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Homemade Slow Cooker Skinny Spaghetti photo
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Slow Cooker Skinny Spaghetti

A simple, lighter slow-cooker spaghetti made with lean turkey and whole wheat pasta for an easy family meal.
Prep Time15 minutes
Cook Time3 hours
Total Time3 hours 15 minutes
Servings: 8 servings

Ingredients

  • 1 pound lean ground turkey or optional ground beef
  • 8 ounces whole wheat spaghetti broken into pieces
  • 25 ounces basil marinara
  • 1/3 cup parmesan cheese freshly grated, for serving

Instructions

  • Heat a skillet over medium heat and add the ground turkey (or ground beef if using).
  • Cook, breaking the meat up with a fork, until it just loses its pink color, about 5–7 minutes.
  • Drain any excess fat from the cooked meat, then transfer the meat to the slow cooker.
  • Add the broken whole wheat spaghetti to the slow cooker and pour in the basil marinara sauce; stir to coat the pasta evenly.
  • Cover and cook on low for 2–3 hours (about 120–180 minutes) or until the spaghetti is al dente, stirring once if possible to prevent clumping.
  • When the pasta is done, transfer to a serving platter or bowls and sprinkle with the freshly grated Parmesan cheese.

Equipment

  • Skillet
  • slow cooker (crock-pot)
  • wooden spoon or spatula
  • colander (optional)
  • measuring cup

Notes

  • Brown the meat fully before adding to the slow cooker.
  • Stir once during cooking if your slow cooker tends to clump ingredients.
  • Use whole wheat or regular spaghetti as preferred.
  • Adjust cooking time based on your slow cooker's heat output.