SLOW COOKER TOMATO SAUCE

This slow cooker tomato sauce is a breeze to prepare using two cans of whole peeled San Marzano tomatoes, garlic, onions, and herbs. The slow cooker enhances the sweetness of the tomatoes and infuses the sauce with garlic and herbs. The end result is a delicious rich velvety homemade tomato sauce made effortlessly with a few quality ingredients. This is the perfect marinara sauce for any Italian dinner!

Why You Will Love Slow Cooker Tomato Sauce

• San Marzano tomatoes give this sauce an authentic Italian flavor.
• The natural sweetness of the tomatoes shine in this sauce.
• This sauce is easy to make and requires little prep time.
• The slow cooker works its magic to develop the rich flavors of the sauce.
• Let the sauce simmer in the slow cooker and you will have an incredibly flavorful homemade tomato sauce.

Slow Cooker Tomato Sauce Ingredients

• San Marzano Tomatoes: Use two cans of whole peeled San Marzano tomatoes.
• Onion: Mince a white or sweet onion for this recipe.
• Garlic: Mince three cloves of garlic.
• Oregano: Add dried oregano to the sauce for flavor.
• Basil: Add basil to the sauce for another dimension of flavor.
• Salt and Pepper: Season the sauce with salt and pepper to enhance the flavors.
• Bay Leaves: Add two bay leaves to the sauce. They add another dimension of flavor as the sauce cooks.

What Tomatoes To Use

Use whole peeled San Marzano tomatoes in this recipe. San Marzano tomatoes give this sauce an excellent rich flavor. They are not as acidic as other tomatoes and have a naturally sweet flavor profile. Also, they are the perfect tomatoes to use when making sauces and deliver authentic Italian flavors. San Marzano tomatoes are imported from Italy and give this homemade sauce the best flavor. Look for San Marzano tomatoes with D.O.P. Certification on the can. This ensures that the San Marzano tomatoes are authentic and grown in Italy.

How To Make Slow Cooker Tomato Sauce

Step 1: Add the whole peeled San Marzano tomatoes to the slow cooker and crush them with your hands. Then, add the minced onion, minced garlic, oregano, basil, salt, and pepper to the slow cooker.

Step 2: Mix all of the ingredients in the slow cooker. After that, add the bay leaves.

Step 3: Place the lid on the slow cooker, cook the sauce, carefully remove the bay leaves once done, and enjoy.

How Long To Cook Tomato Sauce In The Slow Cooker

Cook tomato sauce in the slow cooker on high for 4 hours or on low for 8 hours. The sauce simmers in the slow cooker, which allows the flavors to develop. We love this slow cooker because the coating is free of lead, cadmium, PFAS, and PFOA.

What To Do With Slow Cooker Tomato Sauce

• Add It To Spaghetti: Add this tomato sauce to spaghetti or your favorite pasta.
• Meatballs: Enjoy this sauce with our homemade Italian turkey meatballs.
• Pizza Sauce: Use it as a sauce for pizza.
• Pasta Alternatives: Add this sauce to your favorite pasta alternatives such as lentils, hearts of palm pasta, Carba Nada Low-Carb Pasta, spaghetti squash, or Fiber Gourmet pasta.

Expert Recipe Tips

• Mince The Onion: Make sure to mince the onion so the onions are not overpowering in the sauce.
• Use San Marzano Tomatoes: For the best flavor in this tomato sauce, use San Marzano tomatoes.
• Slow Cooker: Let the tomato sauce cook in the slow cooker for the full amount of time to develop all of the flavors.

How To Store And Reheat Tomato Sauce

To Store: Store this tomato sauce in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. Or, freeze this sauce in a freezer container.

To Reheat: Reheat this tomato sauce in a saucepan on the stove over low-medium heat until warm.

Slow Cooker Tomato Sauce Variations

• What Onion: Use a medium white or sweet onion in this recipe.
• Use Tomato Puree: You can use one can of whole peeled San Marzano tomatoes and one can of San Marzano tomato puree in this recipe. Or, use two cans of San Marzano tomato puree.
• Add Heat: To add heat to your sauce, you can add 1/2 teaspoon or more to taste of ground cayenne pepper.
• Add Meat: Add lean ground beef or ground turkey to the slow cooker for a bolognese sauce.
• Turkey Meatballs: Enjoy this sauce with Italian turkey meatballs.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I Freeze Tomato Sauce?

You can freeze this slow cooker tomato sauce! Just let the sauce cool and add it to a freezer container. This sauce can be frozen for 2-3 months.

Does Tomato Sauce Get Better The Longer You Cook It?

The longer you cook tomato sauce, the longer it has for the flavors to develop and deepen. That is why this tomato sauce is cooked in the slow cooker! The sauce simmers in the slow cooker for hours, which results in a delicious and flavorful tomato sauce.

How Long Does Homemade Tomato Sauce Last?

This homemade tomato sauce is best enjoyed within 3-4 days when stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

More Recipes To Try Next!

• Slow Cooker Spaghetti Squash
• Roasted Tomato Sauce
• Easy Homemade Marinara Sauce
• Slow Cooker Chicken Parmesan
• Italian Turkey Meatloaf With Oats
• Cottage Cheese Alfredo

If you try this recipe please be sure to leave us a comment and star rating ★★★★★ letting us know how it turns out for you. We hope you enjoy this slow cooker tomato sauce!