Crock Pot Spaghetti
144 Comments
Posted: 04/14/21
Updated: 09/06/22
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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.
Contents
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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!
Can spaghetti noodles be cooked in a crockpot?
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.
How long do you cook noodles in the crockpot?
It only takes four hours from start to finish to make crockpot spaghetti!
How can I prevent condensation on my Crock Pot lid?
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
Tender spaghetti noodles, spicy Italian sausage in a creamy spaghetti sauce made with cream cheese in your slow cooker!
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!
Video
Nutrition Information
Serving: 1, Calories: 706kcal (35%), Carbohydrates: 78g (26%), Protein: 31g (62%), Fat: 31g (48%), Saturated Fat: 12g (75%), Cholesterol: 73mg (24%), Sodium: 2970mg (129%), Potassium: 1601mg (46%), Fiber: 8g (33%), Sugar: 18g (20%), Vitamin A: 1643IU (33%), Vitamin C: 25mg (30%), Calcium: 204mg (20%), Iron: 6mg (33%)
Scott barrett says
Great recipe
Courtney says
Thank you, Scott!
Julia Sandoval says
This is a great recipe I used canned tomatoes and add Italian spices no additional sauce needed. Adjust cooking time for noodles based on your crock pot 🙂 the only way we eat spaghetti now. Thank you!
Julie Evink says
This is wonderful to hear Julia! So glad you could adjust it to what you wanted!! Thanks for commenting and rating the recipe!
Anne says
Can you leave out meat
Anne says
Pasta is mushy even after stirring and checking it every 30 -45 min. Sauce flavor was ok.
Julie Evink says
Any pasta cooked in the crock pot will be a bit mushy in any recipe. I’m sorry you didn’t enjoy it.
Stacy Hopkins says
This is great! but I don’t cook the extra hour. I just cook per the directions for 3 hours stirring a few times and at the end adding the sauce and chicken broth and it’s done. So three hours was plenty for my crockpot. It is delicious! Thanks for the recipe!
Julie Evink says
So glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for commenting and rating the recipe!
Kathy says
I use my crockpots all the time. My lasagna is excellent but this spaghetti is Horrible.
Cheria says
Absolutely excellent!,,, my husband loved it. Followed instructions except didn’t use low fat cream cheese used regular. Will definitely make again !!!
Julie Evink says
So glad you both enjoyed it Cheria!! Thanks for commenting and rating the recipe!
Becky howard says
Absolutely perfectly yummy thank you!
Julie Evink says
Great to hear Becky!! Thanks for commenting and rating the recipe!
Tina says
Not good at all. Ended up throwing it away.
Brianna Danley says
Yummy! I added onion and fresh herbs. I found that we did not need the additional broth or spaghetti sauce. My family loves it.
Julie Evink says
Great additions Brianna!! Glad you are enjoying it. Thanks for commenting and rating the recipe!
Julie Trujillo says
So how much quarts is the crockpot you use? If I have a 2 quart crockpot how much ingredients would I have to use?
Julie Evink says
I use a 5-6 quart crock pot so it’d be really hard to adjust this recipe for that small of a crock pot. You’d have to cut it into 1/3 of the recipe.
Shaun says
After the first hour I the noodles are stuck together but the recipe says to stir it after 3 hrs but I’ve stir it because I’m worried the noodles won’t cook right if they’re stuck together….what am I doing wrong? This is the second time I’ve made this and it happened both times. So I’m curious wether I should stir it or not
Julie Evink says
I would layer the noodles in a criss cross pattern so they are more likely to not stick together! You can break them in half to help that too.
Tony says
I left a review before but I needed to add, this is a great recipe for our family member who has had a stoke and dementia. It was easier for him to eat than normal spaghetti.
Julie Evink says
I’m so glad it’s helpful Tony!
Mariah Ojeda says
I changed the noodles to veggie noodles instead and didn’t add chicken broth and it’s almost like a baked ziti but in the crockpot! Also added Italian and basil! Delicious! Definitely a keeper!
Julie Evink says
That’s great to know! Thanks for commenting and rating the recipe!
Kate says
Just made this and the noodles are disgusting. I was thinking why would I cook the noodles with the sauce at the same time? But I did it anyways because I wanted to give it a try. It’s all mushy and a little too sweet for my liking. Very disappointing. I was hoping for an easy dinner since I have twin toddlers I tend to but I guess that’s not the case tonight. My suggestion: definitely do not cook the noodles with the sauce. COOK THEM SEPARATELY.
Donna says
I’ve made this recipe more times than I can count and have never had a problem… with the noodles or the sauce. I will say it does make a difference if you break the noodles in half as instructed and the spread them out as much as you can, as close to a single layer as possible.
Additionally, if it’s “too sweet” for you, I suggest using a different sauce. THAT part of the recipe, YOU control – not the author.
The taste/quality of the sauce is dependent on your choice, it isn’t the fault of the recipe or the author…
The only other suggestion I can make is to play with the amount of liquid – since all crock pots cook differently (which is also mentioned by the author). If you decide to give it another shot, I hope it works out for you. My kids/family can’t get enough and you sound like a busy Mama! Good Luck!!
Julie Evink says
Wonderful tips!
Daniel says
No your wrong it tastes to mushy and that’s with multiple slow cookers
Kate says
Would it work to freeze this meal to give to someone to reheat?
Julie Evink says
Yes that should work fine.