Crock Pot Spaghetti
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Your favorite family dinner can now be made easily in your slow cooker! This Crock Pot Spaghetti is so easy with tons of flavor. Tender spaghetti noodles, spicy Italian sausage in a creamy spaghetti sauce made with cream cheese. It’s our favorite way to enjoy spaghetti. Plus, it’s quick and easy for busy nights.
I love how creamy and yummy this spaghetti is. Plus, it makes a ton so invite those friends over or just feed your incredibly hungry family! It’s great for packing lunches the next day, too. I just toss together a side salad and breadsticks to finish this meal off.
The crock pot is such an amazing friend to busy families! It makes meals so quick and easy and the kids love them like my Crock Pot Lasagna and Crock Pot Chicken Parmesan.
We love this easy Instant Pot Spaghetti so I figured we’d love a good Crock Pot Spaghetti too.
Why you’ll love Crock Pot Spaghtti!
- I love that this spaghetti has Italian Sausage in it so it’s a little bit spicier, but as always you can use regular sausage or ground beef it the kick is to much especially for kids!
- The addition of cream cheese makes that sauce so creamy and rich. It really takes it up a notch!
- It’s great for when kids are in and out and can’t sit down for a meal all at once. They can just take a portion when they have time and enjoy dinner!
What people are saying about this recipe
“This was SO delicious! My whole family loved it. I did change it up just a bit, as all slow cookers heat a bit directly and what not. After 2hrs I turned it down to low and added the 3rd helping of sauce. My son and I have eaten it all day to for leftovers! I think it’d even better the 2nd day than the 1st. Thank you for sharing this recipe”
Ingredients Needed
- Italian sausage – Could also use ground beef or turkey. You can even skip the ground meat and use frozen meatballs instead.
- Seasonings – Salt, pepper, garlic salt will give it an extra boost of flavor. You could also add a little Italian Seasoning.
- Pasta sauce – Used your favorite jarred pasta sauce to make it quick and easy. You can also use a homemade sauce if you prefer.
- Spaghetti noodles – The cooking time is tested with regular spaghetti noodles. If you use a Angel Hair it will cook quicker so remember that!
- Cheeses – A mixture of Parmesan cheese and cream cheese make this so delicious and the sauce creamy!
- Chicken broth – The spaghetti will soak this up so it’s a must! In a pinch water might also work. We use low sodium chicken broth to lower the sodium.
Steps to Prepare
- Make Sauce – Brown the sausage seasoning with salt, pepper and garlic salt. Drain and set aside.
- Add to Crock Pot – Pour one jar of sauce on the bottom of the crockpot. Place spaghetti noodles on top of sauce. Layer the sausage on top of noodles. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese. Dice the cream cheese into little chunks and put on top of Parmesan cheese. Top with another jar of sauce.
- Cook – Cover crock pot and cook on high for 3 hours. After three hours stir spaghetti mixture and pour the last jar of pasta sauce and chicken broth into crock pot. Replace lid and cook on low for one additional hour.
Remember that every slow cooker cooks differently and at different temperatures. It’s important that you know your crock pot. Keep an eye on your pasta, stirring in regularly and test it so you know when it’s done. Overcooked pasta gets gummy, mushy and isn’t ideal!
Absolutely! It’s a great way to cook a big meal for a crowd – we love slow cooker spaghetti!
A quick note is that this pasta is a bit softer than traditional spaghetti that is boiled to al dente, but not mushy.
It only takes four hours from start to finish to make crockpot spaghetti!
This is such a quick and easy trick for all crock pot recipes! Simply cover the slow cooker with a dry dishtowel or several paper towels with the edges hanging over then place the lid on it. This will soak up that extra moisture. Grab both the lids and towels when removing it so it doesn’t fall into what you are cooking.
Love this spaghetti? You’ll love these recipes also!
- Not sure if you want Alfredo or Spaghetti? This amazing Baked Spaghetti Casserole is perfect because it has a layer of both!
- Hearty and delicious Spaghetti Pie has layers of noodles, cheese, and your favorite spaghetti toppings! It’s always a hit dinner recipe.
- Need something quick and easy? Try Instant Pot Spaghetti and Meatballs that you can use homemade or frozen meatballs in!
- Best Ever Spaghetti and Meatballs is so easy to make because the homemade meatballs cook right in the sauce!
More Recipes You’re Sure to Love
Try it and love it? Rate it, please! Seriously though a five-star rating below will make my day!
If you snap a photo, please be sure tag me on Instagram at @julieseatsandtreats or #julieseatsandtreats so I can see your yummy meal!!!
Did you make this? If you snap a photo, please be sure tag me on Instagram at @julieseatsandtreats or #julieseatsandtreats so I can see your yummy treat!
Crock Pot Spaghetti
Ingredients
- 1 pound Italian sausage
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon ground pepper
- ½ teaspoon garlic salt
- 3 jars of pasta sauce (24 ounce each)
- 1 pound spaghetti noodles
- ½ cup Parmesan cheese grated or powder
- 4 ounces fat free cream cheese
- 14.5 oz can chicken broth low sodium
Instructions
- Brown Italian sausage in medium skillet. Season with salt, pepper and garlic salt. Drain grease and set sausage aside.
- Pour one jar of pasta sauce on the bottom of your crock pot. Break spaghetti noodles in half and place on top of sauce. Put sausage on top of noodles. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese.
- Cut cream cheese into little chunks and put in crock pot on top of Parmesan cheese. Pour another jar of pasta sauce over the cream cheese.
- Cover slow cooker and cook on high for 3 hours, stirring a few times throughout cooking time.
- After three hours stir spaghetti mixture. Pour last jar of pasta sauce and chicken broth into crock pot. Replace lid and cook on low for one hour.
Tips
- You can substitute the Italian sausage for ground beef, turkey or even chicken if you’d like. You can even skip the ground meat and use frozen meatballs instead!
- If you don’t want to use all chicken broth you can substitute some of it for water or all of it.
- Don’t have cream cheese? You can skip this ingredient, but the sauce won’t be as creamy.
- Remember that every slow cooker cooks differently and at different temperatures. It’s important that you know your crock pot. Keep an eye on your pasta, stirring in regularly and test it so you know when it’s done. Overcooked pasta gets gummy, mushy and isn’t ideal!
Tony Stonebraker says
I’ve made this 4 times in the last 2 months, twice for my family and twice for friends that have tried it and loved it. I use a good ground beef in mine and its been a hit each time.
Super easy, once your meat is browned you can assemble it in like 5 mins.
Julie says
I’m so glad you enjoy it! Thanks for the review, Tony!
happy stoner says
good stuff thanks, easy to make and tastes amazing. great stuff thanks
Julie says
So glad you enjoyed it!
Katie Garrow says
Was a wonderful easy to follow recipe. Turned out great. I only had different noodles and it still turned out Great! Plus I doubled some ingredients and maybe add some more Italian spices but my boys ate it all and want it again! So I’ll for sure Will be using it again for sure!
Julie says
Awesome! I’m so glad you all loved it!
Shannon Dial says
Do you think beef broth is ok as a substitute to chicken broth
Julie says
Yep I think that will be fine!
Donna says
Just curious…could I slice and use Italian sausage instead of ground Italian sausage meat. My sausages are frozen and I was thinking of quartering them . Woukd I still have to brown them in a skillet beforehand??
Michelle Sperr says
Hi Donna. I haven’t tired this with sliced Italian sausage but you sure can give it a try. I would suggest browning them beforehand to seal in flavor and add texture to the dish! Let me know how it turns out!
Grace says
Just made this for dinner. Left the house and came back a few hours later and it smelled DELICIOUS!! I had a few sample bites while stirring and it was so good. This will definitely become a staple in my house. So easy and yummy!!
Julie says
Awesome! I’m so glad you enjoyed it!
Joann says
I have not tried this yet, but I did give it 4 stars cause it looks delicious. I do have a couple of questions; 1) Can you use regular cream cheese? 2) Can this be cooked on low, and if so for how long? Thanks for any help you can give me. Have a wonderful and blessed day.
Julie says
Yes, you can use regular cream cheese. I haven’t tried cooking this any other way, I would stick to the cooking instructions in the recipe.
Nuya Business says
You should NOT give a rating if YOU haven’t tried it. Looking delicious? Whatever. Not to mention your question CAN I USE REGULAR CREAM CHEESR. MAY GOSH……think!
nascar4433 says
I had the same question about the cream cheese because they do have different qualities, so don’t fault us for asking so we don’t waste all of the ingredients making something that won’t turn out well. I can’t afford to waste that much money making a dish that I may ruin by using regular cream cheese. What’s wrong with asking a quesetion you’re not sure about? You must be perfect. Otherwise you wouldn’t take the time to write such a negative review putting us down. What’s the point of taking the time to write something so unhelpful? No need to respond, as I’m quite sure this reply is making you upset.
Steph Cour says
Can I use hamburger to replace sausage?
Julie says
Yep you can!
Kelly says
I followed this recipe exactly, after 2.5hrs on high my spaghetti noodles had disintegrated or completely melted together. I was very disappointed because it sounds delicious and because I wasted a pack of sausage, cream cheese, and 2 jars of spaghetti sauce.
Julie says
I’m so sorry Kelly! I haven’t had that issue with this recipe.
Meri says
The recipe calls for chicken broth, but she never mentioned it on the video. It does say it on the recipe though!
Julie says
Follow the recipe steps for this one, the chicken broth goes in at the end.
Sonny LaFountain says
Why the chicken broth?
Julie says
The chicken broth helps to finish cooking the noodles at the end.
Helen says
Last step:. You add last jar of sauce and chicken broth. Do you stir whole mixture BEFORE the last hour of cooking?
TERRI M BEVERLY says
I didn’t see you use any Chicken broth..and can I use ricotta cheese instead
Julie Evink says
It’s at the end the video doesn’t show it. What are you subbing out for ricotta cheese?
nascar4433 says
Ricotta sounds like it would be yummy if the texture would work…it’s not as dense as cream cheese. I think Terri was probably asking if she could sub the ricotta for the cream cheese in the recipe.
Victoria says
Why aren’t there any measurements with the crock pot spaghetti?
Julie Evink says
The recipe card with instructions, video and full measurements is towards the bottom of the post. Are you not seeing that?
Sarah says
Are the noodles supposed to be cooked or uncooked when they are put in the pot?
Julie Evink says
Uncooked
Lori says
Do you need to use the chicken broth finish cooking the noodles? Thank you
Julie Evink says
There won’t be enough liquid if you don’t use it. I guess you could just use water I would think too but I have never tested it.