Name: Slow cooker bolognese
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 9 h 30 min
Total time: 7 h 45 min
Yield: 12
Ingredients: 4 tbsp olive oil; 6 smoked bacon rashers chopped; 1½kg lean minced beef (or use half beef, half pork mince); 4 onions finely chopped; 3 carrots finely chopped; 4 celery sticks finely chopped; 8 garlic cloves crushed; 500g mushrooms sliced; 4 x 400g cans chopped tomatoes; 6 tbsp tomato purée; 2 tbsp dried mixed herbs; 2 bay leaves; large glass red wine (optional); 4 tbsp red wine vinegar; 1 tbsp sugar; cooked spaghetti to serve; parmesan to serve

Slow cooker bolognese

Batch cook a delicious and healthy spaghetti bolognese in your slow cooker. Freeze the leftovers for easy midweek dinners when you're more pushed for time

7 hr 45 min total 15 min prep 9 hr 30 min cook 12 295 cal

Instructions

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1 Heat the oil in a large pan and fry the bacon and mince in batches until browned. Add to the slow cooker.
2 Add the onions, carrots, celery, garlic, mushrooms, tomatoes, tomato purée, herbs, wine (if using), vinegar, sugar and seasoning to the slow cooker. Cover and cook on Low for 6-8 hours, then uncover, turn to High and cook for another hour until thick and saucy.
3 Serve with cooked spaghetti and grated or shaved parmesan. To cook this entire recipe on the hob, check out our big-batch bolognese recipe.