The Walmart Cook

With the holiday season already here, it seems every day is busy!  This recipe for homemade spaghetti sauce will make enough sauce to feed the family many times over.  I cook this in my 5 quart slow cooker and it fills it to the top.   I use some for dinner that night, then put dinner  portions in freezer ziplocks.  Place the full ziplocks on a cookie sheet in the freezer so they freeze flat and store easier.  This recipe makes at least 20 one cup servings for a cost of $12.25 (and I had enough bacon left over for breakfast!).

Slow Cooker Spaghetti Sauce

¼ pound bacon, diced  - $2.00

1 pound ground beef – $2.58

1 pound ground pork – $2.24

1 onion, chopped – $ .33

1 green pepper, diced – $ .50

3 garlic cloves, chopped

3 large cans (28 oz) diced tomatoes – $3.00  (Great Value Brand)

2 – 6 ounce cans tomato paste – $1.00

1 cup dry red wine or water

2 ½ teaspoons dried oregano

2 ½ teaspoons dried basil

1 bay leaf, crumbled

¼ cup chopped parsley – $ .60

1 teaspoon dried thyme

1 tablespoon salt

¼ teaspoon pepper

¼ cup red wine or water

Brown bacon in skillet until crisp.  Remove and drain on paper towel.  Add ground beef and pork to bacon drippings.  Crumble and cook until brown.  Stir in onions, green pepper and garlic and cook for 10 more minutes. 

Pour tomatoes and the rest of the ingredients into slow cooker – except for the last ¼ cup of red wine or water.  Drain meat mixture and add to slow cooker.  Stir, then cover and bring to a boil on high.  Reduce heat and cook on low for 3-4 hours.  During the last 30 minutes, add the remaining ¼ cup of wine or water.

NOTE:  If I need to be out of the house, I will cook this on medium heat for 6 hours (without bringing it to a boil) and it works fine too!

Tags: easy, slow cooker, spaghetti sauce