made spaghetti sauce or marinara again!
Slow Cooker Bolognese Recipe

What is bolognese?

Bolognese is a meat based sauce that comes from a place called Bologna, Italy, which is where it gets it’s name.

Bolognese is not the same thing as spaghetti or marinara sauce.  Marinara is a tomato based sauce filled with herbs and occasionally vegetables.  Bolognese is a meat based sauce that has just a little bit of tomato for flavor.

So if meaty sauce is your thing, then so is bolognese!

Can you put raw meat in the slow cooker?

You may have noticed that even though this is a slow cooker recipe, you have to brown your Italian sausage before putting it into the slow cooker.

Meat doesn’t necessarily have to be cooked before putting it in the slow cooker.  We often use raw chicken breasts, pork chops and roasts in the slow cooker.

However, the gentle heat of a slow cooker can’t brown meat, so if you are using a ground meat it is best to cook it before.

Cooking your ground meat before putting it in the slow cooker allows it to brown and gives it more flavor.

Cooking your bolognese in the slow cooker allows the tomatoes and other seasonings to simmer to give it the best flavor.

What kind of meat is used to make bolognese?

Bolognese is traditionally made with minced beef or pork.  We love using mild Italian ground sausage for our Slow Cooker Bolognese.

Slow Cooker Bolognese served over spaghetti on a plate
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How to make bolognese in the slow cooker:

Making Bolognese in your slow cooker is easier than you might think.

Simply brown the Italian sausage in a skillet, drain the excess grease and add it to the slow cooker.

Next, mix in all the other ingredients and let it cook on for 8 hours.

THAT’S IT!

Slow Cooker Bolognese served over spaghetti on a plate

This recipe can literally be thrown together in just a matter of minutes, but after that homemade bolognese sauce has been simmering all day it will taste like you spent hours slaving over it in the kitchen.

The other ingredients used in this Slow Cooker Bolognese include minced onion flakes, minced garlic, a can of crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, water, sugar, dried oregano, dried basil, fennel seed, salt and pepper.

We serve this Slow Cooker Bolognese over pasta after it is done cooking and top it with some grated Parmesan cheese.

You can serve this meat sauce over whatever pasta you prefer.

What to serve with Slow Cooker Bolognese:

We love serving this Slow Cooker Bolognese with our Easy Cheesy Garlic Bread and Fresh Italian Green Salad.

The best slow cooker Italian recipes:

Serves: 6

Slow Cooker Bolognese Recipe

Thick and flavorful bolognese sauce that is so easy to make.
Prep Time 15 mins
Cook Time 8 hrs
Total Time 8 hrs 15 mins
Print Pin

Ingredients

  • 1 pound ground Italian sausage
  • 3 Tablespoons minced onion flakes
  • 4 teaspoons minced garlic
  • 28 ounces crushed tomatoes 1 can
  • 6 ounces tomato paste 1 can
  • 1 cup water
  • 2 Tablespoons sugar
  • 1 Tablespoon dried oregano
  • 1 Tablespoon dried basil
  • 1 teaspoon fennel seed
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon pepper
  • 16 ounces whole wheat spaghetti noodles 1 package, cooked
  • 2 Tablespoons grated parmesan cheese optional topping

Instructions

  • Brown Italian sausage in a large skillet over medium-high heat, breaking into small pieces; drain and rinse well.
  • Spray slow cooker with nonstick cooking spray.
  • Add cooked sausage and mix in onion flakes, garlic, crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, water, sugar, oregano, basil, fennel seed, salt and pepper until well combined.
  • Cover and cook on low for 8 hours.
  • Serve over cooked pasta.
  • Top with Parmesan cheese, if desired.

Notes

  • Nutrition information does not include optional topping.

Nutrition

Calories: 614 kcal · Carbohydrates: 78 g · Protein: 26 g · Fat: 25 g · Saturated Fat: 9 g · Polyunsaturated Fat: 4 g · Monounsaturated Fat: 11 g · Cholesterol: 57 mg · Sodium: 4836 mg · Potassium: 1074 mg · Fiber: 4 g · Sugar: 13 g · Vitamin A: 737 IU · Vitamin C: 21 mg · Calcium: 139 mg · Iron: 7 mg

Equipment

  • Large Skillet
  • Non-stick Cooking Spray
  • Slow Cooker

Recipe Details

Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American

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Slow Cooker Bolognese on top of Spaghetti on a plate

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  2. Rachel says:
    March 1, 2012
    Looks yummy!

    Rachel
    Delish Life delidhvida.blogspot.com
    Reply
  3. Savannah McQueen says:
    March 2, 2012
    For the past few days I've been enjoying your site. Today I am hosting a pasta blog hop and I wondered if you'd be willing to link this up to it. Here is the link - http://www.hammocktracks.com/2012/03/savannahs-savory-bites-cajun-pork.html
    Thanks!
    Reply
  4. Erin says:
    March 2, 2012
    Looks like another good one to try! :-)

    Erin
    takingtimetocreate.blogspot.com
    Reply
  5. Purcelly =) says:
    March 4, 2012
    What can I use, other than crushed tomatoes? Kids aren't too crazy about tomatoes. :)
    Reply
  6. Tammie says:
    March 5, 2012
    How do you think it would taste without the meat?? Would it still be worth making?
    Reply
  7. Alison @ Oopsey Daisy says:
    March 5, 2012
    YUM! I want to try this! Thanks for sharing at oopsey daisy!
    Reply
  8. Six Sisters says:
    March 10, 2012
    @Tammie,

    I think this would still taste great without the meat!
    Reply
  9. Six Sisters says:
    March 10, 2012
    @Purcelly,

    I've heard of some people blending up their crushed tomatoes until they are completely smooth or just replacing the exact amount with tomato paste. I hope that helps!
    Reply
  11. LeAnne says:
    April 17, 2012
    This is a delicious recipe. I made it today for a second time. This time I added the water to my skillet after I browned and removed the sausage. It kicks up all the leftover bits of sausage and adds tons of flavor to the sauce.
    Reply
  12. OCali says:
    July 7, 2012
    I am enjoying your site and have found so many good recipes!! I am trying this one for tomorrow's dinner.
    Reply
  13. Allison says:
    August 23, 2012
    If you add 1 shredded zucchini and 1 shredded carrot it is healthy and also tastes great. The kids won't even know they are eating all those veggies. I have a similar marinara that I slow simmer on the stove. I always use fresh basil though, so much more flavor. I also make ground turkey meatballs to go with it. I'll have to add a little turkey sausage to mix it up next time. Thanks!
    Reply
  14. Lesley says:
    September 5, 2012
    Made this tonight. It was delish!!
    Reply
  15. Christina says:
    September 9, 2012
    Made this tonight, following the recipe exactly and it was fantastic! So easy. Thank you!
    Reply
  16. Carm says:
    February 14, 2013
    I made this last night; the family LOVED it!!
    Reply
  17. Amber Brady says:
    February 25, 2013
    FENNEL makes everything so yummy!
    Reply
  18. Kristen Miller says:
    March 8, 2013
    I made this last night with your cheesy breadsticks and it was a huge success. I even went one step further and made the sauce over the weekend (just cooked the sausage threw it in a freezer bag with everything else) and froze it all. Super easy!
    Reply
  19. Dena says:
    January 18, 2014
    This was a huge success, I got complaints I didn't make enough! Everyone wanted to take it for lunch the next day but they ate every bite at dinner. Thanks for sharing this!
    Reply
  20. Crystal says:
    April 22, 2014
    Loved this sauce, easy to make and it made the house smell yummy all day.
    Reply
  21. Jen says:
    May 8, 2014
    Every time I visit my in-laws or they visit us my Father-in-law requests I make this! He says it's the closest thing to Olive Garden's meat sauce (his favorite) that we've ever made at home, and he likes it even more. Thanks for the great recipes!! I have used two of the burger recipes from this blog and my husband is very impressed with me :)
    Reply
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