Slow Cooker Beef and Mushroom Meat Sauce
In short: Ground beef, finely chopped mushrooms, grated carrot and crushed tomatoes simmered all day into a thick, rich sauce for pasta. It takes about 7 h 25 min in total and makes 6 servings.
- Prep
- 25 min
- Cook
- 7 h
- Total
- 7 h 25 min
- Servings
- 6
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Calories
- 560 kcal
A big pot of meat sauce is a gift to the week ahead, and the slow cooker makes it nearly hands-free. Finely chopped mushrooms and grated carrot melt into the beef, stretching it and adding sweetness and depth. The sauce is thick enough to coat spaghetti, spoon over baked potatoes or fill a baked pasta dish. Freeze the extra in flat bags, and you will have dinner ready on a busy night.
Instructions
- Heat the oil in a large frying pan over medium-high heat. Add the beef and cook for 5 minutes, breaking it up, until no pink remains.
- Add the mushrooms and onion and cook for 8 to 10 minutes until the liquid has evaporated and the vegetables begin to brown. Spoon off any excess fat.
- Stir in the garlic and tomato paste and cook for 1 minute until the paste darkens. Scrape everything into the slow cooker.
- Add the carrots, tomatoes, stock, bay leaves, oregano, salt and pepper and stir well.
- Cover and cook on low for 6 to 8 hours or on high for 3 to 4 hours, until the sauce is thick and rich.
- Remove the bay leaves and taste for seasoning. Toss with the hot cooked pasta, adding a little pasta water if needed to loosen the sauce.
Tips
- For a deeper flavor, add a splash of red wine to the pan after browning, or a spoonful of soy sauce to the pot.
- Use half beef and half ground pork for a richer sauce.
Questions and answers
Can I put raw ground beef straight into the slow cooker?
You can, but browning first gives a deeper flavor and lets you drain the fat. Raw beef also clumps into large lumps unless you break it up well.
How do I freeze meat sauce?
Cool it completely and freeze flat in freezer bags for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight and reheat in a saucepan.
Can I use this sauce for baked dishes?
Yes. It works well in baked pasta, stuffed peppers or layered in lasagna.
How long does it take to make Slow Cooker Beef and Mushroom Meat Sauce?
About 7 h 25 min in total: 25 min of preparation and 7 h of cooking.
How many calories are in Slow Cooker Beef and Mushroom Meat Sauce?
About 560 kcal per serving, with 32 g of protein, 62 g of carbohydrates and 20 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 560 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 32 g |
| Carbohydrates | 62 g |
| Fat | 20 g |
| Fiber | 6 g |
| Sugar | 12 g |
| Sodium | 720 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
