Are you looking for a great meal that takes you back to childhood? Barilla® Spaghetti with {Crock Pot} San Marzano Tomato Meat Sauce is the perfect dish for kids of all ages 0-93.

If you ask my daughter– Miss Add– what her favorite meal is, she will tell you hands down, SPAGHETTI. She cheers when we make it at home and almost always orders it when we eat out at a restaurant. She loves to eat it and has been known to wear it a time or two ;). She even orders her cupcakes as Spaghetti and Meatballs!

Truth be told, she comes by it honest. My husband says his Mom’s spaghetti was his favorite meal that his mom would make when he was a kid. (If you knew how legendary my mother-in-law’s cooking is, you would understand the weight of that statement!)

Spaghetti night was also very popular at my house growing up– so much so, that on vacation, my mom would often make spaghetti at the hotel if we were lucky enough to get a room with a kitchenette in it. Mom would always serve it up with her ooey gooey cheesy bread and we could hardly wait for her to say dinner was ready!

Needless to say, the spaghetti “bar” is set pretty high at my house! So when Barilla® reached out to me and asked me to share their Spaghetti with San Marzano Tomato Meat Sauce recipe with you, I was totally game because spaghetti dishes are right up my family’s alley. And, as a mom, spaghetti is one of those dishes that I know they will love and I love making them– especially when I can hide a veggie or two in the sauce!

So I headed off to Walmart to pick up my Barilla® Spaghetti, San Marzano Tomatoes and fresh veggies. I already had my beef in the freezer thanks to my pal Leah –LOVE having farmer friends ;).

Barilla® Spaghetti with {Crock Pot} San Marzano Tomato Meat Sauce Recipe

Name: Barilla® Spaghetti with {Crock Pot} San Marzano Tomato Meat Sauce
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 240 min
Total time: 255 min
Yield: 8
Ingredients: 1 box Barilla® Spaghetti; 4 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil; 1 small onion (chopped); 1 small carrot (chopped); 1 stem celery (chopped); 1 pound ground beef; 28 ounce can San Marzano Tomatoes; 1 cup water; Salt and black pepper to taste; 1/2 cup Parmigiano-Reggiano (shaved)

Note: Scroll to the bottom of this post for a printable version of this recipe

Ingredients for Barilla® Spaghetti with {Crock Pot} San Marzano Tomato Meat Sauce

1 box Barilla® Spaghetti
4 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1 small onion chopped
1 small carrot chopped
1 stem celery chopped
1 pound ground beef
1 28- ounce can San Marzano Tomatoes
1 cup water
Salt and black pepper to taste
1/2 cup Parmigiano-Reggiano shaved

How to Make Spaghetti in a Crock Pot

In a large skillet, sauté the onion, carrot and celery with the extra virgin olive oil.
Add the meat and cook until browned well.
Pour into slow cooker and incorporate the tomatoes and 1 cup of water, season with salt and pepper to taste.
Cook on low for 4 hours.
Before serving place a pot of water to boil and cook pasta in the boiling water according to the package directions.
Drain pasta and toss with sauce. and top with cheese.

Notes on This Recipe:

I had to alter the recipe instructions just a bit to make it a crock pot recipe so I will include the stove top instructions here as well. Stove Top Instructions:
PLACE a pot of water to boil. MEANWHILE, in a large skillet, sauté the onion, carrot and celery with the extra virgin olive oil. ADD the meat and cook until browned well. INCORPORATE the tomatoes and 1 cup of water, season with salt and pepper to taste and bring to a simmer.
COOK pasta in the boiling water according to the package directions. DRAIN pasta and toss with sauce. TOP with cheese.
This recipe will do well in any 5-6 qt slow cooker. We liked using our all-in-one slow cooker that has a browning setting to allow you to cook up your veggies and brown your ground beef IN the crock pot without having to use another skillet.
As with any of our recipes, calorie counts and nutritional information varies greatly depending on which products you choose to use when cooking this dish.
All slow cookers cook differently, so cooking times are always a basic guideline and should always be tested first in your own slow cooker and time adjusted as needed.

Barilla’s® recipe for Spaghetti with San Marzano Tomato Meat Sauce reminds me a lot of Mikey’s mom’s sauce. It is super meaty and hearty. It was a huge hit with both the hubby and the kiddo! Leftovers were as popular as dinner that night and THAT is what makes mama happy around here!

Oh!–I have to tell you that while I made this sauce and served over spaghetti noodles prepared separately, just today I saw Barilla® now has no-boil spaghetti noodles at Walmart too! So I may get them and try cooking them in the sauce next time.

Printable Recipe for Barilla® Spaghetti with {Crock Pot} San Marzano Tomato Meat Sauce