Slow Cooker Spaghetti Bolognese

There’s something so comforting about a big bowl of spaghetti bolognese, it’s a classic that never gets old. This slow cooker version is one of my favourite “dump and go” meals: no browning, no fuss, just tip everything in and let it simmer away while you get on with your day.

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What You Need

For exact measurements and concise instructions please scroll down to the recipe card.

Beef Steak Mince – I like to use 5% or 10% fat mince for a good balance between flavour and richness. No need to brown it beforehand.

Onion + Garlic – Adds a gentle sweetness and depth of flavour to the sauce. You can use brown, or even a red onion, whatever you have on hand.

Chopped Tomatoes – I usually go for Mutti chopped tomatoes (you can buy them on Amazon or most supermarkets) as they have a lovely rich flavour and a thicker consistency. However, other brands of chopped tomatoes work well too, go with your favourite.

Tomato Purée – boosts the tomato richness and helps thicken the sauce. Don’t skip this one!

Beef Stock Cube – I have recently been using the beef stock pots with the red wine in them, but in the past I have used beef stock cubes such as Oxo.

Dried Oregano & Basil – you can substitute with dried mixed herbs if that’s what you’ve got.

Bay Leaves – I used one or two dried bay leaves, just don’t forget to remove them before serving 🙂

Worcestershire Sauce – this optional but I love to add a splash in!

Red Wine – if I have some about I will add some to this for a richer flavour, but it’s totally optional.

Making It (No Browning Required!)

Making bolognese in a slow cooker is really easy. You can either put it all in raw or brown the mince off first. I used to always brown my mince before putting in the slow cooker for Bolognese, but now, I rarely do!

Add the mince, chopped onion, garlic, tins of chopped tomatoes, tomato purée, stock, herbs, Worcestershire sauce, red wine if you are using it, and the bay leaves all go straight in.

Use a spoon to break up the mince a bit and mix everything together. You just want to make sure all the ingredients are well combined and evenly spread out.
Then, set your slow cooker to the right setting and get on with your day:

• Low for 7 to 10 hours
• High for 4 to 5 hours

This recipe is super forgiving, I usually put it on in the morning and don’t think about it again until dinner time.

Once it’s done, give it a little taste. Add salt and pepper if it needs it. If the sauce is looking a bit thin, just take the lid off for the last 20 to 30 minutes and let it thicken up a bit, or you can make up a cornflour slurry to thicken it up. And don’t forget to fish out the bay leaves before serving.

If you are having it with spaghetti you can either stir the cooked spaghetti into the slow cooker or serve them together on the plate.

What To Serve With Bolognese

• The classic: over cooked spaghetti, with lots of grated cheese
• Add garlic bread or dough balls on the side for a proper comfort meal
• Spoon over a baked potato for a quick lunch
• Stir through cooked pasta, top with cheese, and bake for an easy pasta bake
• Or pop it in the freezer for a dinner on another day

Storage & Freezing

Freezer: Cool completely, portion out, and freeze for up to 3 months. Defrost overnight in the fridge or microwave from frozen.

Fridge: Keeps well in an airtight container for up to 4 days.

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 slow cookers with a built in sear function you may as well go ahead and brown off that meat.

You can also make it in an electric pressure cooker:

• Ninja Foodi Bolognese
• Instant Pot Bolognese

A variation of this recipe appears in my slow cooker recipe book.

More Slow Cooker Beef Recipes

• Slow Cooker Chilli Con Carne
• Slow Cooker Beef Keema
• Slow Cooker Beef Stew
• Slow Cooker Beef Brisket
• Slow Cooker Beef and Broccoli

Slow Cooker Spaghetti Bolognese

By Liana Green

A rich, comforting slow cooker spaghetti bolognese recipe with no browning required — just a quick prep, then let your slow cooker do all the hard work. Perfect for busy weeknights, batch cooking, or feeding a hungry family.

4.50 from 67 votes

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Course Slow Cooker Recipes

Cuisine Italian

Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 7 hours hrs

Total Time 7 hours hrs 10 minutes mins

Servings 4 people

Calories 264 kcal

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Equipment

slow cooker recipe book

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x

• 500 g beef steak mince
• 1 onion finely chopped
• 2 cloves garlic roughly chopped
• 2 ribs celery chopped
• 2 carrots chopped
• 800 g chopped tomatoes (2 x 400g tins)
• 2 tbsp tomato purée
• 1 beef stock cube crumbled
• 1 tsp dried oregano or mixed herbs
• 1 tsp dried basil or mixed herbs
• 1 bay leaves
• 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
• 100 ml red wine optional

Instructions

 

• Add all the ingredients to your slow cooker, including the mince, vegetables, chopped tomatoes, tomato purée, herbs, stock cube, Worcestershire sauce, red wine if using, and bay leaves.
• Stir everything together to break up the mince and ensure the ingredients are evenly combined.
• Cook on low for 7–10 hours, or high for 4–5 hours. It’s a very forgiving recipe, perfect for busy days.
• Before serving, remove the bay leaves and season with salt and pepper to taste. If the sauce is too thin, leave the lid off for the final 20–30 minutes to allow it to thicken naturally.

Video

Notes

Serve with cooked spaghetti, grated cheese and garlic bread/dough balls!

Nutrition

Serving: 1Calories: 264kcalCarbohydrates: 17gProtein: 30gFat: 7gSaturated Fat: 3gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.5gMonounsaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 0.4gCholesterol: 78mgSodium: 706mgPotassium: 1116mgFiber: 4gSugar: 9gVitamin A: 5468IUVitamin C: 25mgCalcium: 115mgIron: 6mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an estimate.

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