I think there are days for all of us where getting any meal on the table feels like a stretch. If you add in things like well rounded and something my kids will actually eat, it feels almost impossible. This Crock Pot Spaghetti is the answer. It is made in the slow cooker, which automatically makes it a winner. This dinner recipe comes together with simple ingredients, scoring even more points. Finally, it is a total win with kids and it is absolute comfort, making it the Grand Poohbah of great dinner ideas.
How to Make Spaghetti in the Crock Pot
Here is a brief overview of how to make crockpot spaghetti. Your home will smell amazing and your family will love coming home to a warm and hearty meal. See the recipe card at the bottom of the post for the full recipe and measurements.
Tips and Tricks for Crock Pot Spaghetti
Switch up the pasta. Any pasta will work for this recipe. If spaghetti is difficult for your little ones to eat or your family prefers another kind, use that in this recipe. Use ground turkey. If you prefer ground turkey to ground beef, you can swap that for this recipe. Brown the turkey in 2 tablespoons of olive oil. Make it vegetarian. Leave out meat altogether and swap the chicken stock for vegetable stock to make this dish vegetarian. You could also add some meat substitute crumbles to the recipe. They are fully cooked and easy to find in the freezer section of the grocery store.Shred your own cheese. Shred your cheese from a block rather than buying pre-shredded Parmesan cheese. I say this often, but it truly does make a big difference in recipes. Pre-shredded cheese is covered in preservatives that help it keep its shredded form, but also keeps it from melting well. Grating your own will melt well and make this crock pot spaghetti extra good.Skip the dairy. Cream cheese and grated Parmesan make this dish rich and creamy. These options are listed on the recipe card at the bottom of the post. They were not added in the pictures you see here, because we enjoy this meal so much without them. Make it in the instant pot. This recipe can easily be tweaked and made in the instant pot. This Creamy Instant Pot Spaghetti is a dish my kids request often.
Cooking on Low or High
As you know that I prefer slow cooked recipes to be done on low. Most of them just cook better that way, especially when it is a meat dish, like my Pork Carnitas. That being said, with this recipe, both cooking methods (low and high) work equally well.
Storing and Reheating
Store your leftover spaghetti in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to four days. When you are ready to eat the leftovers, reheat them by microwaving at half power until warmed through. Please use your best discretion when it comes to leftovers. Since this recipe is cooked, it doesn’t freeze as well as other pasta dishes. For a spaghetti dish you can make ahead of time AND freeze, try this Baked Spaghetti.
What to Serve with Slowcooker Spaghetti
These Italian Green Beans are an easy and delicious side dish that even picky eaters love. Garlic Bread always compliments pasta so well. A classic Caesar Salad is always a hit.
Other Crock Pot Pasta Recipes
Looking for other make ahead crockpot pasta recipes? Try one of these hearty dishes!
Crockpot LasagnaCrock Pot Beef and NoodlesCrockpot Chicken and Noodles
If you make this Crock Pot Spaghetti recipe or any of my other recipes, please leave me a comment and let me know what you think!
