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slow cooker bolognese sauce tossed with fresh Italian pasta and swirled with a silver fork on a white plate
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5 from 5 votes

Slow Cooker Bolognese Sauce

Slow cooker Bolognese sauce is the best meat sauce you could dream of. A combination of ground beef and sausage simmer slowly to make a homemade sauce any Italian grandma would be proud of with just a fraction of the work. The drool worthy aroma and incredible taste will make this a recipe you will want to put on repeat!
Prep Time20 minutes
Cook Time10 hours
Total Time10 hours 20 minutes
Course: Dinner, Sauce
Cuisine: American, Italian
Servings: 12 servings
Calories: 542kcal
Author: Meaghan @ 4 Sons R Us

Ingredients

  • 3 tbsp butter
  • 1 medium white onion minced
  • 1 carrot minced
  • 2 stalks celery minced
  • pinch salt
  • 1 can tomato paste
  • 4 tsp minced garlic
  • 1 tsp dried oregano
  • 1/4 tsp dried thyme
  • 1/8 tsp ground nutmeg
  • freshly ground black pepper to taste
  • 1/2 cup white wine
  • 1 cup panko breadcrumbs
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • 2 lbs ground beef
  • 1 1/2 lbs ground Italian sausage
  • 2 28 oz cans crushed tomatoes
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 1/3 cup Parmesan cheese
US Customary - Metric

Instructions

  • Add the butter to a large, heavy bottomed skillet set over medium heat.
  • Once melted add the onion, carrots, and celery. Sprinkle the salt over top, and stir the veggies to combine. Sauté the mixture until the veggies are nice and soft, roughly 8-10 minutes.
  • Add in the tomato pasta and seasonings, stirring gently to combine. Let the mixture cook for 2-3 minutes.
  • Remove the pan from heat, pour in the wine, and stir to deglaze the skillet. Make sure to scrape up any browned bits from the bottom as you go. Set the vegetable mixture aside.
  • To the bowl of your slow cooker add the bread crumbs, heavy cream, meats, and ground pepper. Stir them together to combine. Alternatively, you can use your hands to thoroughly knead it all together.
  • Stir in the vegetable mixture and the tomatoes until everything's evenly combined. Add the bay leaves.
  • Cover the slow cooker with it's lid, and cook the sauce on low for 10 hours. Stirring 2-3 times during the cooking process, and breaking up any large chunks of meat with a sturdy wooden spoon.
  • Stir a final time, again breaking up any meat chunks as you do so, and carefully taste and adjust salt & pepper, as needed.
  • Serve over freshly cooked pasta noodles and enjoy!

Nutrition

Calories: 542kcal | Carbohydrates: 10g | Protein: 24g | Fat: 44g | Saturated Fat: 19g | Cholesterol: 133mg | Sodium: 701mg | Potassium: 574mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 1506IU | Vitamin C: 6mg | Calcium: 98mg | Iron: 3mg