Simple slow cooker vegan bolognese recipe using fresh veggies and red lentils. Serve with spaghetti or penne pasta and serve as a weeknight family dinner

** This recipe was sponsored by BJs Wholesale Club, but, all opinions are my own **
Simple slow cooker vegan bolognese recipe using fresh veggies and red lentils. Serve with spaghetti or penne pasta. Make for a weeknight family dinner

I am not embarrassed to admit that I have never owned a slow cooker in my life! The closest I came to owning one was this personal size slow cooker

Now that I have a slow cooker, I am addicted to it. There are so many recipes I want to make with it.  Just made this blackberry jam recipe using slow cooker.  It was absolutely delicious!

I have affectionately named the slow cooker a 3-headed dragon; If I can slow-cook 3 meals in that one crock-pot, it deserves a dragon-y nickname, don’t you think?

This vegan bolognese is only the first of many crock pot recipes. I have Indian, Mexican and rice recipes in mind for this gadget!

Simple slow cooker vegan bolognese recipe using fresh veggies and red lentils. Serve with spaghetti or penne pasta. Make for a weeknight family dinner

For this slow cooker, I used lentils and cauliflower for the texture.  It was the best combination in the history of vegan pasta sauces.  It also makes this pasta very hearty and wholesome.

I had some meat eaters tell me that they really loved this take on bolognese sauce.  It tasted very similar to the  real thing.

That was the highest compliment I have ever gotten!

What is your favorite slow cooker recipe?

Slow Cooker Vegan Bolognese Recipe

1) In the slow cooker, add 1 cup of red lentils, uncooked

Simple slow cooker vegan bolognese recipe using fresh veggies and red lentils. Serve with spaghetti or penne pasta. Make for a weeknight family dinner

2) Add 1/4 cup of olive oil

Simple slow cooker vegan bolognese recipe using fresh veggies and red lentils. Serve with spaghetti or penne pasta. Make for a weeknight family dinner

3) Add 1 large eggplant, chopped into smaller pieces.  I removed the skin from half of the eggplant.  Also add 3 cups of tomato sauce on top of the eggplant

Simple slow cooker vegan bolognese recipe using fresh veggies and red lentils. Serve with spaghetti or penne pasta. Make for a weeknight family dinner

4) Add 1 head of cauliflower roughly chopped.  Also, sprinkle 2 tsp of salt on top of the cauliflower

Simple slow cooker vegan bolognese recipe using fresh veggies and red lentils. Serve with spaghetti or penne pasta. Make for a weeknight family dinner

5) Add 6 cloves of garlic, roughly chopped. Add 3 cup of water on top of the cauliflower

Simple slow cooker vegan bolognese recipe using fresh veggies and red lentils. Serve with spaghetti or penne pasta. Make for a weeknight family dinner

6) Add 1/4 of an onion finely chopped.

Simple slow cooker vegan bolognese recipe using fresh veggies and red lentils. Serve with spaghetti or penne pasta. Make for a weeknight family dinner

6) Add 2 Tbsp of salt, 1/4 cup of dried oregano and 1/4 cup of dried parsley

7) Top the slow cooker with 3 Roma tomatoes, thinly sliced

Simple slow cooker vegan bolognese recipe using fresh veggies and red lentils. Serve with spaghetti or penne pasta. Make for a weeknight family dinner

8) Set it on high and let it cook for 9 hours or 11 hours on low.  I made sure I stirred it occasionally.

9) When there it half hour left in the cooking process, add uncooked penne to the slow cooker.  The pasta needs just a few minutes to cook, so, don’t add it too soon.  If you prefer vegan spaghetti bolognese, add uncooked spaghetti 20 minutes left in the cooking time.

Keep it on warm setting and serve this vegan bolognese with garlic bread

Simple slow cooker vegan bolognese recipe using fresh veggies and red lentils. Serve with spaghetti or penne pasta. Make for a weeknight family dinner

Vegan Bolognese In A Slow Cooker

Rini
Simple slow cooker vegan bolognese recipe using fresh veggies and red lentils
Go Ahead, Rate it now!
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 10 hours 40 minutes
Total Time 11 hours
Course Main Course
Cuisine Italian
Servings 6 People
Calories 362 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 1 cup red lentils
  • 1/4 cup olive oil
  • 1 large eggplant Skin removed and roughly chopped
  • 3 cups tomato sauce
  • 1 cauliflower (medium-sized)
  • 6 cloves garlic roughly chopped
  • 3 cup water
  • 1/4 onion finely diced
  • 2 Tbsp salt + 2 more tsp of salt (optional)
  • 1/4 cup dried oregano
  • 1/4 cup dried parsley
  • 3 Roma tomatoes thinly sliced
  • 1.5 cup penne pasta uncooked

Instructions
 

  • In the slow cooker, add all the ingredients (except the pasta) in the order listed above
  • Set it on high and let it cook for 9 hours or 11 hours on low. I made sure I stirred it occasionally.
  • When there it half hour left in the cooking process, add uncooked penne to the slow cooker.  *** See notes
  • Keep it on warm setting and serve this vegan bolognese with garlic bread

Notes

The pasta needs just a few minutes to cook, so, don’t add it too soon. If you prefer vegan spaghetti bolognese, add uncooked spaghetti 20 minutes left in the cooking time.
Nutrition Facts
Vegan Bolognese In A Slow Cooker
Amount Per Serving (1 cup)
Calories 362 Calories from Fat 90
% Daily Value*
Fat 10g15%
Saturated Fat 1g6%
Sodium 2991mg130%
Potassium 1128mg32%
Carbohydrates 55g18%
Fiber 16g67%
Sugar 10g11%
Protein 15g30%
Vitamin A 870IU17%
Vitamin C 27mg33%
Calcium 106mg11%
Iron 5.3mg29%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Nutrition

Serving: 1cupCalories: 362kcalCarbohydrates: 55gProtein: 15gFat: 10gSaturated Fat: 1gSodium: 2991mgPotassium: 1128mgFiber: 16gSugar: 10gVitamin A: 870IUVitamin C: 27mgCalcium: 106mgIron: 5.3mg
Keyword Is it possible to make vegan bolognese sauce, What to add in a vegan bolognese sauce
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

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10 Comments

  1. I am cooking this as we speak and my apartment smells amazing. I cannot wait to taste it tonight. Stay tuned…..

    1. Hello Christa, Yes, I used a 1/4 of spices because I used a big slow cooker. You can adjust the ingredients on the screen and all the other ingredients will change proportionally too.

  2. Just put this together in the crockpot! I cant wait for supper time now!
    quick question – am I supposed to stir any of the ingredients when I first put them all into the crockpot? Or just layer them? I see in the instructions you say add all ingredients in order listed so I assume I do not stir?. I do see where you say to stir occasionally. Just wondering if i should stir befoe turning on the crockpot as well?

    thanks!

  3. Recipe sounds delightful. Perfect comfort food.
    I used to shop BJ’s for our office back in the day but then really got hooked when we had babies. Diapers, wipes and formula were such a better value at BJ’s than the corner store for sure!