Name: Crock Pot Meaty Pasta Sauce
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 6 h
Total time: 6 h 10 min
Yield: 8 servings
Cuisine: Italian

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Crock Pot Meaty Pasta Sauce

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Instructions

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Instructions

Heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a medium sauté pan and sauté onions for 4 minutes. Add the ground beef and 1 teaspoon of salt and sauté for 4 more minutes, breaking apart the meat as it cooks. Add the bell peppers and saute an additional 2-3 minutes.

Add the sautéed meat, onions and bell pepper to the crock pot along with the remaining ingredients and stir to combine.

Cook on low for 6-8 hours or high for 3-4 hours.

Serve over cooked pasta or use in any recipe that calls for meat sauce.

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Tips & Tricks (5)

Brown the Meat First 🍖
Always sear the ground beef in olive oil before adding to the crock pot to develop deep, complex flavors through the Maillard reaction—this crucial step transforms the sauce from good to restaurant-quality.
Bloom Your Spices 🌿
Toast the dried Italian herbs, garlic powder, and onion powder in the hot pan with the beef for 30 seconds before transferring to the crock pot to unlock their essential oils and intensify their flavor profile.
Stratify Your Tomato Products 🍅
Layer tomato paste on the bottom, then diced tomatoes, then tomato puree on top to create a complex sauce with varied texture and prevent the paste from scorching on the crock pot bottom.
Cook Low and Long for Balance ⏱️
Use the LOW setting for 6-8 hours instead of HIGH to allow flavors to meld gently and prevent the sauce from becoming overly concentrated or developing a burnt taste.
Finish with Fresh Aromatics 🧅
Stir in freshly minced garlic or a splash of quality olive oil in the final 5 minutes to add brightness and counter the deep, slow-cooked flavors for a more balanced, sophisticated sauce.