This one pot, easy to make crockpot red sauce is filled with hidden veggies and flavorful herbs. Throw it in the crockpot and come back when it’s ready! This sauce has so many uses from pizza to pasta to burritos and casseroles!
Easy, healthy, tasty… All things that I want in my food. Over at our house, Italian and pasta are some of our favorites, so my goal for some time now has been to create a red pasta sauce that is totally made in the crockpot. Something easy to throw together, put the lid on and press start, then go about my day with the fragrant aroma of homemade sauce drifting through the house. I love the taste of my Classic Red Red Sauce I created a while back, but I wanted something a little more authentic, something filled with fresh Italian herbs that tasted like an Italian garden.
Let’s face it, no matter how great some of those jarred sauces are, nothing beats the amazing flavor of homemade. Well, this one is a must try. It is so easy to make, has hidden veggies in it for our picky eaters and is absolutely delicious! Two thumbs up from my husband, the final word of all things Italian, means that this sauce has moved into slot number one as a go-to stock and save item. I make this in large batches, separate into smaller containers and freeze until we need it. So not only is it easy to make in the first place, but it’s even easy to batch for an even faster meal for weeks to come! It is delicious over pasta and my Kale & Lentil Balls. Give it a try and let me know what you think!
- 1 cup carrots , chopped
- 1 cup celery , chopped
- 2 teaspoons garlic , chopped (about 5-6 cloves)
- ½ cup fresh basil , sliced
- ½ cup fresh thyme
- ½ cup fresh oregano
- 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper , optional for a hint of spice
- 48 ounces crushed tomatoes , box, can or jarred
- sea salt , to taste
Using a food processor chop up carrots, celery and garlic (if not using crushed).
Put them, along with all the other ingredients, in a crock-pot and cook on high for 6-7 hours.
Check sauce every few hours, if sauce is too watery, take top off the crock pot and continue cooking to allow some of the liquid to evaporate.
Use as preferred, great over pasta and with my Kale & Lentil Balls.
- This makes about 7-8 cups, depending on how long you end up cooking it and how much liquid evaporates.
- If you don't want to cook this all day in a crockpot you can also put it on the stove for about 30 minutes
- Measure the herbs loosely packed. You can also use dried herbs if you do not have fresh however you will use much less as dried are more potent. I would say about 1/3 the amount.
- You may also use fresh tomatoes or a combo of both jarred/boxed/canned and fresh.
- You can also use diced, strained, etc. tomatoes. It doesn't have to be crushed. But don't use whole unless you want to blend the sauce.
Katie Baker says
I have read through twice and seem to be missing where to find how many tomatoes to use?? It is driving me crazy since people have made this, but I cannot seem to find it listed under the ingredients?!
veggiesdontbite says
OMG Katie, you are NOT going crazy. I just went to the recipe and the tomatoes were deleted from the ingredient list! I am not sure how. I switched recipe plugins and some recipes have gotten screwed up so I really appreciate you telling me. I am trying to go through and fix them slowly but it takes forever and I am doing one a week. It’s all fixed and updated now!
Emily Kemp says
I love that I can just set it and forget it, you can’t go wrong with a good red sauce recipe!
Lara says
Looks yummmm. I don’t have a crock pot. Do you think a regular pot cooking for a long time on low would work??
veggiesdontbite says
Thanks so much Lara! Yes, that should definitely work. Keep it covered and then towards the end open it a crack. Let me know how it works!
shannon4126 says
yum!
veggiesdontbite says
Thank you Shannon! Let me know if you try it.
alifemoment says
Really colourful!!! 🙂
veggiesdontbite says
Thank you!!
alifemoment says
🙂
Yanic A. says
I’m due for spag sauce this week-end! I will definitely give it a try. Sounds delicious!
veggiesdontbite says
Thank you! Hope you like it!
Yanic A. says
It is delicious! The only things I changed was no garlic (cause we have restrictions), so I added a TBSP of cider vinegar for that little kick. Very yummy!
veggiesdontbite says
Great sub! Thanks for posting so others can see if they too have the need to sub! Glad you liked it!
Laura says
Looks delicious – and I love that I can come home and it’s just… Ready!
Maureen says
Can I use San Marzano tomatoes from a can? What are boxed tomatoes?
veggiesdontbite says
Yes, absolutely you can use canned tomatoes if you want. Boxed is just another way they are sold. I prefer the taste of those that come in a jar or box but canned work too! Let me know how it turns out!
veggiesdontbite says
Thank you! Isn’t that the best?! I love crockpot dishes, and that’s why I created this one. Easy and good!