It’s so easy to make pasta sauce in the crock pot! Check out this easy crock pot pasta sauce! It’s a whole family pleaser!
Welcome to this month’s edition of Homemade Homemaking! Today we’re making a crock pot pasta sauce!
I’ve always wanted to make my own marinara sauce. Buying organic sauce is not always within our budget, and I’ve become increasingly more frustrated over finding a store-bought sauce that doesn’t contain high fructose corn syrup, sugar or soybean oil (or a plethora of other additives).
When I started making my own, I couldn’t believe how incredibly EASY it is! (Just like making homemade disinfectant wipes and applesauce!)
Here’s how you can do it, too. I made a quadruple batch in the crock pot. You could easily make yours on the stove by simmering it for 10-15 minutes.
Ingredients
- 1 28 oz. jar/can whole peeled tomatoes I got canned organic tomatoes for a steal at Big Lots!
- 3 Tbsp. extra virgin olive oil
- 2 tsp. chopped garlic
- 2 tsp. chopped basil I just used dry
- sea salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- If you are using fresh garlic, heat a bit of the oil and all of the garlic in a sauce pan on the stove until the garlic turns golden. Then, add garlic to the crock pot.
- Add tomatoes, oil, basil, salt, and pepper to the crock pot.
- Stir things around a bit.
- Let sauce cook for 4 hours on high.
If you are using fresh garlic, heat a bit of the oil and all of the garlic in a sauce pan on the stove until the garlic turns golden. Then, add garlic to the crock pot.
1. Add oil to the crock pot.
2. Add tomatoes to the crock pot.
3. Add basil to the crock pot.
4. Add salt to the crock pot.
5. Add pepper to the crock pot.
6. Stir things around a bit.
7. Let sauce cook for 4 hours on high.
Enjoy! I quadrupled this recipe for the pics you see. I froze most of it in glass jars. The recipe makes enough for 1 lb. of pasta.
Now, I use this sauce in both pasta dishes AND on pizza because: 1) I prefer a thinner sauce, and 2) I’d rather just make one sauce that I can use for both.
BUT, if you’re looking for a thicker, traditional pizza sauce, check out Stacy’s recipe for crockpot pizza sauce over at Stacy Makes Cents!
*Note: You can also make this on the stove top, but the tomatoes will not just “fall apart” like they will after cooking it in the crock pot. You will have to puree the sauce in a blender, chopper or food processor. You can also do this if you do not like the consistency of the sauce from the crock pot.
Amanda
Could you can this instead of freezing?
Erin
I don’t see why not–I just don’t can!
AmyP.
FYI Aldi has organic tomatoes for $1.49 now 28oz. Also, is there a trick to freezing in glass jars without them cracking?
Sarah L
The biggest thing is to make sure you leave enough headspace, as the liquid will expand when it freezes. Also, make sure you chill overnight in the fridge before you move it to the freezer. I usually freeze in plastic Ziploc tupperware. It is inexpensive, easy to label, and it stacks nicely to save space in my freezer.
Erin
Great tips! I got a chest freezer for Christmas, so I’ve have more space for stuff like this! So excited!
Jamie
Hi!!! Did you “do” anything like mash the tomatoes to get them to fall apart? They are cooking in the crock pot but keeping their relative original shape….?
Erin
Sometimes I will run them through the blender when it is done. Hope that helps! Hope you enjoy it!
Erin
Sorry–I hadn’t checked comments, and I’m sure it was done by now. :/ How did it turn out?
Sharda Lewis
Is the recipe above already quadrupled or is it just a single serving?
Stephanie
Guess what I’m making for dinner tonight? I’ve been looking for a crockpot recipe for my home-canned tomatoes. This sounds like the perfect fit! Thank you for sharing.
C Kitchenette
This looks so good! I was looking for some unconventional crockpot recipes because I’m not really a fan of stew, chili or what you usually think of when you think slow cooker! I am going to try to to make this this week, do you mind if I share a version on my blog? I’ll link back to this page of course. Thanks for the great idea.
Erin
You will just need to change around the wording and use your own pics. I would love a link back! Thanks! 🙂
Bonnie
Im wondering how you get away with freezing in glass. Every time I try, the glass breaks 🙁 Any tips?
Erin
I leave some room at the top. I do not have the link right off, but I know that Kitchen Stewardship did a great post on this…maybe do a search on her site? I wish I knew how to can, though! I am sure that would be even better…and leave more room in the freezer!
Bobbey Martinez
I have an entire case of organic, non-gmo tomato paste. Do you know if I could sub the paste for the whole tomatoes?