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Slow Cooker Turkey Bolognese

Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 8 hours
Total Time 8 hours 20 minutes
Author Delish D'Lites

Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1/4 pound pancetta chopped
  • 1 cup carrots peeled and chopped
  • 1 cup onion chopped
  • 1/2 cup celery chopped
  • 4 cloves garlic peeled and minced
  • 1 pound ground turkey
  • 1 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning
  • 1 cup dry red wine
  • 4 sprigs fresh thyme
  • 2 dried bay leaves or 1 fresh
  • 2 heaped tablespoons tomato paste
  • 2 cups crushed tomatoes tomato sauce or tomato puree
  • salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

  1. In a pan heated to medium high heat, brown the turkey in a tablespoon of olive oil. Season the turkey with a pinch of salt and pepper. Once it's cooked and nicely browned, set it aside.
  2. While the turkey cooks, heat a Dutch oven or large pot to medium heat. Add 1 tablespoon of olive oil and the chopped pancetta. Saute for 2-3 minutes, until the pancetta starts to get crisp around the edges.
  3. Add the chopped carrots, onions, bay leaves and thyme into the Dutch oven with the pancetta. Saute for 4-5 minutes, until the vegetable are fragrant. Add in the tomato paste, and saute for another minute.
  4. Add in the red wine, and allow it to reduce a bit (about 5 minutes). Add the cooked turkey and 2 cups of crushed tomatoes into the slow cooker insert. Add the cooked veggies/pancetta/wine mixture, and stir to combine. Season the mixture with a big pinch (about 1/2 teaspoon) of salt, and pepper to taste.
  5. Cook in the slow cooker on low for 8 hours, or high for 4 hours. When it's done, remove the bay leaves and thyme spring, do one final salt check, then serve over pasta.