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Wholesome slow cooker bolognese on top of noodles in a white bowl.

Wholesome Slow Cooker Bolognese

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Servings: 6 servings
Author: Katie Stewart

Ingredients

  • 1 tbsp avocado oil
  • 1 onion finely chopped
  • 1 carrot finely chopped
  • 2 celery sticks finely chopped
  • 1 container shiitakes 113 g/4 oz, stems removed and thinly sliced
  • 2 lbs grass-fed ground beef
  • ½ cup apple cider vinegar
  • 1 jar marinara sauce 860 ml/29.08 oz
  • 1 can tomato paste 156 ml/ 5.27 oz
  • 4 cloves garlic minced
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 2 tbsp Italian seasoning
  • 1-2 tsp sea salt adjust to taste
  • 1 tsp onion powder
  • ½ tsp garlic powder

To Serve:

  • Your choice of gluten-free pasta zucchini noodles, or cauliflower mash
  • Nutritional yeast for a cheesy parm-free option

Instructions

  • Prep Your Ingredients: Ensure all vegetables are finely chopped and shiitake mushrooms are thinly sliced.
  • Veggies First: In a large skillet, heat the avocado oil over medium heat. Add the chopped onion, carrot, celery, and shiitakes. Sauté until the vegetables are tender and slightly golden, about 5-7 minutes. Once done, transfer them to your slow cooker.
  • Brown the Beef: In the same skillet, add the grass-fed ground beef. Cook, breaking it apart with a spatula, until it's browned and no pink remains.
  • Deglaze: Pour the apple cider vinegar into the skillet with the beef. Use your spatula to scrape up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan. This will add an extra depth of flavour to your Bolognese.
  • Into the Slow Cooker: Transfer the beef and deglazed juices to the slow cooker with the veggies.
  • Add the Flavours: To the slow cooker, add the marinara sauce, tomato paste, minced garlic, bay leaves, Italian seasoning, sea salt, onion powder, and garlic powder. Stir to combine all the ingredients well.
  • Slow Cook: Cover the slow cooker and set it to low. Let it cook for 5 hours, allowing all the flavours to meld beautifully.
  • Serve it Up: Once the Bolognese is ready, discard the bay leaves. Serve it hot over your preferred accompaniment - be it gluten-free pasta, zucchini noodles, or a comforting cauliflower mash.