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Slow Cooker Crunch Spaghetti

It’s an easy, hands-off meal that combines tender, perfectly cooked pasta with a rich, savory sauce and a delightful crispy topping. The magic of this dish lies in its simplicity: you can prep it in minutes, set it in the slow cooker, and let it do all the work while you focus on other tasks—or simply relax.
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Course: Dinner, Lunch, Main Course
Cuisine: American, Italian
Ingredients Method

Ingredients
  

  • 2 pounds ground beef
  • 1 large onion finely chopped
  • 4 cloves garlic minced
  • 2 cans 28 oz each crushed tomatoes
  • 1 can 15 oz tomato sauce
  • 1 can 6 oz tomato paste
  • 1/2 cup red wine optional
  • 1 tablespoon sugar
  • 2 teaspoons dried basil
  • 2 teaspoons dried oregano
  • 1 teaspoon dried parsley
  • 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
  • Salt and black pepper to taste
  • 1 pound spaghetti

Method
 

Brown the beef:
  1. In a large skillet over medium heat, cook the ground beef until fully browned. Drain any excess fat.
Sauté aromatics:
  1. Add the chopped onion and minced garlic to the skillet. Cook for 3–4 minutes, or until the onion is soft and translucent.
Transfer to slow cooker:
  1. Move the beef, onion, and garlic mixture into your slow cooker.
Add sauce ingredients:
  1. Pour in the crushed tomatoes, tomato sauce, and tomato paste. If using, add the red wine. Stir in sugar, dried basil, oregano, parsley, crushed red pepper flakes, and season with salt and pepper. Mix everything well.
Cook slowly:
  1. Cover the slow cooker and cook on low for 6–8 hours or high for 3–4 hours, allowing the flavors to meld together.
Cook spaghetti:
  1. About 20–30 minutes before serving, cook the spaghetti according to the package directions until al dente. Drain well.
Combine pasta and sauce:
  1. Add the cooked spaghetti directly into the slow cooker. Stir thoroughly to coat the pasta evenly with the sauce.
Final simmer:
  1. Let the spaghetti sit in the slow cooker for an additional 10 minutes so it can absorb the flavors.
Serve hot:
  1. Spoon onto plates and enjoy! Garnish with fresh basil or Parmesan cheese if desired.
  2. Enjoy!