Description
This Slow Cooker Spaghetti Casserole is a hearty and comforting one-pot meal that combines ground beef, Italian sausage, spaghetti, and a rich tomato sauce, all slow-cooked to perfection and topped with a blend of cheddar and Parmesan cheeses. Perfect for a family dinner with minimal hands-on time.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 pound Italian sausage, casings removed
Pasta and Sauce
- 8 oz uncooked spaghetti, broken into thirds
- 1 (26-oz) jar spaghetti sauce
- 1 (14.5-oz) can petite diced tomatoes, undrained
- ½ cup water
- 1 tsp dried Italian seasoning
Cheese
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
- ½ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Cook the meat: In a large skillet, cook the ground beef and Italian sausage over medium heat, stirring frequently until the meat is fully browned and crumbled, with no pink remaining. Drain the excess fat and return the meat to the skillet.
- Prepare the sauce mixture: Stir in the jarred spaghetti sauce, undrained petite diced tomatoes, water, and dried Italian seasoning into the cooked meat. Mix thoroughly to combine all ingredients.
- Layer in the slow cooker: Lightly grease a 6-quart slow cooker. Spoon half of the meat and sauce mixture into the bottom of the slow cooker. Spread the broken spaghetti evenly over this layer, then spoon the remaining meat mixture on top of the pasta.
- Add the cheese: Evenly sprinkle the shredded cheddar cheese and freshly grated Parmesan cheese over the top layer of meat and spaghetti.
- Cook the casserole: Cover the slow cooker and cook on Low for 4 hours, allowing the spaghetti to soften and flavors to meld together.
- Rest before serving: After cooking, let the casserole stand covered for 10 minutes to set before serving.
Notes
- For best results, use a slow cooker of at least 6-quart capacity to prevent overflow.
- Breaking spaghetti into thirds ensures it cooks evenly in the slow cooker.
- You can substitute part of the cheddar cheese with mozzarella for a different cheese flavor.
- If you prefer a spicier dish, add red pepper flakes with the Italian seasoning.
- Ensure the sausage casings are removed before cooking to avoid chewy texture.
- Leftovers can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days and reheated in the microwave or oven.
