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Crock Pot Spaghetti

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Crock Pot Spaghetti is a slow cooker pasta dish where the meat sauce simmers for hours, and the uncooked spaghetti cooks directly in the sauce for a rich, flavorful one-pot meal.

Ingredients

  • 1 lb (450 g) ground beef or a mix of beef and Italian sausage
  • 1 onion, chopped
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 28 oz (800 g) crushed tomatoes or tomato sauce
  • 2 tbsp tomato paste (optional)
  • 1 tbsp Italian seasoning
  • Salt and black pepper, to taste
  • 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes (optional)
  • 2–3 cups chicken broth or water
  • 12 oz (340 g) dry spaghetti noodles
  • Parmesan cheese, for serving
  • Optional add-ins: mushrooms, cream cheese, shredded mozzarella, fresh herbs

Instructions

  1. Brown the ground meat with onion and garlic in a skillet over medium heat. Drain excess fat.
  2. Transfer the cooked meat to a 6-quart slow cooker.
  3. Add crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, Italian seasoning, salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes. Stir to combine.
  4. Cover and cook on LOW for 5–6 hours or HIGH for 3–4 hours.
  5. About 1.5 hours before serving, add the dry spaghetti, breaking in half if needed. Pour in chicken broth or water and stir to submerge the noodles.
  6. Cover and cook on LOW for 1–1.5 hours, stirring every 30 minutes to prevent sticking.
  7. Once pasta is tender, stir in optional add-ins like cream cheese or mozzarella.
  8. Serve hot with Parmesan and fresh herbs.

Notes

  • Stir pasta every 30 minutes after adding to prevent clumping.
  • Use extra liquid if using whole wheat or gluten-free pasta.
  • Add tomato paste to thicken the sauce if needed.
  • Vegetarian version works well with plant-based meat or added vegetables.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://thefamilycooking.com/crock-pot-spaghetti/