Slow Cooker Spaghetti and Meat Sauce
This makes a lot, so I usually freeze 1/2 of it. It actually fills our 6-quart crock pot!
Ingredients:
1 1/2 pounds browned ground beef
8 ounces or 1/2 package mild ground Italian sausage, browned with ground beef
8 Roma tomatoes, fine diced (you may want to use more) OR 1 (28 ounce) can whole Italian style tomatoes, cut up and undrained
1 package fresh mushrooms, sliced (you may use canned, drained)
1 large onion, finely diced
1 large green bell pepper, finely diced
1 large red bell pepper, finely diced
1 (6 ounce) can tomato paste
1 (15 ounce) can tomato puree
2 to 3 (8 ounce) cans tomato sauce
1 cup dry red wine
1 1/2 teaspoons minced garlic
2 teaspoons sugar - this is essential!
2 teaspoons dried Italian seasoning, crushed
1/8 - 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper - or to taste
1 bay leaf
12 ounces dried pasta, cooked and drained
Shredded Italian cheese
Brown ground beef and sausage till browned in large skillet. Meanwhile, combine remainder of ingredients, minus the pasta, in crock pot. Cover and cook on HIGH heat till meat is browned. Add browned meat and cover; turn crock pot to LOW and cook on low heat for 8 to10 hours. Or you may cook on HIGH heat for 4 to 5 hours. Remove bay leaf and discard. Pass pasta and sauce and cheese. Enjoy!
B-man 