Hearty Crockpot Spaghetti Sauce Recipe

With a little help from Prego, I made up this wonderful and hearty spaghetti sauce recipe. I have tweaked it several times, and it is DELICIOUS. I use a 6-qt. crockpot. Serves 10-15 (depending on appetites).

• Meal Type: Sauce
• Ethnicity: Italian
• Holiday Category: N/A
• Preparation Time: 15-30 minutes

Ingredients

• 1 Jar Prego Traditional (4 lb. 3 oz.)
• 1 Can Manwich Sloppy Joe Sauce (15.5 oz.)
• 2 Cans Diced Tomatoes w/ basil, garlic and oregano (14.5 oz. each)
• Dash Sugar
• Dash Hot Sauce and/or Cayenne Pepper
• Dash of Red Wine Vinaigrette Dressing or Red Wine Vinegar
• Dash Minced Garlic
• Dash Black Pepper
• 1 Zucchini, sliced into 3/4
• 1 Squash, sliced into 3/4
• 1 Cup Diced Bell Peppers (any quantity or color; I use a pre-packaged and pre-diced container of tri-colored bell peppers from the Wal-Mart produce section)
• 2-3 Green Onions, sliced thin
• 1 lb. Jimmy Dean Hot or Italian Sausage
• 1 lb. Ground Beef
• 1 Small Onion, diced
• Dash Garlic Powder
• F.Y.I. - When I say dash, I mean a GENEROUS dash. I do not really measure.

Directions

1. Combine first 12 ingredients in 6-qt. slow cooker (or extra large saucepan) and mix well.
2. Brown sausage, ground beef, onion and garlic powder over medium heat until meat is no longer pink, drain and add to pot.
3. Mix well and Cook uncovered (or with lid slightly tilted to allow steam to escape so sauce will thicken) on low (or simmer in saucepan) for at least 6 hours, stirring every 30-45 minutes.
4. Serve over pasta with garlic bread. Enjoy.
5. (If this recipe makes too much for you, it freezes nicely. I've also used leftover sauce on homemade pizza.)