This hearty and flavorful spaghetti sauce, made with ground beef and Italian sausage, is the ultimate comfort food. Slow-cooked to perfection, it’s an easy crowd-pleaser!
Course: Pasta, Sauce
Cuisine: American
Prep Time: 30 minutes
Cook Time: 8 hours
Total Time: 8 hours 30 minutes
Servings: 12 (1/2 cup servings)
Calories: 240 kcal
Ingredients
- 2 pounds ground beef
- ¾ pound bulk Italian sausage
- 4 medium onions, finely chopped
- 8 garlic cloves, minced
- 4 cans (14½ oz each) diced tomatoes, undrained
- 4 cans (6 oz each) tomato paste
- ½ cup water
- ¼ cup sugar
- ¼ cup Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tablespoon canola oil
- ¼ cup minced parsley
- 2 tablespoons minced fresh basil (or 2 tsp dried basil)
- 1 tablespoon minced fresh oregano (or 1 tsp dried oregano)
- 4 bay leaves
- 1 teaspoon rubbed sage
- ½ teaspoon dried marjoram
- ½ teaspoon pepper
- Salt to taste
- Hot cooked spaghetti
Instructions
- Cook the Meat:
In a large Dutch oven, brown the ground beef, Italian sausage, onions, and garlic over medium heat until the meat is no longer pink. For a leaner sauce, drain off any excess fat. - Combine Ingredients in Slow Cooker:
Transfer the meat mixture to a 5-quart slow cooker. Add diced tomatoes, tomato paste, sugar, Worcestershire sauce, canola oil, water, and all the herbs and spices. Season with salt and pepper to taste. - Cook the Sauce:
Cover and cook on low for 8 hours (or on high for 4 hours if you’re short on time), stirring occasionally to blend the flavors. - Serve:
Remove the bay leaves before serving. Spoon over hot cooked spaghetti and garnish with fresh parsley or grated Parmesan, if desired.
Notes
- This sauce freezes beautifully—store in airtight containers for up to 3 months.
- Adjust the seasoning to your taste by adding red pepper flakes for a little heat or extra herbs for more flavor.
Enjoy this classic spaghetti sauce with your favorite pasta for a cozy and satisfying meal!
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