Step-By-Step Guide To Making Slow Cooker Spaghetti Bolognese

Are you looking for a simple and healthy meal that still packs a punch in flavour? Look no further than spaghetti bolognese made in a slow cooker!

This classic Italian dish is a favourite for many, but it can often be loaded with excess carbs, calories, and fat. Did you know you can make your favourite spag bol in the slow cooker? You sure can!

With the right tweaks and the convenience of a slow cooker, you can make a delicious and healthier version of this tasty dish that’s perfect for weight loss.

Spaghetti Bolognese in a bowl topped with a sprig of basil. — Spaghetti bolognese

The meat

Start by choosing your meat. Usually, spag bol in the slow cooker is made with beef but if you are trying to reduce the red meat you eat, don’t like beef or just fancy a change there are other options to try.

Minced turkey or chicken are both great options for a healthier alternative to beef.

Some people prefer to brown their mince before cooking but it really is not necessary. That said if you want to then simply fry the meat with some low-calorie cooking spray until it’s browned, and then transfer it into your slow cooker.

minced beef on a wooden chopping board raw

The vegetables

To create more flavour, add some chopped vegetables. A combination of onions, peppers, and celery is a great trio for this dish and is packed full of nutrients.

Whilst you can sauté them until they’re tender, and then add them to the slow cooker with the meat, I always add them in raw, they still cook perfectly!

The vegetables can be any that you like but do be careful not to add too many watery vegetables such as mushrooms or the sauce will end up runny!

roughly chopped red or purple onions on a black shopping board.

Choosing the sauce

Add the pasta sauce to the slow cooker.

You can make your own sauce using tomato sauce, tomato paste, garlic, and Italian seasonings or Italian Seasoning Substitute. If you are a bit daunted by this then feel free to use my pasta sauce recipe.

If you are buying a sauce then make it low-fat and light on sugar by choosing a healthier version.

Add your sauce to the slow cooker, and mix in the meat and vegetables.

Cooking the spag bol – making spaghetti bolognese in the slow cooker

Cook on high for around 2-3 hours or on low heat for around 6-8 hours. This will give the flavours time to blend nicely together.

You may also want to stir the mixture a couple of times while cooking, especially if you cook it at a high temperature. Before serving some people add a tablespoon of olive oil for some extra flavour but I don’t think this is necessary so the choice is yours.

slow cooker with a tomato and two onions sitting in front of it. — Slow cooker

The spaghetti or pasta

Whether you like pasta bolognese, spaghetti bolognese or you call it spag bol but have it with pasta twists the choice is yours!

Cook it according to the package directions until it’s cooked al dente. Serve the spaghetti/pasta with the bolognese sauce. Top it off with some freshly grated parmesan cheese, and enjoy!

Making a Slimming World spaghetti bolognese in the slow cooker

If you are following the Slimming World plan then a few things you need to consider when making spaghetti bolognese in the slow cooker to ensure it is suitable for the plan.

If you are on another diet or just trying to be a bit healthier these tips could also be useful.

Firstly, the mince you use should be 5% or less fat. Anything above this would need to be counted as syns.

When choosing the tomato sauce or bolognese sauce for Slimming World, the only syn free option you can have is by making your own. Use passata or chopped tomatoes, fresh or dried herbs and fresh vegetables.

Jars of pasta sauce are never as healthy and there are, to my knowledge, no syn free pasta sauce options except any sold by Slimming World at Iceland.

The vegetables you choose will be fine on Slimming World as all vegetables are syn-free. The only exception is avocado and I doubt you would put that in a spag bol!

Oil shouldn’t be used for a syn free spaghetti bolognese as Slimming World followers must syn this. It is however possible to have it whilst following Slimming World as long as you count it within your daily syn allowance.

The pasta you choose should be syn free so a dried variety that you cook. All fresh pasta bought from the fridge of the supermarket you would have to count as syns.

Making a tasty spaghetti bolognese when on a diet has never been so easy! By using a slow cooker, you can create this classic Italian dish in a healthier, lower-fat version without sacrificing any of the delicious flavours.