As a busy mom, my Crockpot Slow Cooker has been a staple in my kitchen for a long time. I had a slow cooker long before I had an Instant Pot or Air Fryer. Spaghetti with meat sauce is also a staple recipe in our house, so having an easy Crock Pot Spaghetti Recipe in my pocket was a must!
This recipe was first published October 2015. It was updated with additional information and new photos July 2024.
Crock Pot Spaghetti Recipe
Crock pot spaghetti is not only delicious but also super easy to prepare. No standing over a hot stove needed! All you have to do is toss the ingredients into the slow cooker and let it do the work!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Save Time: Toss all your ingredients in and walk away. There’s no need to stir constantly or watch the stove. You will spend less time in the kitchen and have more time with your family.
- Meal Prep Made Easy: Prepare everything in the morning and by dinner time, you’re ready to go!
- Minimal Clean-Up: By using fewer pots and pans, you have less to clean up!
The great thing about this recipe is that you don’t have to boil the noodles before you put them in the slow cooker. So that saves a step and some time!
Ingredients
- Pasta Sauce
- Ground beef
- Spaghetti
- Parmesan cheese
- Water
Full measurements for each ingredient can be found in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.
Equipment
You’ll obviously need a Crockpot, but you’ll also need a few other things from your kitchen:
How to Make Crockpot Spaghetti
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- 1. In a large skillet, brown and drain the ground beef.
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- 2. Spray the inside of the slow cooker with non-stick cooking spray. 3. Pour one jar of spaghetti sauce into the slow cooker.
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- 4. Break the uncooked spaghetti noodles in half and spread on top of sauce.
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- 5. Add ground beef and cheese.
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- 6. Pour second jar of pasta sauce over layers.
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- 7. Cook on high for three hours.
8. Stir and add one cup water.
9. Cook on high for and additional 30-45 minutes or until pasta is desired tenderness.
10. Serve with your favorite side dish like salad or garlic bread.
Leftovers & Storage
This recipe is great for leftovers! You can store your leftover pasta in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. Be sure to let it cool completely before putting it in the container.
You can also freeze this spaghetti. Be sure to use a freezer-safe container or freezer bag. You can store leftovers in the freezer for about 3 months.
Reheating
When you’re ready to reheat your spaghetti, you can use the microwave or stovetop.
In the microwave, put your desired portion in a microwave-safe dish and cover with a damp paper towel. Heat in 1-2 minute increments until warmed up.
On the stopetop, heat the spaghetti in a a saucepan over medium heat. Add a splash of water or extra sauce to keep it from drying out. Stir occasionally until heated through.
Variations
This is another easy recipe to change up to meet your tastes.
Adding Vegetables
Adding veggies to the recipe is a great way to add extra flavor and nutrition. Some that work well include:
- Bell peppers
- Mushrooms
- Onion
- Diced tomatoes
Season to Taste
Using crockpot spaghetti sauce from jar might mean that you want to add a bit more flavor to your sauce. If that’s the case, then you can try adding the basics like a pinch of salt and pepper or you can try some of these to spice it up:
- Red pepper flakes
- Dried oregano
- Basil
- Garlic powder/garlic salt
Tweak the Sauce
You can also tweak the sauce if you want it to be thicker or creamier with these suggestions:
- Thicken the sauce: You can thicken the sauce by adding tomato paste. Stir in a few tablespoons of tomato paste at a time until you get the desired texture. If the sauce seems watery, you can also remove the lid for the last 30 minutes of cooking to allow some of the moisture to evaporate.
- Thin the sauce: If the sauce is too thick, add a little bit of water or chicken broth until you get the consistency you like. You can also stir the spaghetti ocassionally to help the moisture stay spread through the pasta.
- Make it creamy: Add a few tablespoons of cream cheese when you layer the incredients if you prefer a creamy tomato sauce with you spaghetti.
Change the Meat
This slow cooker spaghetti recipe works perfectly with ground beef but you can also use other meats!
- Ground Turkey: This is a leaner alternative to beef.
- Italian Sausage: Both mild and spicy sausages work well in this recipe. Be sure to remove the casing and crumble the meat before adding it to the crock pot.
- Chicken: Ground chicken is another lean option. It absorbs the sauce well too.
- Meatless Options: You can also use plant-based crumbles for a vegetarian twist. They add a texture that is similar to ground beef.
Serving Suggestions
You can serve this spaghetti as your full meal, but adding a side dish helps make a more well-rounded meal. Here are some easy side dish ideas that pair well with this pasta:
- Garlic Bread
- Salad
- Steamed vegetables
More Easy Pasta Recipes
If you love this easy spaghetti recipe, try some of these pasta recipes:
Ingredients
- 2 jars Spaghetti sauce
- 1 lb ground beef
- 12 oz spaghetti
- 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese
- 1 cup water
Instructions
- In a large skillet, brown and drain the ground beef.
- Spray the inside of the slow cooker with non-stick cooking spray.
- Pour one jar of spaghetti sauce into the slow cooker.
- Break the uncooked spaghetti noodles in half and spread on top of sauce.
- Add ground beef and cheese.
- Pour second jar of pasta sauce over layers.
- Cook on high for 3 hours.
- Stir and add one cup water.
- Cook on high for and additional 30-45 minutes or until pasta is desired tenderness.
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Callie says
How many oz are in your one jar of spaghetti sauce?
Rosemary Geiken says
My question is the same as another commenter—What size spaghetti sauce?
I did my crockpot on high for 1.5 hours, checked, and it was one big clump, drying out on the bottom. I added water, kept it on high and checked again in 30 minutes–same thing. I turned it to low or another 30 minutes and it was okay. The taste was good, but it was kind of “clumpy” and overdone.