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Crockpot ragu in two white bowls with spaghetti
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5 from 1 vote

Crockpot Ragu Recipe

This Crockpot ragu recipe is hearty, full of flavor, and it makes a big batch that's perfect for freezing so you always have a quick and delicious dinner option readily available. 
Prep Time20 minutes
Cook Time8 hours
Total Time8 hours 20 minutes
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Italian American
Keyword: Crockpot ragu, slow cooker ragu recipe
Servings: 8
Author: Natasha Bull

Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 medium onion chopped
  • 3 medium carrots chopped
  • 4 sticks celery chopped
  • 1.5 pounds ground beef
  • 1.5 pounds ground pork
  • 4 cloves garlic (minced)
  • 1 (5.5 ounce) can tomato paste
  • 2 dashes Italian seasoning
  • 2 dashes dried thyme
  • 2 cups beef broth
  • 1/2 cup dry red wine (optional, see note)
  • 1/2 cup heavy/whipping cream
  • Salt & pepper to taste

Instructions

  • Sauté the onions, carrots, and celery in a large skillet over medium-high heat for 5-7 minutes or until softened. Add the mixture to your slow cooker.
  • Add the ground beef and pork to the skillet and cook, breaking up the meat with your spoon as you go along, until it's browned. Drain most of the fat prior to adding the meat to your slow cooker.
  • Add the remaining ingredients (except for the cream and salt & pepper) to your Crockpot and give it a good stir. Cook for 8 hours on low.
  • Once the sauce is done, stir in the cream and season with salt & pepper as needed.

Notes

  • The red wine adds great flavor to this sauce, but if you don't want to use it, replace it with the same amount of beef broth. 
  • This sauce freezes well. I like to freeze it in small containers so I've got individual portions that thaw quickly on the stove.
  • This recipe conservatively feeds 8 but will feed more depending on how much people eat.
  • Instant Pot Instructions: Sauté the carrots, onions, and celery in your Instant Pot using the "sauté" function for 3-4 minutes, then add the ground meat and continue cooking until it's browned. Spoon out most of the fat. Add the remaining ingredients (except for cream and salt & pepper), close the lid, set the valve on "sealing" and cook on high pressure for 10 minutes. Let the pressure release naturally. Stir in the cream and season with salt & pepper as needed.