Slow Cooker Spaghetti Bolognese

This Slow Cooker Spaghetti Bolognese recipe is one of my best. Really simple but really delicious. Absolutely perfect for a super easy mid week meal. Everyone in my house LOVES it and I would even call it stupendous on the taste front. A heady claim I knows.

Slow Cooker Spaghetti sauce is a big crowd pleaser in my house. It is a great one for batch cooking and, in a rush, I have even put the  mince in the slow cooker without browning. It is so accommodating it’s crazy.

But first some rage….

. This last two weeks I have been plagued with The Menopausal Rage. From where it has come I am not aware and now that it has gone I feel emotionally exhausted. What a “Flippin Liberty.” Who knew it could come in on a Tuesday calm as you like, without warning and produce such a fury that you would swear it was real.

The fact I haven’t drop kicked the poor children out of the car five mins in from school pick up proves I have a steely self control that I did not know I possessed. Well done me…..sort of.

It seems that as each emotional wave hits, it stays for longer and gets stronger. Seriously……. The one thing that I cling on to is knowing that it will pass.

The more disorganised I become the more I feel it. To that end I have started back on my treadmill and taken up yoga with my sporty friend.

She definitely has her wotsit together, she’s younger. It has taken me a month not only to commit but to finally find some sporty bottoms that didn’t show my raging cellulite or muffin tops.

I’m not sure who I’m kidding

I really quite like it…..

Who knew a bit of downward dogging could be so calming….

 

Slow Cooker Spaghetti Bolognese

This recipe for Spaghetti Bolognese is one of my family’s favourites and a perfect easy midweek meal. This slow cooker spaghetti sauce is just incredible.

Without fail they will always clear their plates. I know it’s a fail safe and that is worth it’s weight in gold. My children still make retching noises at half of the meals I produce, leaving me wondering why the flip I bother……but not this this one. This one they ask for seconds.

It has such a lack of ingredients every time I make it I am incredulous. It is a true bish, bash, bosh recipe that shouldn’t taste so good but it so does.

I have tried adding to it but it never tastes any better and in fact it’s not so good. So don’t tinker with it busy people just let it be and you won’t be disappointed.

It is deeply mellow with just the right amount of sweetness and the rosemary flavours it so expertly you’re in Umbria at 5pm on a Wednesday evening. Wallop.

STEP 1 -Browning The Mince

Firstly I grate or blitz the chopped carrots in the food processor until they are titchy. I then fry them along with the minced garlic in a large frying pan for a couple of mins in some olive oil.

Then I add the mince and brown it over a medium heat. Scatter the two tbsps of flour over the top and stir until well incorporated.

Tip the mince mixture into the slow cooker pot.

STEP 2 – Adding the bolognese sauce ingredients

Empty the passata, salt and pepper into the slow cooker pot along with the ketchup and stir to combine. 

Push the rosemary sprigs into the mixture and place the lid on top. Cook on low for 4 hours. You can leave it for longer if you are at work all day but 6 hours is the longest. Any more and it can start to burn on the bottom. However all slow cookers are different so you may find you can leave it longer in yours.

Slow Cooker Spaghetti Bolognese Tips

• You can make this without browning the mince first. I place the mince in the slow cooker and add the flour. Mix it well into the mince then add the rest of the ingredients on top. Give a quick stir and then cook as normal.
• A point to mention is that you can make this in a large frying pan or saucepan too. It doesn’t have to be made just in a slow cooker. Let the bolognese bubble in the pan on a low heat for 45 minutes. Stir occasionally.
• I try not to stir too much  as it will cause the leaves to come off the rosemary sprigs and my children don’t like to munch on them. I scoop them out before serving.
• Don’t omit the flour as it thickens the spaghetti sauce.
• Use the best mince you can afford. It does make a difference. 
• Reheat the leftovers in the microwave covered until piping hot for super easy midweek meals.

 

What To Serve With Slow Cooker Spaghetti Bolognese.

I like to serve it with fresh egg pasta. Either tagliatelli or spaghetti. I tend to keep it frozen in the freezer for readiness.

If it suits you though dried pasta is perfectly fine. Wholewheat spaghetti is very good too. My children don’t notice the difference and it is a great healthy choice.

I find that 300 grams of fresh pasta feeds our family of four (2 children) really easily although the official amount is 100 grams per person.

I also tend to always include green veg. I love broccoli or french beans dusted with black pepper.

A Jacket Potato or Potato Wedges  would work very well too as would white long grain rice. White rice is usually about 60 grams dried rice per person.

I like to top with a little grated cheese. Real and proper comfort food.

Equipment Required

• Standard Slow Cooker
• Food Processor or Grater for carrots
• Saucepan
• Large Frying Pan
• Wooden Spoon
• Digital Scales
• Tbsp measure
• Garlic crush

Here are some other fabulous slow cooker recipes to try.

Slow Cooker Beef Joint

Slow Cooker Chilli Con Carne

Slow Cooker Sausage Casserole

Slow Cooker Beef Casserole

I have linked this recipe with Cook, Blog, Share over at Recipes Made Easy

Fiesta Friday with Angie and Jhuls @ The Not So Creative Cook 

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