This meaty sauce is easy to make and always a crowd-pleaser. The yield is a generous 3+ quarts, so there’s plenty to freeze or to share!
This meaty sauce is the ideal foundation for a winning spaghetti dinner. It’s also perfect for sharing with a friend (or two) while having enough for your family as well.
On that note, I’m frequently asked for meal recommendations when delivering a meal to someone in need. So, following is a short but varied selection. (Update: I recently added this Freezer-Friendly Meal post, which is also handy when you simply want to prepare meals in advance to reheat later.)
Often, I make two Slow Roasted Whole Chickens at a time along with Corn Spoon Bread. This meal is always a hit and pairs beautifully with any green veggie or a simple salad. Broccoli and Prosciutto Bake is a flavorful all-in-one meal than can be made ahead and reheated. In fact, I think it tastes better when reheated.
Chicken Tortilla Soup is another great make-ahead recipe – a fan favorite that feeds a crowd. Scan through the soup category for other wholesome options (like this pediatrician-recommended, kid-approved version of chicken noodle soup).
Soups often lend well to sharing and, paired with a crusty loaf of bread, make a satisfying, complete meal. When the weather is warm, consider a simple grilled chicken with this three-ingredient marinade (or try a Lime Honey version). The chicken can then be eaten as is or sliced and used as a topper for a hearty-yet-healthy salad.
All these meals are easy to pull off and can be paired a simple salad with any number of yummy, easy-to-make dressings when ready to eat. (Favorite Balsamic Vinaigrette is a great basic, and there are others in the Condiment category, or simply enter the word dressing or vinaigrette in the search bar.)
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By mid-December every year, I promise myself that I will start my Christmas shopping earlier the next time around, and sure enough, the following December I have procrastinated all over again.
Don’t get me wrong; I love the holidays. But finding the right gifts for the special people in our lives can be a challenge.
Enter the gift of food. What thoughtful neighbor or hard-to-buy-for friend wouldn’t relish a break from weeknight cooking, especially during the holidays? Teachers, coaches, and friends might also enjoy a homemade cookie mix, which can be easily prepared after the deluge of Christmas cookies has evaporated.
Packaged in a reusable Mason jar, the following two recipes are sure to delight any recipient, yet they need not be reserved solely for gift giving. The ease and taste may make them year-round favorites in your house, too.
Amazing Parmesan Garlic Bread is the perfect completion to meal, while the Spaghetti Pizza (below) makes a quick meal out of the leftovers.
I’d love to know if you try this recipe! Leave a comment, rate it, and don’t forget to tag a photo @fountainavenuekitchen on Instagram and Facebook. Your feedback is always appreciated. 💛
Slow Cooker Spaghetti Sauce
Yields 3 quarts.
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 pound turkey or pork sausage, casings removed
- 1 medium onion, minced (or cut in half; see notes)
- 4 garlic cloves, minced
- 2 (28-ounce) cans diced tomatoes, with juice (I like petite diced)
- 2 (6-ounce) cans tomato paste
- 2 (8-ounce) cans tomato sauce
- 2 bay leaves
- 1 tablespoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- Optional: 1/4 cup torn fresh basil leaves
Instructions
- Brown the ground beef, sausage, and onion in a large skillet or the insert of your slow cooker. Break up the meat as it cooks and add the garlic in the final minute or so, stirring until fragrant but not brown.
- If cooking in a separate skillet, transfer the mixture to your slow cooker.
- Add the remaining ingredients, except the fresh basil if using, and mix well.
- Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours or on high for 3-4 hours. Stir in the optional fresh basil at the end of the cooking time.
- Serve over hot spaghetti noodles, or cool and then refrigerate or freeze for later use.
Notes
- My mother and grandmother taught me the importance of adding a touch of sugar to tomato-based sauces. The sugar balances out the acidity of the tomatoes, bringing the flavors together beautifully without tasting sweet.
- If you like the flavor of onion but don’t care for the pieces in your sauce, cut the peeled onion in half, add to the slow cooker with the tomatoes, cook as directed, and remove prior to eating.
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