Cozy Slow Cooker Bolognese

Bolognese is one of our go-to comfort foods during the chilly months. It’s rich, hearty, and makes the house smell amazing while warming you up from the inside out.

Do I need to brown the meat first?

Yes! This is one step that really elevates the flavor. Start by sautéing onions, carrots, and celery—the classic Italian “holy trinity”—until they’re golden and fragrant. Then add the ground beef to brown. Browning the meat on the stovetop gives the sauce more depth of flavor and allows you to drain excess fat before it goes into the slow cooker. While the veggies will steam in the slow cooker, this extra step adds a subtle caramelized richness you won’t get otherwise.

Will the milk curdle?

Surprisingly, no! Adding milk to your slow cooker Bolognese is safe—it helps create a creamy, velvety sauce without curdling.

Can I cook the pasta in the slow cooker?

You can, but since this recipe makes a generous amount of sauce, we recommend cooking pasta separately. That way, you can enjoy some now and freeze the rest of the sauce for later.

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Ingredients

• 1 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 large onion, chopped
• 2 large carrots, chopped
• 3 celery stalks, chopped
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 3 Tbsp. tomato paste
• 2 lb. ground beef
• 1 (28-oz.) can crushed tomatoes
• 1 Tbsp. dried oregano
• 1 Tbsp. dried thyme
• 1 bay leaf
• 1 tsp. kosher salt
• 1 cup whole milk
• 1/4 cup dry red wine
• Freshly ground black pepper

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Directions

1. Sauté the base: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add onion, carrot, celery, and garlic, cooking until tender, about 6 minutes. Stir in tomato paste, then add the ground beef and cook until no longer pink, about 6–8 minutes. Transfer the mixture to a slow cooker using a slotted spoon.
2. Build the sauce: Add crushed tomatoes, oregano, thyme, bay leaf, salt, milk, and red wine. Season with black pepper and stir to combine.
3. Slow cook: Cover and cook on low for 6 hours. Discard the bay leaf before serving.
4. Serve: Spoon over your favorite cooked pasta and enjoy!

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This slow cooker Bolognese is rich, comforting, and perfect for a cozy dinner night. Bonus: it freezes beautifully for busy weeknights!