Description
This Slow Cooker Venison Spaghetti Sauce is a hearty, flavorful sauce combining lean ground venison with fresh vegetables and rich tomato sauces, slow simmered to perfection. Ideal for those looking for a nutritious alternative to traditional beef spaghetti sauce, this recipe melds Italian seasonings with a comforting, thick texture that pairs wonderfully with spaghetti noodles for a satisfying meal.
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
Tomato Base
- 56 oz. crushed tomatoes (two 28-oz. cans)
- 20 oz. tomato sauce (two 10-oz. cans)
Seasonings
- 2 tsp. Italian seasoning
- 1 tsp. all purpose seasoning (such as seasoning salt)
- Salt and pepper to taste (add at the end)
Instructions
- Brown the Venison: In a large skillet over medium-high heat, cook the ground venison until barely any pink remains. This step ensures the meat is partially cooked and helps develop rich, savory flavor crucial for the sauce.
- Combine Ingredients in Slow Cooker: Transfer the browned venison to the slow cooker along with minced carrots, diced onion, green bell pepper, celery, garlic, crushed tomatoes, tomato sauce, Italian seasoning, and all purpose seasoning. Stir everything well to combine evenly.
- Slow Cook the Sauce: Cover the slow cooker and cook on high for 5 hours or low for 8 hours. This long, slow simmer allows the ingredients to meld beautifully and the sauce to thicken to the perfect consistency.
- Season to Taste: After cooking is complete, taste the sauce and add salt and pepper as needed to adjust the seasoning to your preference.
- Serve: Spoon the rich venison spaghetti sauce over cooked spaghetti noodles. Serve it alongside garlic bread to complete this comforting, satisfying Italian-inspired meal.
Notes
- For a leaner sauce, use a 90/10 venison blend to reduce fat content.
- Add red pepper flakes if you want to add a spicy kick to the sauce.
- If you prefer a smoother texture, blend the crushed tomatoes before adding them to the slow cooker.
- Leftovers can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 4 days or frozen for up to 3 months.
- Make sure to brown the venison well to maximize the sauce’s depth of flavor.
Keywords: venison spaghetti sauce, slow cooker venison sauce, ground venison recipe, homemade spaghetti sauce, slow cooker sauce recipes, italian slow cooker recipes