It’s crock pot spaghetti sauce. I don’t know why my wife calls it Spaghetti Sauce For a Month, but this is actually the title she placed on her recipe card (which is nasty and brown at the edges). I suppose it’s because it makes a crap ton of sauce, but this really lasts us forever, which is way more than a month. It’s just the two of us, how much sauce can a person eat?
She has made this for as long as I can remember. I mean, forever, back when we were some broke folks. But it’s still delicious, even today. We use it for spaghetti, obviously, but perfect for lasagna, tofu parmesan (which is another story). Great for meatball subs. Put some in portobello caps topped with cheese and pepperoni and grill for a personal little pizza.
Better yet, just sit there with a big steaming bowl full with an entire loaf of French bread and dip it till it’s gone. Just kidding (kind of).
It’s just an all around great sauce. Don’t be fooled by the few and simple ingredients either. The end result tastes like you simmered it all day on the stove.
Another thing that we love about the sauce is that it’s totally customizable. You don’t want the meat? Just toss in mushrooms, brown them a bit to release the moisture, and at after it’s done, toss in some black olives and stir. We’ve done that, we’ve used turkey Italian sausage and ground turkey, all ground beef, Morning Star crumbles, whatever.
Any way you do it, you will never, EVER buy jarred sauce again.
SPAGHETTI SAUCE FOR A MONTH
INGREDIENTS
2 – 3 pounds of ground beef and/or Italian sausage
2 – 12 ounce cans of good tomato paste
1 tablespoon red pepper flakes (or to taste)
minced garlic, about 10 cloves
2 – 28 ounce cans of good tomato sauce
1 chopped onion or 1/2 cup dried onion flakes
1-2 tablespoons fresh chopped oregano or 2-3 tablespoons Italian spice blend
mushrooms, optional
parmesan rind, optional
DIRECTIONS
If you bought sausage in the casing, remove the meat from the casing. Brown your meat(s). If you’re using fresh chopped onion and/or mushrooms, add it with the meat after you’ve broken it up. After your meat is browned add the remaining ingredients. If you’re using parmesan rind, add that in as well. Stir.
Cook on low for 10 to 14 hours. I say 14 hours because I like to put it on before I go to bed. Sometimes it’s a long time before I turn it off and have suffered no ill effects. No burning, no burnt taste. BUT, I have found it does take a minimum of 10 hours to achieve its full potential.
That’s it guys. Stir, enjoy!
**NOTE: Hey! if you’re feeling like the grease that floats on top is too much for you, after you brown the meat drain the grease off. It’s still delicious, I promise. BUT, that’s where the good stuff is. Good for your tastebuds, not your heart.
It also freezes REALLY well. I usually just cool, and pop into quart size freezer bags, with label and date.
See it in action now!
Can I can this?
Why yes, yes you can can this. Can can, I like that.
Seriously though, you can can this. I did and do. I’m not gonna tell you how though. I mean, it’s not a secret. Just do your canning thing, you know with the clean jars and pressure canner and all. Can for the length of meat. I would recommend going to the Ball website – they know everything about canning, obviously.
I’ve canned stuff before, plenty of times, but not meat. I’ve been very apprehensive about that just because it’s meat and I’m not from a generation or a family that ever canned meat (or anything else to be honest). But I’ve been wanted to can this to clear up room in the freezer, because as I said, it makes a lot!
But I did it and after letting it sit up up in my basement, aka the “dirt room”, aka, “the room my wife does not enter because she thinks children have been skinned and boiled in there after they’ve been used up in the kiddie sex trade”, for about six months, I cracked it open.
And it was good! Just like I made it. Pat on the back for me! So go ahead and can this stuff!
This post is linked to: Meal Plan Monday
Jaxx…You’ve been PINKED! Your post was a hit on the Classy Flamingos Blog Party. Come by and pick up a badge this week at poinsettiadr.com You rock! When my kids were young I always made sauce in advance, I haven’t done that in so long. You have inspired me. I like the idea of using the slow cooker too.
My favorite way to make spahetti sauce!!! Such a time-saver!
Absolutely!
Hey Jaxx,this looks great. I typically add some sugar to my sauce, but I will try this soon!
On the stove, I usually do as well, but since this cooks so long, no sugar necessary. Hope you enjoy Danny! It makes a lot, so be prepared for that!
Looks delicious! Thanks for joining us at the last To Grandma’s house we go link party!
Sounds delicious! I make sauce in my crockpot without the meat. Then after we have it for dinner that night, I can the leftovers so they can go in the pantry. Thanks for sharing at #HomeMattersParty
So I actually just tested some sauce that I canned back in November. It’s this sauce, with the meat, and boy was I nervous. I wan’t sure how well it would can but it was perfect!
That looks really yummy. I think I will have to try it.
I love that this was made in the crockpot! Thanks for sharing at Friday Frenzy Link Party! PINNED 🙂
This sounds amazing!! Pinned!!
I would love for you to share this with my Facebook Group for recipes, crafts, tips, and tricks: https://www.facebook.com/groups/pluckyrecipescraftstips/
Thanks for joining Cooking and Crafting with J & J!
I have to try this. I usually make the sauce for each meal, never thought about making larger batch. Thank you for sharing the recipe at The Really Crafty Link Party. Pinned.
This looks like a delicious and thick sauce! I love the ingredients. Thanks for sharing on Foodie Friday!
Love that you used red onions! I need to change mine up with that. Pinned to try yours! Sharing! Thank you for sharing on Merry Monday! Hope to see ya next week!
Kim
looks super yummy!
This looks so easy and cheap to make! Definitely adding it to my meal plan. Thanks!
You’re so right…spaghetti sauce just keeps on getting better and better the longer you cook it!
Spaghetti sauce is such a wonderful staple and I love your recipe. Thank you for sharing over at Fiesta Friday!
I love cooking spaghetti sauce in the crock pot! Thanks for sharing your recipe at The Blogger’s Pit Stop! Roseann from This Autoimmune Life
Love homemade sauce, especially in the slow cooker. Your recipe looks easier than mine though, will have to give it a try.
You had me at crock pot! This looks very yummy! #firdayfrivolity
Your recipe is featured on Whisk It Wednesday this week. Enjoy your weekend and thanks so much for sharing with us and come back soon!
Carrie
This looks and sounds so good, and so simple to make. I’ve never really made my own spaghetti sauce but this looks like something I need to try.
Thank you so much for stopping by and sharing on Throwback Thursday Blog-Style. Just wanted to let you know that your post is being featured today.
Thanks Karen! Once you make your own sauce, you shall never go back. And it just makes so darn much! Gotta love being able to freeze some for later.
I love making sauce in the crock pot. With 5 of us it does last for a couple of meals but I find it tastes so much better with those flavors simmering all day. My mom had a recipe that used sticks of pepperoni, meatballs and sausage that was just amazing!
That sounds awesome. I’d love to use pepperoni next time!
This looks delicious. Definitely pinning for later.
It is so delicious and freezes and cans like a champ.
That is close to my sauce and you are right it is soooo good.
Yum! This would not last very long in my house! It looks so good!
It’s really, really delicious!
Simple, easy, fast and delicious. Spaghetti is the one food I could eat every day. Pinning and I will be making this regularly.
Sounds like one tasty Spaghetti sauce and I am glad to be visiting you blog for the first time I know that I will be back !!
Glad that you made it here Harropaj!
Your sauce looks delicious and I love crock pot recipes. Thanks for linking up at Snickerdoodle Create Bake Make Party. Pinning to my Slow Cooker Board.
Thanks for hosting! I love crock pot recipes too and ones that I can freeze as well.
I have never made homemade spaghetti sauce. This sounds super yummy! I’ll have to give it a whirl. Thanks for sharing with SYC. Love the name of your blog! 🙂
Jann
Thanks Jann!
This sounds lovely – def one to try!
Thanks for linking up to #AnythingGoes 🙂
Debbie
Glad to link up and thank you!
It sounds wonderful! I think I might have to try it 🙂
I hope you do!
Pinned this one too! YUM! 🙂
I would love for you to share this with my Facebook Group for recipes, crafts, tips, and tricks: https://www.facebook.com/groups/pluckyrecipescraftstips/
Thanks for joining Cooking and Crafting with J & J!
222 stumbles! Congratulations! Stumbling!
Janice
Thanks Janice!
I will have to try your suggestions for a meatless sauce. I love mushrooms and olives! Crockpot meals are the best during the summer! Pinned for later, Thanks!
They are perfect for summer. I haven’t tried TVP in it as a replacement for the ground beef, but I bet if you get a small TVP soaked in beef broth first it could work!
But mushrooms and olives….you can’t beat that!
Love this!! It is going on tonight!! Found you on Mostly Blogging and stumbled your posts x
Glad you came by and thanks for stumbling!!! Let me know how it turns out for you!
I’m making spaghetti for dinner tonight!
Keep me updated!
Funny how I can somehow relate to the “sauce for a month” thingy! My husband would usually grow tired of eating pasta whenever I cook the sauce, since it also lasts us a month! :p
Thanks for sharing it over at Food Friday. Excited to see what you’ll be sharing next! 🙂
I make a giant batch of sauce once a year and can it…you say this freezes well…any reason I can’t can this version made in the crock pot?
Yes, you certainly can. I would drain off the fat or rinse the meat off with hot water. Put hot spaghetti sauce in your jars leaving 1 inch head space.
Pints for 1 hour, quarts for 1 hour and 15 minutes at 10 pounds pressure. Only pressure can. Since it has meat, you cannot safely can in a water bath.
This looks delicious! How well does it freeze? I’m thinking of making 2 batches and freezing them.
It freezes like a champ, like Rocky!
YAY! I can’t wait to make this! I can almost smell it looking at the pics! Thanks
It’s so funny, because whenever I see something about making sauce in the crockpot, I think, “I’ve got to do that!” But then I go and reach for the same pot I always use on the stove…some habits die hard. Thanks for joining us at #FridayFrivolity this week!
I know exactly what you mean!
Thank you for the recipe! I’ve been looking for a new Spaghetti sauce and the fact that I can use my crock pot is a bonus. Thanks for joining us in last weeks Creative K Kids’ Tasty Tuesday. If you haven’t already, don’t forget to link up this week!
I bet this smells amazing while it’s simmering away in the crock pot! What a lovely sauce – and I like your wife’s name for the recipe. Seriously though, it’s nice to have something like this tucked away in the freezer in serving size portions. Pinning and sharing. Thank you for bringing this delicious recipe to Hearth and Soul. Hope to ‘see’ you again this week!
Hi Bearded Hiker,
Congatulations! Yours was the most popular post at Inspire Me Monday Linky last week.
Janice
That’s awesome! I love Inspire Me Monday! Thanks Janice!
Jaxx, looks good! Do you set the slow cooker on High or Low?
Jean! You hawk you. 🙂
It’s on low. Thanks for catching that. I have changed the post to reflect the temp.
Looks like a ninja 4 in 1 to me! I’m hugging mine everyday…Great appliance for apartment dwellers…Keeps oven off..No greasy stove,large capacity,1 pan cleanup!..And apartment still cool. Great recipe,I add a bit of wine along w cheese rind.
It’s so perfect in the summer here on the Gulf Coast. I hate to heat the kitchen up.
Sometimes I add wine, when I have it. Usually, it’s already in me and there’s nothing to spare! Anchovy paste is awesome too!
saw this on another linky and went and got eveything I needed. Ready to whip some op this weekend!
Be sure to come back and let me know how it turned out!
What a great idea to make this in the crock pot!! Thanks
Jodie
http://www.jtouchofstyle.com
#fdflinkparty
This looks delicious and we love spaghetti at my house. Thanks for sharing at Over the Moon.
Thanks for hosting, I hope you and your family enjoys it!
Oh my gosh! Sounds so good! I will be trying this. Thank you.
Hope you like it!
yummy! I am trying this for sure! #twinklytuesday
This is seriously genius. Definitely trying this!
#twinklytues
Glad you like it Kristin! Let me know how it turns out!
Hi, I do love a nice spag bol and am always looking for new ways to tweak this classic recipe. I shall give this a try. thanks for sharing, Chloe #inspiremelinky
Thanks for taking a look! Let me know if you try it and how you like it!
Will do ?
looks good, I add in Olives as well.
Love em, green as well as black!
That looks yummy! This is one variation of spaghetti sauce that I haven’t tried yet. Will definitely try it out!
Please let me know how you like it!
This looks so easy and good. I love recipes like that 🙂
Hope you like it as much as we do Corey!