Hearty Slow-Cooker Bolognese Pasta
Indulge in a rich and flavorful Bolognese sauce simmered to perfection in your slow cooker. This easy-to-prepare recipe blends ground chuck, aromatic vegetables, and a medley of herbs, resulting in a comforting Italian classic that's perfect for gatherings or a satisfying family meal. Serve over perfectly cooked spaghetti and garnish with freshly grated Parmesan cheese for an authentic touch.
4
Servings
N/A
Calories
15
Ingredients
Ingredients
ground chuck
1 lb
whole canned tomatoes
28 oz (with juices)
carrots
2 (finely chopped)
medium onion
1 (chopped)
celery
1 stalk (chopped)
garlic cloves
2 (chopped)
tomato paste
1/4 cup
dry white wine
1/4 cup
dried oregano
1 teaspoon
dried thyme
1 teaspoon
bay leaf
1
kosher salt
to taste
black pepper
to taste
spaghetti
3/4 lb (uncooked)
parmesan cheese
for serving (grated)
Instructions
1
Combine ground chuck, canned tomatoes with juices, chopped carrots, onion, celery, garlic, tomato paste, white wine, oregano, thyme, and bay leaf in a 4- to 6-quart slow cooker.
2
Season the mixture with kosher salt and black pepper according to your taste.
3
Cover the slow cooker and cook on low for 7 to 8 hours or on high for 4 to 5 hours, until the vegetables are tender and the meat is thoroughly cooked.
4
About 20 minutes before the end of cooking, prepare the spaghetti according to the package instructions. Drain the pasta and return it to the pot.
5
Toss the drained spaghetti with the slow-cooked Bolognese sauce until well combined.
6
Serve the spaghetti Bolognese on plates and garnish with freshly grated Parmesan cheese before serving.
Nutrition Information
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Hearty Slow-Cooker Bolognese Pasta?
It is a rich and flavorful Italian classic featuring a sauce made with ground chuck, vegetables, and herbs, simmered in a slow cooker and served over spaghetti.
How many people does this recipe serve?
This recipe is designed to yield 4 servings.
What type of meat is used in this Bolognese?
The recipe calls for 1 lb of ground chuck.
What vegetables are needed for the sauce base?
The sauce includes finely chopped carrots, a chopped medium onion, chopped celery, and two chopped garlic cloves.
How long does the sauce need to cook on the low setting?
On the low setting, the sauce should cook for 7 to 8 hours.
Is there a faster cooking option for the slow cooker?
Yes, you can cook the sauce on the high setting for 4 to 5 hours.
Do I need to brown the meat before putting it in the slow cooker?
According to the instructions, you simply combine the raw ground chuck with the other ingredients directly in the slow cooker.
What size slow cooker is recommended?
A 4- to 6-quart slow cooker is recommended for this recipe.
What kind of tomatoes should I use?
The recipe specifies 28 oz of whole canned tomatoes with their juices.
What type of wine is added to the sauce?
The recipe uses 1/4 cup of dry white wine.
Which dried herbs are used for seasoning?
The sauce is seasoned with 1 teaspoon each of dried oregano and dried thyme, plus one bay leaf.
When should I start preparing the spaghetti?
You should begin cooking the spaghetti about 20 minutes before the sauce is finished.
How much spaghetti do I need?
The recipe requires 3/4 lb of uncooked spaghetti.
What is the role of tomato paste in this recipe?
1/4 cup of tomato paste is added to deepen the flavor and thicken the sauce.
How should the spaghetti and sauce be served?
The drained spaghetti should be tossed with the Bolognese sauce until well combined before plating.
What garnish is suggested for the final dish?
Freshly grated Parmesan cheese is recommended for garnish.
How do I know when the sauce is done?
The sauce is ready when the vegetables are tender and the meat is thoroughly cooked.
Can I substitute the white wine?
While the recipe calls for dry white wine, you could typically use beef or vegetable broth as a non-alcoholic alternative.
Are the carrots chopped in a specific way?
Yes, the recipe specifies that the carrots should be finely chopped.
What kind of salt is used?
Kosher salt is used to season the mixture to taste.
Is this recipe considered easy to make?
Yes, it is tagged as an easy recipe because the majority of the cooking is done unattended in a slow cooker.
Should I drain the canned tomatoes?
No, you should include the juices from the canned tomatoes in the slow cooker.
What tags characterize this dish?
Tags include bolognese, slow cooker, italian, comfort food, pasta, and family meal.
How many ingredients are in this recipe?
There are 15 ingredients in total.
What type of onion is required?
The recipe calls for one chopped medium onion.
Do I need to prep the garlic?
Yes, you should use 2 garlic cloves and chop them before adding to the cooker.
Can I use other pasta types?
While spaghetti is specified, this hearty sauce would also work well with other shapes like rigatoni or pappardelle.
Is this a good meal for a gathering?
Yes, the description notes it is perfect for gatherings or a satisfying family meal.
Should the bay leaf be removed?
While the instructions don't explicitly say to remove it, it is standard practice to discard the bay leaf before serving.
What is the texture of the finished sauce?
The sauce is described as rich, hearty, and flavorful with tender vegetables and meat.