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Slow Cooker Venison Spaghetti Sauce Recipe

4.5 from 83 reviews

This Slow Cooker Venison Spaghetti Sauce is a rich, hearty, and flavorful spaghetti sauce made with ground venison, fresh vegetables, and a blend of Italian seasonings. Slow cooked to perfection, it develops deep, savory flavors and a thick texture, making it an ideal robust topping for spaghetti noodles. Perfect for a comforting family dinner, this recipe allows the convenience of a slow cooker while delivering a gourmet home-cooked meal experience.

Ingredients

Scale

Meat

  • 2 lbs. ground venison, 80/20 mix or 90/10

Vegetables

  • ⅓ cup finely minced carrots
  • 1 large yellow onion, diced
  • 1 green bell pepper, diced
  • 2 celery ribs, diced
  • 5 cloves garlic, minced

Canned Goods & Seasonings

  • 56 oz. crushed tomatoes (two 28-oz. cans)
  • 20 oz. tomato sauce (two 10-oz. cans)
  • 2 tsp. Italian seasoning
  • 1 tsp. all purpose seasoning (such as seasoning salt)
  • Salt and pepper to taste (add at the end)

Instructions

  1. Brown the venison: Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat and cook the ground venison until barely any pink remains. This initial cooking step enhances flavor and partially cooks the meat to prevent undercooking in the slow cooker.
  2. Combine ingredients in slow cooker: Transfer the browned venison to the slow cooker and add minced carrots, diced onion, green bell pepper, celery, garlic, crushed tomatoes, tomato sauce, Italian seasoning, and all purpose seasoning. Stir thoroughly to combine all ingredients evenly.
  3. Slow cook the sauce: Cover the slow cooker and cook on high for 5 hours or on low for 8 hours. This slow simmer melds flavors beautifully and thickens the sauce gradually.
  4. Adjust seasoning: After cooking is complete, taste the sauce and season with salt and pepper to your preference for balanced flavor.
  5. Serve: Spoon the venison spaghetti sauce over freshly cooked spaghetti noodles. Serve alongside garlic bread to complete the meal.

Notes

  • For a leaner sauce, use 90/10 venison to reduce fat content.
  • To add heat, sprinkle in red pepper flakes to taste.
  • If you prefer a smoother sauce texture, puree the crushed tomatoes before adding to the slow cooker.
  • Leftovers store well in the refrigerator for up to 4 days or freeze for up to 3 months.
  • Ensure to brown the venison thoroughly for the best depth of flavor in the sauce.

Keywords: venison spaghetti sauce, slow cooker spaghetti sauce, venison recipes, slow cooked spaghetti sauce, ground venison sauce, hearty pasta sauce