This Slow Cooker Bolognese recipe is so easy, no browning needed. Just leave it to cook all day and come home to a thick, rich beef ragu. Perfect to top spaghetti or use in lasagne.
Is there a more classic midweek dinner than Spag Bol?! 🍝
I’ve taken this family favourite dish and reinvented to be cooked while you’re busy all day, totally hands off, no faffing. Meet my Slow Cooker Bolognese.
After lots of testing, this version doesn’t need any browning and I promise, it’s still full of flavour. The slow cooking develops the flavours and leaves a rich, thick sauce that you can use over spaghetti, in lasagne or to top a baked potato. I hope you love it as much as we do. ❤️
This recipe is also part of a series of 9 (yes – NINE) new Slow Cooker recipes I’m posting over the coming weeks. Watch me cook them on Instagram and TikTok.
You’ll love this recipe because:
✅ Soft and tender beef.
✅ Rich and delicious sauce.
✅ Perfect for batch cooking and freezing.
FAQs about the Slow Cooker Bolognese Recipe
Which Slow Cooker do you use and recommend?
I use: Morphy Richards Sear & Stew Slow Cooker (it’s light and you can use it for browning on the hob too).
For induction hob users: Lakeland Digital 6.5l Slow Cooker
Also! Top tip, buy a WiFi plug for it so you can switch it on or off from your phone when you’re at work? What a time to be alive.. I have these: Tp Link Tapo Smart Plug (Also you can set up with your Google or Alexa to say “Switch on Slow Cooker” WHATTT 🤯
Can you put raw mince into a slow cooker?
Yes you can! The reasons to brown mince before cooking in the slow cooker (or crock pot) is to add flavour, to avoid excess fat and to stop the meat clumping.
You can avoid needing to do that by; adding lots of extra flavour, using lean mince and chopping up the mince before adding.
All that said, if you do want to brown the mince, go for it, I’m just always looking for a time saving hack.
What type of mince should I use?
I like to use a 5% beef fat mince as it avoids excess fattiness in the sauce (as none will be cooking off).
Any beef mince will work fine though.
Can I cook this in the oven or on the hob instead?
This recipe is designed for the slow cooker so I’d suggest you use my oven Bolognese recipe here: Hidden Vegetable Bolognese.
Can I freeze this recipe?
Yes, you can freeze any leftovers. Defrost and reheat thoroughly when you want to enjoy them.
Alternatively, you can freeze all of the ingredients in a bag raw as a ‘dump’ meal and then cook.
Can I prepare this recipe the night before?
Yes. Throw everything for the initial cook into the slow cooker, pop the lid on, then store in the fridge overnight. In the morning put it into the slow cooker.
Fancy more ‘dump’ recipes?
- Slow Cooker Beef Stew – The classic winter warmer
- Slow Cooker Pulled Pork – Just a handful of ingredients and SO tasty!
- Slow Cooker Beef Curry – Totally delicious and simple to make
Hope you enjoy this recipe as much as we do. I’d love to know how you got on and what you thought of it if you make this recipe. Please rate the recipe using the ⭐️ by the recipe.
Also, if you’d like to show me a photo by tagging me on Instagram (@tamingtwins) I LOVE to see your creations.
Slow Cooker Bolognese {No Browning Recipe!}
Ingredients
To Slow Cook:
- 500 g Beef Mince
- 800 g Tinned Tomatoes 2 x 400g Cans
- 3 Sticks Celery Chopped finely
- 3 Carrots Peeled and chopped finely
- 1 Onion Peeled and chopped finely
- 6 Cloves Garlic Peeled and crushed
- 75 g Tomato Puree
- 125 ml Red Wine
- 2 Beef Stock Cubes
- 2 tsp Dried Oregano
- 3 Bay Leaves
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper
To Serve:
- 1 tbsp Worcestershire Sauce
- 15 g Fresh Basil Finely chopped
Instructions
- Put all of the slow cook ingredients into the slow cooker and cook for 6 hours on HIGH or 8 hours on LOW.
- Add the Worcestershire sauce and fresh basil.
Optional:
- If you want to serve with spaghetti, boil the spaghetti for 2 - 3 minutes less than the usual cooking time. Drain and add to the bolognese sauce, with a splash or two of reserved cooking water. Stir well and allow the pasta to absorb the sauce a little and soften.
Notes
Chopping your mince finely before adding to the slow cooker will avoid any big meat lumps. Bay Leaves
Fresh or dried is fine, remove before serving. Vegetables
I buy a 'soffritto' mix if available to save having to chop the celery, carrots and onions. A 400g or 500g bag is fine. Nutritional Information
The nutritional information does not include any spaghetti or other dishes to serve.
Irene says
Delicious and so easy – only two of us so lots for the freezer. What’s not to like! Trying slow cooker chicken casserole tomorrow. 😊
Mia says
I didn’t have any red wine so had to just use beef stock. Think it really needs the wine, will def try again with wine next time.
Thank you for all that you do, I love your recipes
Hannah says
This the best bolognese recipe I have ever tried! Such a rich sauce and totally effortless. Thanks for another amazing recipe.
Debbie says
Absolutely delicious and no lumps of mince, which I hate. Makes loads! We had spaghetti with ours and still enough left for a lasagne. Great recipe.
GurkhaKitchen says
Thank you for a great recipe. It’s super nice and complete and helpful.
Amanda Smith says
I am working my through all your recipes and like all the others I have tried this was delicious and so so easy.
Jo says
Can I ask, if doing the dump bags do I add the tin toms, wine, stock or in fact any of the liquids before freezing?
Sarah Barnes says
The blog post about this is up now Jo!
Tess Clark says
A really great recipe, so easy that my six year old took the lead! Really helpful that no browning was required in advance. We’re going to try the Lamb Orzo recipe next.
Rebecca says
I consider my spag bol to be excellent but my daughter has just told me its even better than mine! I only tried this as my kitchen has been ripped out and had to invest in a slow cooker.
Will definitely be making dump bags (didn’t for this) it’s going to make life so much simpler 😍
Samantha Smith says
Oh my word. I popped the slow cooker on at 07:30, it went onto warm mode at 17:30. It’s a flipping delicious dish!! Thank you for a fabulous & oh so easy recipe xx
Scindy says
Best bolognese I’ve ever made. So easy. Used 3% fat mince so a little lower in cals too though I made up for this with cheese! Took me 4 mins to chop and Chuck in the slow cooker. I timed it!
Charlotte says
Just chucked all the ingredients in ready for tonight’s dinner! I grated carrots and celery to disguise a little. Can’t wait to taste!
Neil Corden says
Simply delicious!! Im new to slow cooking….cooking made sooo easily and this Bolognese is/was amazing!! Thank you for your time in sharing
Clare says
Hello we have been trying all your recipes – so delicious ! For this one .. I presume frozen onion etc are ok if you don’t have fresh? ( as per some your other recipes ) thanks again !
Claire says
Really lovely, thank you. I double the recipe but add 150g red lentils about half an hour before the end, instead of doubling up on the mince, so add 500ml water with the stock cubes from the start, to compensate for the fact the red lentils will soak in water. It makes it healthier and cheaper (and no-one can tell the difference!). I’ve used the frozen celery / onion / carrot mixes too which makes this recipe so quick to prepare, thank you 🙂
Rhiannon says
Absolutely love this bolognese recipe! So easy and loads of flavour!
Joanna McKeon says
First time making this. It was so simple to make and so good to have dinner ready as we walked in the door. Really tasty, my 9 year old went for seconds and requested we have it every week.