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I don’t make my spaghetti sauce the same way twice.
Sometimes I add mushrooms. Sometimes bell peppers. Occasionally a pinch of red pepper flakes if I’m in the mood for a little heat.
But this Easy Slow Cooker Sausage Spaghetti Sauce has become one of my favorite starting points.
Made with Italian chicken sausage, tomatoes, garlic and a handful of pantry seasonings, it cooks low and slow until the flavors blend into a rich, hearty sauce that’s perfect over pasta, spaghetti squash or tucked into lasagna.
Best of all, it makes a big batch, so there’s usually enough to freeze for another easy meal down the road.
Table of Contents
- Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Ingredients & Substitutions
- How to Make Slow Cooker Sausage Spaghetti Sauce
- Recipe Notes
- Variations
- How to Serve
- Storage & Freezing
- A Simple Sauce Worth Repeating
- How Many Calories and WW Points?
- Easy Slow Cooker Sausage Spaghetti Sauce Recipe
- More Easy Pasta Sauces & Slow Cooker Favorites
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Easy slow cooker recipe
- Rich tomato flavor
- Lighter than traditional sausage sauce
- Freezer friendly
- Great for meal prep
- Easy to customize
- Perfect for pasta night
Ingredients & Substitutions
Italian Chicken Sausage
I usually use sweet Italian chicken sausage because it’s lighter than pork sausage but still has wonderful flavor.
You could also use:
- Italian turkey sausage
- Lean pork Italian sausage
- Ground turkey plus Italian seasoning
- Ground chicken
Onion
Optional, but recommended for extra flavor.
Yellow, white, or sweet onions all work well.
Bell Pepper
I like adding one chopped bell pepper for sweetness and extra vegetables, but you can leave it out.
Garlic
Fresh garlic is wonderful here, but I often use jarred minced garlic because it’s easy.
Crushed Tomatoes
The foundation of the sauce.
If you prefer a chunkier sauce, substitute one can of diced tomatoes for part of the crushed tomatoes.
Tomato Paste
Adds richness and helps thicken the sauce.
Brown Sugar (Optional)
Just a teaspoon or two can mellow the acidity of the tomatoes.
I often skip it altogether.
Herbs
Dried oregano and basil are my staples.
A bay leaf adds wonderful flavor while the sauce simmers.
How to Make Slow Cooker Sausage Spaghetti Sauce
Ideal Slow Cooker Size: 5 to 6 quarts
Step 1
In a large skillet (affiliate link) over medium heat, cook the sausage until browned and crumbly.
If using onion and bell pepper, add them along with the garlic and cook for another 3 to 4 minutes until slightly softened.
Step 2
Transfer the sausage mixture to the slow cooker.
Add:
- Crushed tomatoes
- Tomato paste
- Brown sugar, if using
- Bay leaf
- Oregano
- Basil
Stir to combine.
If the mixture seems very thick, add up to 1 cup water.
Step 3
Cover and cook on LOW for 6 to 8 hours.
Remove the bay leaf before serving.
Recipe Notes
One of the things I love most about spaghetti sauce is how forgiving it is.
I rarely make it exactly the same way twice.
Sometimes I add:
- Mushrooms
- Zucchini
- Extra peppers
- Crushed red pepper flakes
- A splash of red wine
- Extra garlic
It’s hard to go wrong.
Variations
Make it Vegetarian
Skip the sausage and add:
- Chopped mushrooms
- Lentils
- Plant-based sausage
- Extra vegetables
Make it Spicy
Add:
- Crushed red pepper flakes
- Hot Italian sausage
- Cayenne pepper
Make it Chunky
Replace one can of crushed tomatoes with diced tomatoes.
How to Serve
Of course, it’s delicious over spaghetti.
But I also enjoy it:
- Over spaghetti squash
- Tossed with penne or rigatoni
- Over zucchini noodles
- Layered into lasagna
- Stuffed into baked potatoes
- Served over creamy polenta
- As the sauce for homemade pizza
Storage & Freezing
Store leftovers in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
Freeze cooled sauce in freezer-safe containers for up to 3 months.
I often freeze individual portions because it’s such a treat to have homemade pasta sauce ready to go on busy nights.
A Simple Sauce Worth Repeating
This is one of those recipes I come back to over and over.
It’s flexible.
It’s forgiving.
And the slow cooker does almost all the work.
That’s my kind of cooking.
How Many Calories and WW Points?
According to my calculations, each serving of sauce has 86 calories and 1 WW Point.
To see your WW Points for this recipe, track it in the WW App!
(You must be logged into WW on a smartphone or tablet.)
2 PointsPlus (Old plan)
I served mine the traditional way, with spaghetti, but you could of course, substitute any shape pasta, spaghetti squash or even zucchini noodles, if you are so inclined.
A combination of spaghetti and spaghetti squash is really satisfying too. Enjoy!
If you’ve made this Crock Pot Spaghetti Sauce with Sausage, please give the recipe a star rating below and leave a comment letting me know how you liked it. And stay in touch on Pinterest, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter for the latest updates.
Easy Slow Cooker Sausage Spaghetti Sauce
Ingredients
- 2 pounds sweet Italian Chicken sausage (Substitute turkey sausage if it's easier to find)
- 1/2 cup chopped onion (optional)
- 1/2 bell pepper, chopped (optional)
- 2-3 garlic cloves, minced (I used jarred)
- 2 cans (28 ounces each) crushed tomatoes
- 1 can (6 ounces) tomato paste
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar (optional)
- 1 bay leaf
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
Instructions
- Ideal slow cooker size: 5- to 6-Quart. (I used my InstantPot.)
- Cook the chicken sausage in a large skillet (affiliate link) set over medium heat, until crumbled and slightly browned.
- Add the garlic, onion and bell pepper if using and cook, stirring often, 3 to 4 minutes or until the onion softens slightly.
- Scrape the sausage mixture into the slow cooker.
- Add the tomatoes, tomato paste, sugar and seasonings. Stir to combine. (My crushed tomatoes were really thick, so I also added 1 cup of water.)
- Cover and cook on LOW for 6 to 8 hours.
Notes
(Must be logged into WW on a smartphone or tablet.) 2 PointsPlus (Old plan)2 Variations:
- Vegetarian/vegan – substitute chopped mushrooms for the sausage.
- Different meats – use whatever ground meat you prefer or a combination.
- Spicier – add more dried Italian spices (basil, oregano, marjoram, thyme) and pinch or two of crushed red pepper flakes.
- Chunkier – substitute diced tomatoes for one of the can of crushed.
- More veg – add chopped mushroom, more bell pepper, chopped zucchini, etc.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
This sauce is fantastic. Extremely flavorful and satisfying. I put it over spaghetti squash strands and had a fabulous lunch for 2 points. Yes, 2 points!!
I’m looking for chicken sausage too. Please suggest where we can purchase or make our own? I’ve ground chicken breast before to make another recipe so could potentially make my own chicken sausage. Just use the seasonings you’d use for beef/pork Italian sausage?
Hi Susie, You could substitute turkey sausage if it’s easier to find. Or make your own. If you google, “make your own Italian Chicken Sausage” lots of results come back from which to choose. ~Martha
HI THERE, I AM TOTALLY AT A LOSS WITH THESE MEASURES OF 1.05 LBS. OR 0.52 TSP. OF A HERB. HOW DO I CALCULATE THESE OVER TO TSP. OR TBSP ETC. THANK YOU. LOVE YOUR HELP.
Hi Christa, The recipe card allows you to adjust servings up and down. When not set to the default number of servings, the ingredient amounts are shown in decimal percentages. Click the servings up/down until you see standard measurement amounts. Hope this helps. ~Martha
Where can I find chicken Italian sausage? A brand name might help too.
Thanks, I’ve been missing spaghetti in my diet
I just got an Instant Pot, you said you made this in the instant pot, could you publish directions for that as well.
Hi Barb,
I cooked it in my Instant Pot but with the slow cooker settings not as a pressure cooker. – Martha
Martha,ww pointss
Left over spaghetti sauce with added Italian seasoning make a wonderful pizza sauce. just add cheese and cook. Adding anything you might like.
I ran across a really good pizza crust recipe, but have misplaced it. When I find it I will forward it to you.it had low ww points.
Lauren, Did you find the pizza crust recipe? Could you please share?
You do know that the recipe on the video isn’t the same one that’s printed, right? I’m confused. Is the one on the video also 2 WW points?
Hi Robyn,
Yes, it’s a different recipe. Sorry for the confusion. I’ve added text to the post that says: Here’s another easy recipe for meat-lover’s slow cooker spaghetti sauce from All Recipes that looks delicious. Though the SmartPoints are sure to be higher since it calls for both ground beef and Italian pork sausage, it provides a nice visual look at the steps involved in making meat-based spaghetti sauce in your slow cooker. Enjoy!
What do you mean by “Chicken Sausage from the freezer”? Can you tell me the name brand you use? I’m assuming it needs to be defrosted before you fry it up, correct?