Ingredients:

  • 1.5 lb ground beef (85/15 recommended)
  • 1 Yellow Onion (diced)
  • 1 Tbsp olive oil
  • 3 cloves minced garlic
  • 2 Tbsp tomato paste
  • 1/2 cup Beef Broth (or 1/2 cup dry red wine)
  • 1 (28 ounce) can crushed tomatoes
  • 1 (14.5 ounce) can diced tomatoes
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1 teaspoon dried basil
  • 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
  • 1 teaspoon sugar
  • 1 teaspoon salt (plus more to taste)
  • 1/2 teaspoon pepper
  • 2 bay leaves
  • fresh basil (for garnish)
  • Parmesan (for garnish)

Instructions:

  1. Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef and break it up. Cook until completely dark brown. Drain off all rendered fat. Transfer the browned ground beef to the 6 quart slow cooker.
  2. Reduce the heat in your skillet to medium. Add 1 Tbsp of olive oil, the diced onion, and a pinch of salt. Sauté until the onions are soft and translucent (about 5-7 minutes). Add the minced garlic and tomato paste. Cook the paste for 1 minute, stirring constantly, until it turns a deeper brick red.
  3. Pour the beef broth or wine into the skillet. Use a wooden spoon to vigorously scrape up all the brown bits (fond) stuck to the bottom. Pour this liquid into the slow cooker.
  4. Add the crushed tomatoes, diced tomatoes, all the dried herbs (oregano, basil, Italian seasoning), sugar, salt, pepper, and the bay leaves to the slow cooker. Stir well to combine everything with the ground beef.
  5. Cover the crockpot. Cook the easy crockpot meat sauce on LOW for 6 to 8 hours, or on HIGH for 3 to 4 hours.
  6. When the timer goes off, remove the bay leaves. Taste the best crockpot meat sauce. Adjust seasoning with more salt or a tiny pinch of sugar/baking soda if needed. If the sauce is too thin, remove the lid for the last 30 minutes and let the slow cooker continue to simmer uncovered to reduce and thicken up. Stir in fresh basil or Parmesan right before serving.