Description
Savory slow cooker spaghetti and meat sauce delivers classic Italian comfort on your dinner table. Rich tomato-based sauce simmers with ground beef, creating a hearty meal that brings families together with minimal kitchen effort.
Ingredients
Scale
Proteins:
- 1 pound (454 grams) lean ground turkey
- 1/4 cup (30 grams) grated Parmesan cheese (optional)
Vegetables and Aromatics:
- 1 onion, finely chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 bell pepper, chopped
- 1 zucchini, chopped
Canned Ingredients and Seasonings:
- 1 can (14.5 ounces/411 grams) crushed tomatoes
- 1 can (6 ounces/170 grams) tomato paste
- 1 can (14.5 ounces/411 grams) diced tomatoes
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- Salt, to taste
- Pepper, to taste
- 8 ounces (227 grams) whole wheat spaghetti (or gluten-free pasta)
Instructions
- Brown ground turkey in a skillet over medium heat until fully cooked, breaking it into small crumbles.
- Sauté chopped onion, garlic, bell pepper, and zucchini for 3-4 minutes until vegetables turn slightly translucent and tender.
- Incorporate crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, diced tomatoes, and season with basil, oregano, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Stir thoroughly to combine all ingredients.
- Transfer the seasoned meat and vegetable mixture into the slow cooker, ensuring even distribution.
- Cover and simmer on low temperature for 4-6 hours or on high for 2-3 hours, allowing flavors to meld and develop depth.
- During the last 30 minutes of cooking, prepare whole wheat spaghetti according to package instructions, cooking until al dente.
- Drain pasta completely and let it rest briefly to prevent wateriness.
- Plate the pasta, generously ladle the rich meat sauce over the noodles, and garnish with freshly grated Parmesan cheese if desired.
- Serve immediately while the sauce is hot and the pasta is steaming.
Notes
- Use lean ground turkey to reduce fat and create a healthier protein base for the sauce.
- Finely chop vegetables like zucchini and bell peppers to hide them from picky eaters while boosting nutritional value.
- Allow sauce to simmer slowly in the slow cooker to develop deeper, richer flavors and tenderize the meat.
- Consider using gluten-free pasta or spiralized vegetables like zucchini noodles for low-carb or gluten-sensitive diets.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 3 hours (on high) or 6 hours (on low)
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 300
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 400 mg
- Fat: 7 g
- Saturated Fat: 2 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 45 g
- Fiber: 8 g
- Protein: 20 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg