Slow cooker spaghetti bolognese is a staple in our household. I try to vary up our weekday meals as much as I can, but this one seems to feature more frequently than most!
It’s just so quick and easy to make, I usually just add it all in and set it off, no pre cooking or fussing about with other pots and pans.
How Do You Make Spaghetti Bolognese In A Slow Cooker?
Making Bolognese in a slow cooker is really easy. You can either put it all in raw or brown the mince off first. I talk about this more further down.
I used to always brown my mince before putting in the slow cooker for Bolognese, but now, I rarely do!
Ingredients
For exact measurements scroll down to the recipe card!
- Mincemeat – usually beef, but you can substitute for pork, chicken or turkey. 500g is enough for 4 servings but I normally use 750g as there are 5 of us!
- Onion, garlic, red pepper
- Bay leaves – don’t forget to take these out at the end!
- Passata and/or chopped tomatoes – I tend to use 2 x 400g cartons, or 1 of each. If you have some tasty fresh tomatoes you can use an equivalent amount of these instead.
- Tomato puree, Worcestershire sauce, dried mixed herbs and 1 beef stock cube/pot.
You Might Also Like: Mince Recipes For Your Slow Cooker
How Long Does Spaghetti Bolognese Take To Cook In A Slow Cooker?
I prefer to cook Bolognese on low in the slow cooker – it helps the meat turn really tender and full of flavour. I have been known to leave my Bolognese on low for as long as 10 hours, at a minimum I would leave it on low for 6 hours. If time isn’t on your side you can cook it on high in 4 to 5 hours.
Suggested Extras
You can add any extras you wish to a slow cooker Bolognese. Here are some suggestions;
- red wine (about 100ml)
- celery
- carrots
- chilli
- bacon
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Serve With
Aside from cooked spaghetti, it also tastes great with your favourite cheese grated on top. Oh and some garlic dough balls or garlic bread are also welcome!
Can You Put Raw Mince In A Slow Cooker?
Yes you can. You can put any raw meat in a slow cooker and it will cook just fine. But some recipes just taste better when the meat has been seared beforehand – but really it’s a matter of personal taste – and time!
I used to brown the mince (with the onions) in a pan before putting it in the slow cooker but now I just add it all in raw!
Of course, if you have one of those wonderful Morphy Richards Sear and Stew slow cookers you may as well go ahead and brown off that meat!
You can also make it in an electric pressure cooker. Check out my Instant Pot Spaghetti Bolognese recipe.
How To Store Spaghetti Bolognese
Have you got any leftovers? Once the mince has completely cooled down you can store it in the fridge for up to 5 days, or freeze it for 3 months.
You can also turn it into a Bolognese soup in the soup maker!
Let me know in the comments if you make this recipe – what extras do you add?
This recipe appears in my slow cooker recipe book.
Slow Cooker Recipe Book: 100 Slow Cooker Recipes
100 easy to make, tried and tested UK recipes including;
- Chilli Peanut Coconut Chicken
- Beef & Sweet Potato Stew
- Chocolate Lava Cake - and many more!
Slow Cooker Spaghetti Bolognese
Ingredients
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 500 g lean beef steak mince
- 400 g tin chopped tomatoes
- 400 g passata
- 3 tbsp tomato puree
- 1 onion chopped
- 1 red pepper deseeded and chopped
- 3 bay leaves
- 3 cloves garlic crushed
- 1 tsp mixed dry herbs
- 1 beef stock cube crumbled
Instructions
- Heat the olive oil in a saucepan and gently saute the chopped onions. Add the mince and brown off. This step is optional, you can skip this step if you don’t have the time and just add everything straight to the slow cooker.
- Add all the ingredients, including the mince and onions, to your slow cooker and stir together.
- Set on low for 7 to 10 hours or high for 4 – 5 hours.
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Notes
Nutrition
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Dave
Wednesday 28th of December 2022
Spaghetti bolognaise on the slow cooker function of ninja 14 to 1. Will update on taste later.
Shaun
Wednesday 2nd of February 2022
This was delicious...i substituted the tin of tomatoes and pasatta with a large jar of cheap bolognese sauce and didn't add the peppers.
Anne-Marie McDermott
Monday 25th of January 2021
It's not just the kids that need to eat more veg... It's a great way for anyone to add in more veg and 'bulk up' the bolognese - I've often added in peel diced courgettes - I think the Americans call them zucchini and also leeks - and if there's a few tomatoes lying around, about to go soft, they're chucked in too.
Michelle Marshall
Sunday 10th of January 2021
I use red onions as it gives it that little.sweet flavour that the kids seem. To forget there's all that veg in there and always want another plate lol so win win in my house.....
Liana Green
Tuesday 12th of January 2021
Great idea Michelle - I agree, anything that tempts the kids to eat more veg is a winner!