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Home » Easy Main Meals » Slow Cooker Spaghetti Bolognese

Slow Cooker Spaghetti Bolognese

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This Slow Cooker Spaghetti Bolognese recipe is one of my best. 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. 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.

spaghetti bolognese on a bed of pasta with broccoli.
Slow Cooker Spaghetti Bolognese

This is a big crowd pleaser in my house. It is a great one for batch cooking and  is so accommodating it's crazy.

It is savoury with a sweet edge brought to it by the carrots and ketchup. That is the reason my children love it so much.

The hidden veg in there also helps my parenting conscience. One of my children is vegetable phobic so any chance I get to sneak them down his throat makes me feel like Annabel Karmel.

Recipe

*There is a full printable recipe card at the bottom of the post.*

Ingredients

  • 500 grams (17 oz) beef mince
  • 500 grams (17 oz) passata
  • 1 sprig rosemary
  • 4 tbsp tomato ketchup
  • 2 medium carrots peeled
  • 1 large garlic clove
  • 1 tsp salt
  • half a tsp pepper
  • 2 tbsp flour
  • 2 tbsp olive oil

Equipment

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

Method

  • Add the mince to the slow cooker and sprinkle the flour on top. Using a wooden spoon or spatula mix the flour into the mince completely.
beef mince in the slow cooker with flour on top
  • Empty the passata, carrots, 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.
spaghetti bolognese ingredients in the slow cooker pot with a spatula
  • 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.
  • Taste for final seasoning.
slow cooker spaghetti sauce in a slow cooker pot
Spaghetti Bolognese

Serving Suggestions

  • I like to serve it with fresh egg pasta. Either tagliatelle 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.

Top Tips

  • Season well, this dish benefits from quite a bit of salt.
  • If you prefer it sweeter then add another 2 tbsps of ketchup or a tsp of sugar.
  • 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.

Equipment Required

IF YOU LIKE SLOW COOKER SPAGHETTI BOLOGNESE THEN YOU MIGHT LIKE

Slow Cooker Chicken Curry

Easy Slow Cooker Chicken Pasta

Slow Cooker Beef Casserole

Slow Cooker Sausage Casserole

Slow Cooker Beef Joint

Slow Cooker Chilli Con Carne

Slow Cooker Butternut Squash Risotto

Beef Tacos

Easy Slow Cooker Beef Stroganoff

slow cooker butternut squash risotto in a bowl with a spoon
Slow Cooker Butternut Squash Risotto
Slow Cooker Spaghetti Bolognese on a bed of pasta with some broccoli.

Slow Cooker Spaghetti Bolognese

Apply To Face Blog
This recipe for Slow Cooker Spaghetti Bolognese is a firm family favourite. It is absolutely delicious and so low effort it's scandalous.
4.67 from 6 votes
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 5 mins
Cook Time 6 hrs
Total Time 6 hrs 5 mins
Course Main Course
Cuisine Italian
Servings 4
Calories 295 kcal

Ingredients
 

  • 500 grams beef mince
  • 500 grams tomato passata
  • 1 sprig rosemary
  • 4 tbsps tomato ketchup
  • 2 medium/large carrots peeled
  • 1 large garlic clove minced
  • 1 tsp salt may need more
  • ½ tsp pepper
  • 2 tbsp flour
  • 2 tbsp olive oil

Instructions
 

  • Grate or blitz in the food processor 2 medium/large carrots. Gently fry them in a large frying pan in the olive oil for a couple of minutes add the minced garlic and fry for a couple more minutes.
  • Empty 500 grams/ 17.5 oz mince into the frying pan. Break it up well and brown for a couple of minutes over a medium heat. Shake over 2 tbsp flour and mix well until the flour is no longer visible. You can also just put the mince in raw to the slow cooker pot and sprinkle with flour before adding the carrots and carrying on as normal.
  • Empty it all into the slow cooker pot. Tip the 500 mls of passata, 3 tbsp of ketchup and salt and pepper on top and stir through.

  • Push in the rosemary sprig and put the lid on. Cook on low for 4 hours. It will be ok for 6 but not for any longer as it may start to burn on the bottom of the pot.
  • Scoop out the rosemary  when you are ready to go. I try not to stir it to keep the rosemary all in one place so I can remove it easily.

Video

Notes

This keeps in the fridge very well. I simply reheat until piping hot in the microwave or in a saucepan.
Season to taste. I have given 1 tsp as a guide. But you may well need more. Seasoning is very important.
Nutrition information is meant only as an approximate guide.

Nutrition

Calories: 295kcal | Carbohydrates: 14g | Protein: 29g | Fat: 14g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Cholesterol: 78mg | Sodium: 1047mg | Potassium: 804mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 7g | Vitamin A: 362IU | Vitamin C: 17mg | Calcium: 65mg | Iron: 5mg

All nutritional information is approximate and intended only as a guide.

Keyword Spaghetti Bolognese
Tried this recipe?Take a pic and tag @applytofaceblog on Instagram. I would so love to see them!

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Comments

  1. libarah

    February 08, 2019 at 11:38 am

    Wow looks delish!!!

    Reply
    • applytofaceblog

      February 16, 2019 at 6:47 am

      Thank you! It so is xx

      Reply
  2. Corina Blum

    February 08, 2019 at 12:38 pm

    This sounds delicious! I need to try making a bolognese in the slow cooker too now - I haven't used my slow cooker for ages!

    Reply
    • applytofaceblog

      February 16, 2019 at 6:46 am

      I'm a little bit obsessed! They make life so easy!xx

      Reply
  3. Rebecca Smith

    February 08, 2019 at 8:33 pm

    How bizarre that I make my chilli's in the slow cooker but never my spaghetti bolognese, this recipe is simple to to follow and has inspired me to get my cooker out of the cupboard - thank you x

    Reply
    • applytofaceblog

      February 16, 2019 at 6:46 am

      Thank you! It really is sooo easy and sooo delicious xx

      Reply
  4. Jacqui

    February 09, 2019 at 7:33 pm

    what a great idea I always think the longer a spag bol is cooked the better. Thank you for sharing on #CookBlogShare

    Reply
    • applytofaceblog

      February 16, 2019 at 6:45 am

      Thanks Jacqui! I agree. It goes all deep and unctuous!

      Reply
  5. Eb Gargano

    February 11, 2019 at 2:19 pm

    Got a love a slow cooker spag bol - perfect winter comfort food!! Eb x

    Reply
    • applytofaceblog

      February 16, 2019 at 6:39 am

      Thank you! Such a winner!x

      Reply
  6. Anna | Once Upon a Food Blog

    February 14, 2019 at 10:34 am

    Ooh, this looks yummy. It would disappear in a flash in my house too!

    Reply
    • applytofaceblog

      February 16, 2019 at 6:38 am

      Thank you. I think it is my family's favourite mid week tea. No moaning from anyone....a miracle!

      Reply

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Hi, I'm Jenny Walters. A mother of two and passionate filler of bellies with stress free, simple and delicious recipes that gladden the soul. I am at heart a home cook.

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