I started this Crockpot Spaghetti Sauce recipe when I was in College! I was in the big kitchen of our fraternity with this Crockpot. It was headed to the garbage pile, and I had never seen one before, so I saved it. Anyway, I am in this big kitchen, wondering what I should cook. I had most of the makings for what I would later name lol, Crockpot Spaghetti Sauce.
Making it in the crockpot gave the sauce time to mix all the ingredients together. At least that is what I am thinking, seeing as how this is my first attempt at Crockpot Spaghetti or anything. This is what came out of that experiment: a rich and creamy sauce. Over the next couple of years, I perfected it, and I share it with you, from my kitchen to yours:
Step-by-Step Guide for Crockpot Spaghetti Sauce:
Ingredients:
- 1 lb. ground beef (hamburger)
- 1 lb. Spicy Jimmy Dean Sausage
- 1 can (29 oz) Hunt’s tomato sauce
- 1 can (14.5 oz) Hunt’s diced tomatoes
- 1 small can (6 oz) Hunt’s tomato paste
- 1 medium yellow onion, diced
- 1 green bell pepper, diced
- 1 cup mushrooms, sliced (really optional)
- 3–4 cloves of garlic, minced or finely chopped
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 2-3 bay leaves
- 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper; adjust to taste
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- Green Tabasco: adjust to your taste
- Salt & Pepper to your taste
- Olive oil for sautéing
Instructions:
- In a large skillet over medium-high heat, add a little olive oil and brown the ground beef. Then the Spicy Jimmy Dean Sausage chops the sausage into smaller bits as it cooks. Once fully cooked, drain the fat and put the meat into the Crockpot.
- Next, you add the diced Onion, Green Pepper, and sliced mushrooms (if using) to the same pan. Sauté this mixture of Veggies until they become soft. Add the minced garlic and cook for an additional 1-2 minutes, or until it starts to brown.
- Transfer the sautéed vegetables to the Crockpot with the meat.
- Now, add the Hunt’s Tomato Sauce, Diced Tomatoes, and Tomato Paste to the crockpot to give the sauce texture. Stir everything together until satisfied that it is well mixed..
- Next, you will Season the Sauce with Italian Seasoning, Bay Leaves, Cayenne Pepper, and Dried Oregano. Adjust the seasoning with Salt & Pepper to taste.
- Add a few dashes of Green Tabasco Sauce to provide the required spiciness. I found this quite by accident, but it is delicious. Adjust the amount based on heat and spiciness; be careful; it has a very distinct taste.
- Mix Up the Sauce so that all the ingredients are evenly distributed, and set the Crockpot Spaghetti to cook on low heat for 6–8 hours or on high heat for 3–4 hours.
- About 30 minutes before, taste the sauce and adjust the seasoning if needed. Heck, you can taste the sauce as often as you like. Yummy. You can add more spices if needed to achieve the desired taste.
- Once the sauce is ready to go, remove the bay leaves before you serve. Using a ladle, cover the Cooked Spaghetti or your favorite Pasta with the Sauce.
- For the finishing touches, you can sprinkle grated Parmesan Cheese on top and know you have an excellent meal.
Crockpot Spaghetti Fit for Royalty
This slow cooking will help all the flavors mix together and create a Spaghetti Sauce Fit for Royalty. Enjoy your homemade Crockpot Spaghetti Sauce made in the Crockpot with a love of Cooking things that make the people around you sit up and take notice 🙂
Visit Waldo Family Recipes to discover dishes like my grandmother’s amazing Crockpot Spaghetti and Potatoes Au Gratin. Years ago, I was fortunate to obtain a copy of the recipe, and I still have it. I’m going to start the Recipe Cooking Blog with these two dishes. So check back and see what you think about these two.
Red or White Wine
Speaking of Royalty, we should probably be talking about Fine Wine. Which Fine Wine do you think we should use to pair with our Spicy Crockpot Spaghetti sauce?
When pairing wine with a Spicy Crockpot Spaghetti Sauce like the one we made. I is best to choose a wine that can compare with how full and spicy our dish is, while cutting through the acidic flavor of the tomatoes. I recommend a medium bodied Red Wine with some spice, which would go great with this meal.
Here are a Few of the Fine Wines I Recommend:
- Chianti: Chianti is a classic Italian Red Wine from the Tuscany region. It has a rich bouquet of acidity, cherry fruit flavors, and a bit of earthiness, making it a great compliment for your spaghetti sauce and tomato-based sauces on the whole.
- Sangiovese: Sangiovese is another of the Italian red grape wines that are used in Chianti blends. It shares the rich bouquet of acidity and red fruity flavors, making it a great pairing for our Spaghetti Sauce.
- Zinfandel: A California Zinfandel will be a great choice as well. It’s a mildly spicy wine that can complement the flavors of your spicy spaghetti sauce and the sausage, primarily.
- Pinot Noirs: A wonderful choice of a slightly chilled Fine Wine would be a great choice in this instance. The Wine has a slight bite to it, making it a great choice for our Spicy Spaghetti Sauce.
Remember to have your wine mildly chilled, between 55-65°F, and don’t be stingy. Try a few sips with your Spaghetti Sauce to figure out the perfect pairing that you like. Everyone’s palette is different. Cheers and enjoy your spaghetti sauce and whichever one of the wines you’ve picked as the Pairing Winner
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