Servings
Font
Back
4.9 from 135 votes

Slow Cooker Bolognese

This Slow Cooker Bolognese recipe tastes authentically Italian - it's rustic, rich, bursting with herby tomato goodness and the meat is melt in your mouth.

Prep Time
3 mins
Cook Time
4 hrs 3 mins
Total Time
4 hrs 10 mins
Servings: 4 servings
Calories: 403 kcal
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Italian

Ingredients

  • 1 teaspoon olive oil for the vegetables
  • 1 teaspoon olive oil for the beef
  • 1 onion peeled and diced
  • 6 mushrooms diced
  • 1 carrot peeled and diced
  • 3 garlic clove crushed
  • 500 g beef mince
  • 800 g chopped tomatoes canned
  • 3 tablespoon tomato puree (tomato paste)
  • 1 pinch sea salt and ground black pepper
  • 2 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
  • 1 vegetable stock cube
  • 75 ml red wine
  • 1 tablespoon dried oregano
  • 1 tablespoon dried basil

Instructions

    Cup of Yum
  1. Put 1 teaspoon Olive oil in to a large pan and add 1 Onion, 6 Mushrooms, 1 Carrot and 3 Garlic clove. Gently cook for 3 minutes. Set aside.
  2. Put another 1 teaspoon Olive oil in the same frying pan and add 500 g Beef mince. Gently cook for 3-4 minutes until browned.
  3. Add the vegetables to the slow cooker.
  4. Add the browned meat to the slow cooker.
  5. Add 800 g Chopped tomatoes, 3 tablespoon Tomato puree, 2 tablespoon Balsamic vinegar, 75 ml Red wine, 1 Vegetable stock cube, 1 tablespoon Dried oregano, 1 tablespoon Dried basil and 1 pinch Sea salt and ground black pepper to the slow cooker and cook on low for 8 hours or high for 4 hours.

Notes

  • You want the mince to be really broken up, rather than big chunks. So use a fork to break it all up whilst it is browning.
  • If you wanted to add a bit of creaminess to this dish, then add a glug of single cream about 15 minutes before the bolognese has finished and stir well.
  • Want to give the dish a veggie boost? Add some peppers and courgette and then stir in some spinach about 30 minutes before it is cooked.
  • Make sure the vegetables are finely chopped so that they are nice and soft.
  • Looking for a vegetarian bolognese? You could use just mushrooms or even Quorn mince or cooked lentils. Cooking times will vary though.
  • You don't have to add red wine to this dish, just simply leave it out with no need to replace it with anything.
  • Don't have a slow cooker? This can all be slow cooked in the oven at 170°C/325°F/Gas 3 for 2 to 3 hours.
  • For some extra flavour you can add some chopped and browned pancetta.
  • If the bolognese feels a little too thick once mixed with the pasta, then you can loosen it up a little with starchy pasta water.

Nutrition Information

Serving 1portion (pasta not inc.) Calories 403kcal (20%) Carbohydrates 18g (6%) Protein 25g (50%) Fat 28g (43%) Saturated Fat 10g (50%) Cholesterol 89mg (30%) Sodium 570mg (24%) Potassium 1034mg (30%) Fiber 4g (16%) Sugar 9g (18%) Vitamin A 2864IU (57%) Vitamin C 24mg (27%) Calcium 142mg (14%) Iron 6mg (33%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 4servings

Amount Per Serving

Calories 403

% Daily Value*

Serving 1portion (pasta not inc.)
Calories 403kcal 20%
Carbohydrates 18g 6%
Protein 25g 50%
Fat 28g 43%
Saturated Fat 10g 50%
Cholesterol 89mg 30%
Sodium 570mg 24%
Potassium 1034mg 22%
Fiber 4g 16%
Sugar 9g 18%
Vitamin A 2864IU 57%
Vitamin C 24mg 27%
Calcium 142mg 14%
Iron 6mg 33%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.