Main Dishes

Slow Cooker Spaghetti Casserole

Slow Cooker Spaghetti Casserole has a wonderfully meaty sauce and lots of cheese. Pure comfort food. The pasta cooks right

  • Serves 8
  • Prep 15 minutes
  • Cook 4 hours
  • Total 4 hours

ground beefpastaSausage

Jump to the recipe
Slow Cooker Spaghetti Casserole

If you’re looking for a version of this recipe that is not made in a slow cooker, try this Spaghetti Casserole recipe.

How To Make Slow Cooker Spaghetti Casserole

There’s just a little pre-cooking. The meat has to be browned first and then all the sauce ingredients are added to the pan. You’ll put half the sauce in the bottom of a 6-quart crock pot, top with the uncooked spaghetti, and then cover the spaghetti with the rest of the sauce. Sprinkle the cheese mixture on top and cover and cook on LOW for 4 hours.

A NOTE ABOUT PASTA COOKED IN THE SLOW COOKER.

Pasta cooked in a slow cooker is softer than pasta boiled in water on the stovetop. I don’t find it to be at all mushy, but some people may not be a fan of the texture. Most people seem to love it, but there are a few naysayers.

Slow Cooker Spaghetti Casserole

Pin this now to find it later

One advantage of cooking the pasta in the slow cooker is it soaks up lots of meaty flavor and the casserole has more of a cohesive flavor.

Recipe Suggestions

I like to use a combination of mozzarella cheese, Parmesan cheese, and cheddar cheese, but you can play around with the cheese.  Use just mozzarella and Parmesan if you wish. I just think the cheddar cheese adds another flavor dimension.

Storage

Leftovers will keep in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 4 days and can be reheated in a microwave.

Slow Cooker Spaghetti Casserole

Pin this now to find it later

More Slow Cooker Pasta Recipes

Close-up of Spaghetti Caaserole

Recipe

Slow Cooker Spaghetti Casserole

Slow Cooker Spaghetti Casserole has a wonderfully meaty sauce and lots of cheese. Pure comfort food. The pasta cooks right in the slow cooker. So easy.

  • Serves 8
  • Prep 15 minutes
  • Cook 4 hours
  • Total 4 hours

Ingredients

  • 1 pound ground beef
  • 1 pound mild or hot Italian sausage
  • 1 medium onion (diced)
  • 2 garlic cloves (minced)
  • 1 tablespoon tomato paste
  • 1 (14-ounce) can petite diced tomatoes (undrained)
  • 1 (24-ounce) jar pasta sauce
  • 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
  • 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teapsoon pepper
  • 8 ounces uncooked spaghetti (broken in thirds)
  • 1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • 1 cup shredded mozarella cheese
  • 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

Instructions

  1. 1

    Place the ground beef, sausage, and onion in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Brown and crumble the meat. Drain off grease.

  2. 2

    Add garlic and cook for 1 minute.

  3. 3

    Add tomato paste, diced tomatoes, pasta sauce, Italian seasoning, red pepper flakes, salt, and pepper. Simmer for a minute or two.

  4. 4

    Transfer half the sauce to a lightly greased 6-quart slow cooker.

  5. 5

    Add the broken spaghetti. Top with remaining sauce.

  6. 6

    Sprinkle on the cheese. Cover and cook on LOW for 4 hours.

  7. 7

    Stir well and serve.

Equipment

  • 6-quart slow cooker

Nutrition

  • Calories609 kcal
  • Carbohydrates33 g
  • Protein31 g
  • Fat39 g
  • Saturated Fat16 g
  • Polyunsaturated Fat3 g
  • Monounsaturated Fat15 g
  • Trans Fat1 g
  • Cholesterol112 mg
  • Sodium1340 mg
  • Potassium840 mg
  • Fiber4 g
  • Sugar7 g
  • Vitamin A824 IU
  • Vitamin C13 mg
  • Calcium277 mg
  • Iron4 mg

More recipes

Eight more recipes from the rest of the kitchen.