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    Home » Recipes » Slow Cooker

    Slow Cooker Spag Bol (No Browning)

    Published: Jan 26, 2022 · Modified: Nov 24, 2022 by Beth Sachs · As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases · 4 Comments

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
    SLow Cooker Spag Bol pin image.

    An easy slow cooker spag bol, perfect for busy weekdays or lazy weekends! It's rich, tender, and oh-so tasty!

    There's no browning required in this slow cooker bolognese recipe, so just put all of your ingredients in your slow cooker, give it a stir, and switch it on! I love minimal prep, maximum-taste recipes like this.

    Slow cooker bolognese in a slow cooker.
    Bolognese Sauce in Slow Cooker

    This super tasty slow cooker spag bol is on a regular rotation in my house! The kids love it, the adults love it, everyone loves it! Therefore it's a definite win in my book.

    Cooking bolognese long and slow in a crockpot or slow cooker results in meltingly tender meat and a rich and flavourful sauce.

    You just can't beat it, especially when it's served with freshly grated Parmesan cheese and garlic bread!

    👩‍🍳 Love bolognese? Try my chicken bolognese recipe too!

    Jump to:
    • ✔️ Why you'll love this recipe!
    • 🛒 Ingredients
    • 🥄 Equipment
    • 🔪 How to make spaghetti bolognese in a slow cooker
    • 💭 Top tips
    • 🍴 Serving suggestions
    • 📖 Variations
    • 🥡 Storage
    • ❓ FAQs
    • 😋 More bolognese recipes
    • Recipe
    • 💬 Comments

    ✔️ Why you'll love this recipe!

    Here's why this is the best slow cooker spaghetti bolognese recipe!

    • Dump and go slow cooker recipe.
    • Minimal hands on prep.
    • No browning required.
    • Perfect for batch cooking.
    • Freezer-friendly.

    🛒 Ingredients

    Ingredients needed to make bolognese in a slow cooker.
    • Beef Mince - it's best to use lean steak mince (less than 5% fat), if you're not browning the mince first.
    • Bacon - finely chopped streaky bacon adds a lovely salty flavour to the dish.
    • Onion, garlic, carrot, and celery for the soffrito base. Chop the vegetables as finely as you can, especially if you have fussy eaters in the house!
    • Passata - or use a tin of chopped tomatoes if you prefer a chunkier textured bolognese.
    • Tomato Puree - adds depth to the ragu sauce.
    • Sugar - to balance the acidity of the tomatoes.
    • Beef Stock Pot - there's no need to dilute it with water as there is plenty of liquid in the recipe already.
    • Red Wine Vinegar - or use a splash of red wine.
    • Worcestershire Sauce - substitute with half a teaspoon of marmite for the same deep savoury flavour.
    • Milk - helps tenderise the meat and balances the acidity of the tomatoes.
    • Herbs - bay leaves and oregano. Fresh or dried!
    • Salt and pepper for seasoning, and fresh herbs such as basil or parsley for garnish.
    • Spaghetti - or another long pasta.

    🥄 Equipment

    Which slow cooker? I use a Morphy Richards Sear and Stew 6.5 litre slow cooker, which means I can brown and slow cook in the same pot as the slow cooker pot is safe to use on the hob! The 6.5 litre capacity serves 6-8 main portions, so it’s ideal for families and those that like batch cooking. There is also a 3.5 litre version for smaller households!

    A mini chopper also comes in handy for speedy chopping of vegetables like onion, garlic and carrots! It’s also a great way of hiding vegetables from fussy kids.

    🔪 How to make spaghetti bolognese in a slow cooker

    The recipe card with ingredient quantities and detailed instructions can be found at the bottom of the post

    One: Place the finely chopped vegetables in the base of the slow cooker basin.

    Two: Add the minced beef and bacon. Start breaking the beef up a bit with a wooden spoon.

    Three: Add all of the other ingredients and mix with a wooden spoon until everything is combined and there are no big lumps of minced beef left. Cook on low for 6-8 hours, or high for 5. In order to thicken the sauce without using cornflour, take the lid off for the last hour of cooking.

    Making bolognese in a slow cooker.

    💭 Top tips

    • This recipe doesn't require browning of the vegetables and minced beef prior to cooking them in the slow cooker. Therefore, it's best to use very lean minced beef (5% fat) so you don't get a layer of fat on top of the sauce. You'll also need to cut your vegetables as small as possible to ensure they become tender and 'melt' into the ragu during slow cooking. I use a mini chopper for this!
    • The minced beef will need to be broken up with a wooden spoon as you mix all of the ingredients together in the slow cooker. Don't leave any large lumps lingering.
    • You can use dried or fresh herbs. If you're using dried herbs, check the best-before date! You don't want to use stale-tasting herbs that have been sitting in your cupboard for years.
    • The sugar is really important in this recipe as it helps to balance the acidity of the tomatoes. Don't skip it!
    • To thicken the sauce without using cornflour or thickening granules, take the lid off the slow cooker for the last hour of cooking!

    🍴 Serving suggestions

    Serve the bolognese with spaghetti, linguine, or even tagliatele. I once served it with penne pasta, but the kids weren't impressed!

    I like to make a pesto focaccia to serve alongside it, and a crisp green salad.

    Leftovers are delicious stirred through cheesy pasta, or why not top some cheesy chips with leftover bolognese to make loaded fries!

    I often eat leftover bolognese for lunch the next day on an air fryer baked potato!

    📖 Variations

    • Add more vegetables to the sauce. Finely chopped mushrooms or courgettes work well.
    • If you have a bottle of red wine open, add a glug and omit the red wine vinegar.
    • Use half beef mince and half pork mince for a lighter, less rich flavour.
    • Love a bit of heat? Add a small chopped chilli.
    • Add chorizo instead of bacon, or make my easy chorizo bolognese recipe!
    • Make a double batch (you'll need a 6.5 litre slow cooker to do this), and freeze half for another day.
    A bowl of slow cooker spaghetti bolognese.

    🥡 Storage

    Store. The cooked bolognese can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.

    Reheat. Reheat until piping hot in the microwave.

    Freeze. The bolognese can be frozen for up to 3 months. Defrost fully in the fridge, before reheating in the microwave.

    ❓ FAQs

    Can you put raw mince in your slow cooker?

    Yes, you can! Mix the raw mince in with the other ingredients, switch on the slow cooker, and I guarantee you will have meltingly tender mince at the end of cooking. I almost never bother browning mince for slow cooker recipes. It's best to use a lean minced beef (5% fat or less) if you're not browning it first.

    Why is milk added to bolognese sauce?

    Adding milk adds a wonderful richness to the bolognese and helps to tenderise the meat, making it melt in the mouth.

    Do you put sugar in bolognese?

    Adding a little bit of sugar helps to balance the acidity of the tomatoes in the ragu and gives a lovely rounded flavour to the sauce.

    😋 More bolognese recipes

    • Turkey Bolognese
    • Lamb Bolognese
    • Quorn Bolognese
    • Pork Bolognese
    • Chicken Bolognese
    A bowl of slow cooker bolognese.

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    Recipe

    Slow cooker bolognese.
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    5 from 6 votes

    Easy Slow Cooker Spaghetti Bolognese (no browning)

    An easy slow cooker spaghetti bolognese recipe, perfect for busy weekdays or lazy weekends! It's rich, tender, and oh so tasty! No browning required.
    Course Pasta
    Cuisine British, Italian
    Keyword crockpot bolognese, slow cooker bolognaise, slow cooker spag bol, slow cooker spaghetti bolognese
    Prep Time 8 minutes
    Cook Time 6 hours
    Total Time 6 hours 8 minutes
    Servings 4
    Calories 780kcal
    Author Beth Sachs
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Equipment

    • Slow Cooker
    • Chopping Board
    • Knife
    • Vegetable Peeler
    • Mini Chopper

    Ingredients

    Metric - US Customary
    • 500 g Minced Beef 5% fat or less
    • 3 Streaky Bacon Rashers chopped
    • 1 Onion finely chopped
    • 3 Garlic Cloves finely chopped
    • 1 Carrot finely chopped
    • 1 Celery Stick finely chopped
    • 400 ml Passata
    • 60 ml Milk
    • 2 tablespoon Tomato Puree
    • 2 tablespoon Red Wine Vinegar
    • 1 Beef Stock Pot I use knorr
    • ½ teaspoon Worcestershire Sauce
    • 2 Bay Leaves
    • 2 tablespoon Oregano dried or fresh
    • 1 teaspoon Sugar
    • ½ teaspoon Salt
    • ¼ teaspoon Black Pepper
    • 2 tablespoon Fresh Parsley or Basil, to garnish
    • 400 g Spaghetti or other long pasta

    Instructions

    • Place the finely chopped vegetables in the base of the slow cooker basin.
      1 Onion, 3 Garlic Cloves, 1 Carrot, 1 Celery Stick
    • Add the minced beef and bacon. Start breaking the beef up a bit with a wooden spoon.
      500 g Minced Beef, 3 Streaky Bacon Rashers
    • Add all of the other ingredients (not the spaghetti or fresh parsley garnish!) and mix with a wooden spoon until everything is combined and there are no big lumps of minced beef left. Cook on low for 6-8 hours, or high for 5. In order to thicken the sauce without using cornflour, take the lid off for the last hour of cooking.
      400 ml Passata, 60 ml Milk, 2 tablespoon Tomato Puree, 2 tablespoon Red Wine Vinegar, 1 Beef Stock Pot, ½ teaspoon Worcestershire Sauce, 2 Bay Leaves, 2 tablespoon Oregano, 1 teaspoon Sugar, ½ teaspoon Salt, ¼ teaspoon Black Pepper
    • Cook the spaghetti according to instructions, then serve with the slow cooker bolognese, garnished with fresh herbs and some grated Parmesan if you like!
      400 g Spaghetti, 2 tablespoon Fresh Parsley

    Video

    Notes

    Top Tips:
    • This recipe doesn't require browning of the vegetables and minced beef prior to cooking them in the slow cooker. Therefore, it's best to use very lean minced beef (5% fat) so you don't get a layer of fat on top of the sauce. You'll also need to cut your vegetables as small as possible to ensure they become tender and 'melt' into the ragu during slow cooking. I use a mini chopper for this!
    • The minced beef will need to be broken up with a wooden spoon as you mix all of the ingredients together in the slow cooker. Don't leave any large lumps lingering.
    • You can use dried or fresh herbs. If you're using dried herbs, check the best before date! You don't want to use stale tasting herbs that have been sitting in your cupboard for years.
    • The sugar is really important in this recipe as it helps to balance the acidity of the tomatoes. Don't skip it!
    • To thicken the sauce without using cornflour or thickening granules, take the lid off the slow cooker for the last hour of cooking!
     
    Variations:
    • Add more vegetables to the sauce. Finely chopped mushrooms or courgettes work well.
    • If you have a bottle of red wine open, add a glug and omit the red wine vinegar.
    • Use half beef mince and half pork mince for a lighter, less rich flavour.
    • Love a bit of heat? Add a small chopped chilli.
    • Add chorizo instead of bacon, or make my easy chorizo bolognese recipe!
    • Make a double batch (you'll need a 6.5 litre slow cooker to do this), and freeze half for another day.
     
    Storage:
    • To Store. The cooked bolognese can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
    • To Reheat. Reheat until piping hot in the microwave.
    • To Freeze. The bolognese can be frozen for up to 3 months. Defrost fully in the fridge, before reheating in the microwave.
     
    Nutrition:
    The nutritional information provided is approximate and is calculated using online tools. Information can vary depending on various factors, but we have endeavoured to be as accurate as possible.
     
     
    Nutrition Facts
    Easy Slow Cooker Spaghetti Bolognese (no browning)
    Amount per Serving
    Calories
    780
    % Daily Value*
    Fat
     
    28
    g
    43
    %
    Saturated Fat
     
    11
    g
    69
    %
    Trans Fat
     
    2
    g
    Polyunsaturated Fat
     
    1
    g
    Monounsaturated Fat
     
    12
    g
    Cholesterol
     
    91
    mg
    30
    %
    Sodium
     
    441
    mg
    19
    %
    Potassium
     
    1209
    mg
    35
    %
    Carbohydrates
     
    93
    g
    31
    %
    Fiber
     
    7
    g
    29
    %
    Sugar
     
    12
    g
    13
    %
    Protein
     
    38
    g
    76
    %
    Vitamin A
     
    3343
    IU
    67
    %
    Vitamin C
     
    18
    mg
    22
    %
    Calcium
     
    141
    mg
    14
    %
    Iron
     
    7
    mg
    39
    %
    * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
    Tried this recipe?Snap a pic and tag @effortlessf00d on Instagram or Twitter

    More Easy Slow Cooker Recipes

    • Easy Slow Cooker Pulled Beef Recipe
    • Slow Cooker Beef Keema Curry Recipe
    • Easy Slow Cooker Apple Crumble Recipe
    • Slow Cooker Pork & Apple Casserole Recipe

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Dannii

      January 26, 2022 at 2:25 pm

      5 stars
      This is my favourite ways to make a bolognese. The meat is so tender.

      Reply
      • Andrea

        January 26, 2022 at 3:59 pm

        5 stars
        I can just imagine how wonderful your home smells with this cooking all day. It looks and sounds fantastic!

        Reply
    2. Lucy

      January 26, 2022 at 2:37 pm

      5 stars
      I love this spaghetti bolognese is made in the slow cooker. Perfect for busy weekdays where I can come home and enjoy this meal straight away. A delicious meal the whole family loves.

      Reply
    3. Jess

      January 26, 2022 at 3:49 pm

      5 stars
      I just made this for my family and added some lentils in it. It was a major hit!

      Reply

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    Beth Sachs Food Blogger

    Hi, I’m Beth, a Mum of three (and one crazy dog), living in Cornwall, UK. I love creating easy, delicious and fuss-free recipes, perfect for busy families, just like my own.

    More about me →

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