Slow Cooker Spaghetti Bolognese
Beef ragù made in the slow cooker achieves deep flavour and tender meat, then tossed through spaghetti.
Original recipe
- Total
- 6 hr 20 min
- Serves
- 8
- Sourced
- 6 Oct 2026
- Items
- 16
16
Things to buy
Cooking for
Adding it again later updates the quantities instead of doubling up.
Cooking for
Ingredients
What you need
Names and measures for Australia
- 27 golive oil2 tbsp = 30 ml = 27.3 g (read as US: 1 tablespoon = 15 ml)
- 20 ggarlic4 clove = 20 g (typical size here)
- 300 gyellow onions2 brown onion = 300 g (typical size here)
- 905 gground beef2 lb = 907 g
- 240 mlred wine1 cup = 240 ml (read as US: 1 cup = 240 ml)
- 2crushed tomatoes28 ounce each
- 66 gtomato paste4 tbsp = 60 ml = 66 g (read as US: 1 tablespoon = 15 ml)
- 3beef bouillon cubescrushed
- 11 gWorcestershire Sauce2 tsp = 10 ml = 11 g (read as US: 1 teaspoon = 5 ml)
- 3 gdried oregano3 tsp = 15 ml = 3 g (read as US: 1 teaspoon = 5 ml)
- 10 mldried thyme leaves2 tsp = 10 ml (read as US: 1 teaspoon = 5 ml)
- 0.5 gbay leaves3 bay leaves = 0.6 g (typical size here)
- 3.5 gred pepper flakes2 tsp = 10 ml = 3.5 g (read as US: 1 teaspoon = 5 ml)
- 6 gsalt1 tsp = 5 ml = 6 g (read as US: 1 teaspoon = 5 ml)
- 2.5 mlblack pepper0.5 tsp = 2.5 ml (read as US: 1 teaspoon = 5 ml)
- 225 gspaghetti8 oz = 227 g
Recipe by Nagi, Spend With Pennies. Method rewritten for this cookbook — read the original on Spend With Pennies.
This recipe's shopping list
Scaled for 8 serves
Other
Method
How it goes together
- 01
Step 1
Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add garlic and onion. Cook until translucent and sweet, about 7 minutes. Transfer to the slow cooker.
- 02
Step 2
Heat 1 tablespoon oil in the same skillet over high heat. Add beef and cook, breaking it up as you go, until browned. Cook in 2 batches if your skillet isn't large enough. Transfer to the slow cooker.
- 03
Step 3
Return the skillet to the stove over medium heat. Add red wine and bring to a simmer, scraping the browned bits off the bottom into the wine. Pour the mixture into the slow cooker.
Those browned bits carry a lot of flavour into the sauce.
- 04
Step 4
Add the remaining ingredients to the slow cooker. Cook on low for 6 hours.
- 05
Spaghetti
Bring a large pot of water to the boil and cook the spaghetti until just before al dente, still slightly firm. Scoop out 1 mug of the cooking water, then drain the pasta.
Undercooking the pasta slightly lets it finish cooking in the sauce without going mushy.
- 06
Spaghetti
Return the pasta to the pot. Add 2 ½ to 3 cups of bolognese sauce and ½ cup of the reserved pasta water. Toss gently over medium-high heat for 2 minutes, or until the sauce thickens and coats the spaghetti.
The starchy pasta water helps the sauce cling to the spaghetti.
- 07
Spaghetti
Serve immediately with freshly grated parmesan, if you like.
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