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Slow Cooker Bolognese Sauce is a classic sauce that is rich and hearty. It is cooked low and slow in the crock pot.
When it comes to pasta and Italian dishes I will always choose a bolognese sauce. A bolognese is a classic Italian meat sauce. It can be served over pasta or used in a lasagna.
One of the tricks to a really good meat sauce is letting it cook long and slow. The longer it simmers, the thicker and richer the sauce gets. The slow cooker is the perfect place to let that happen!
What Kind of Meat Should I Use?
I like to use a combination of ground beef and ground pork but you could use all ground beef if you prefer. Traditionally, it is also made with pancetta but we are using bacon instead which is easier to find.
Bolognese Ingredients
- Bacon
- Carrots
- Celery
- Onion
- Tomatoes
- Ground Beef/Ground Pork
- Seasonings. Parsley, Oregano, Basil
How to Make Slow Cooker Bolognese Sauce
- Saute vegetables in butter until soft. Add into slow cooker.
- Brown meat and add into slow cooker.
- Cook bacon until crisp and break into small pieces. Add into slow cooker.
- Add in crushed tomatoes and seasoning.
- Cook on low for 6 hours.
- Serve over pasta and garnish with grated Parmesan cheese
What Kind of Pasta Goes with Bolognese Sauce?
I typically use a basic spaghetti noodle because that is what I usually have in my pantry but I also love it served with a thicker noodle such as tagliatelle, pappardelle and fettuccine. The thicker noodle gives that yummy sauce more real estate to hold onto. This sauce also makes a wonderful lasagna.
For other pasta dishes try these:
- Macaroni Grill Penne Rustica
- Spaghetti with Meat Sauce
- Chicken Sausage and Spinach Pasta
- Vegetable Pasta
- Pasta e fagioli
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Slow Cooker Bolognese Sauce Recipe
Slow Cooker Bolognese Sauce
Ingredients
- 4 strips bacon cooked crisp and crumbled
- 1 Tbsp butter
- 1/2 cup yellow onion diced
- 1 cup celery diced
- 1 cup carrot diced
- 1 1/2 lbs. lean ground beaf
- 56 oz. cans crushed tomatoes two 28oz cans
- 1 Tbsp dried parsley
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- 1 tsp dried basil
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Saute vegetables in butter for about 5 minutes.
- In another pan brown hamburger
- Cook bacon until crisp and crumble
- Add everything into slow cooker
- Add tomatoes and seasonings.
- Cook on low for 6 hours
Tips & Notes:
Recommended Products
Nutrition Facts:
Originally posted November 14, 2013
Lucy Mishler says
I have your crockpot cookbook, and have given many copies as gifts, and I am going to make, for the first time, the bolognese recipe that calls for sausage and ground beef. Just was curious why you left out the carrots and celery that were included in this website crockpot recipe?
Leigh Anne Wilkes says
I actually did this recipe before the cookbook recipe and added them in for the cookbook, as an updated recipe.
Lucy Mishler says
It was amazing!!!!
anna says
have you ever used ground turkey instead of beef in this recipe? looks delicious!
Leigh Anne says
I haven’t but I’m sure it would work great.
Mary Lynn says
What is wrong with me, that I dislike Bacon? With just 4 strips, does this have a strong, bacon flavor? Maybe, I could use two.
Leigh Anne says
You could easily leave the bacon out of this – doesn’t have a strong bacon taste at all.
Mary Lynn says
This will make a great dish for Sunday’s dinner. Thank you.
Leigh Anne says
It is perfect for Sundays or any night! Enjoy