This easy slow cooker bolognese is rich, hearty, and perfect for busy nights. Simple ingredients, minimal prep, and a classic family favourite.
Slow cooker bolognese is a simple, hands-off way to create a rich and comforting family dinner with minimal effort. By gently cooking over several hours, the flavours develop into a thick, hearty sauce that’s perfect served over pasta.
This makes the best bolognese sauce… it’s filled with delicious flavour that has no business being so good with such minimal effort.
This recipe suits busy days, batch cooking, or any time you want dinner ready and waiting.
Why you’ll love this slow cooker bolognese
- Minimal prep using everyday ingredients
- Rich flavour from slow cooking
- Family-friendly and freezer-friendly
- Flexible method to suit different energy levels
- Easy way to include extra vegetables
Before you start, I want you to know…
This slow cooker bolognese can be made in two different ways, depending on how much time and energy you have. Both methods result in a delicious sauce.
Level 1: Extra flavour (recommended)
Finely dice or blitz the carrot, onion, celery, and garlic.
Brown the vegetables and minced meat before slow cooking.
This adds a deeper, richer flavour to the sauce.
Level 2: Minimal effort
Roughly chop the vegetables and add them directly to the slow cooker with the minced meat and remaining ingredients.
No browning or pre-cooking is required.
Both methods produce a great slow cooker bolognese. Browning simply adds an extra layer of flavour but is not essential.
How to make slow cooker bolognese sauce
- Prepare the vegetables
Peel and chop the carrots, celery, onion, and garlic.
You can finely dice or blitz them for a smoother sauce, or roughly chop them for a quicker method.
- Choose your cooking method
Optional browning:
Brown the vegetables (excluding spinach) and minced meat using the slow cooker’s sear function or a pan.
Skip browning:
Add the vegetables and minced meat directly to the slow cooker without pre-cooking. - Add remaining ingredients
Add tomato passata, tomato paste, and oregano.
Stir well to combine. - Slow cook
Place the lid on the slow cooker and cook on low for 8 hours.
- Add spinach
Roughly chop the spinach and stir it through during the final 30 minutes of cooking.
- Serve
Serve the bolognese over your favourite pasta.
Slow cooker bolognese
Ingredients
-
1 kg minced beef and pork mix
-
2 cloves garlic, peeled and chopped
-
2 carrots, peeled and chopped
-
2 celery sticks, chopped
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2 small onions, peeled and chopped
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2 cups tomato passata
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2 teaspoons tomato paste
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1 large bag spinach
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1 teaspoon dried oregano
Instructions
- Prepare vegetables by chopping or blitzing.
- Optional: brown vegetables and minced meat for extra flavour.
- Add all ingredients except spinach to the slow cooker.
- Cook on low for 8 hours.
- Add spinach during the final 30 minutes of cooking.
- Serve with pasta, and a sprinkling of cheese.
Notes
For a smoother sauce, blend half of the cooked bolognese and stir it back through.
Fresh herbs can be used instead of dried if available.
This recipe freezes well for up to 3 months.
Want more deliciously easy recipes? Browse through hundreds of my tried and tested recipes, or take a look at my free recipe eBook filled with budget-friendly dinner ideas. You can also keep up-to-date by following along on Instagram or Facebook.
