Slow Cooker Spaghetti Sauce made from canned tomato sauce and crushed tomatoes, with lots of aromatics and herbs. This easy and delicious sauce can be used for spaghetti and pasta dinners, meatball and chicken parm sandwiches and more.
Table Of Contents
It's no secret that everyone needs a go-to homemade spaghetti sauce. I've traditionally always made my spaghetti sauce on the stove, but the slow cooking process of the crockpot releases a depth of flavors from the tomatoes, onions, garlic and herbs, creating a pasta sauce that can't be beat. This recipe is our favorite homemade sauce not just for its taste but for its versatility too. It's great with homemade meatballs, pasta, and a side of garlic bread or Italian bread.
Use slow cooker spaghetti sauce for meatball subs, chicken parmesan, in lasagna and baked ziti, fried spaghetti and more. You can add meatballs or other meats to the crockpot to make a complete dinner out of it.
Want to make it another way? Try a simple marinara sauce in your pressure cooker or a bean and tomato bolognese. We also love a light version of spaghetti sauce made with fresh tomatoes and basil during the summer months.
Why You'll Love Slow Cooked Spaghetti Sauce
- When making slow cooker spaghetti sauce there is no standing over the stove stirring a hot pot of bubbling sauce and no messy stove to clean afterwards.
- The long cooking time allows the tomatoes to release a level of depth that can't be reached in a few hours on the stovetop.
Ingredients
- 28 ounce cans of tomato sauce
- 28 ounce cans of crushed tomatoes
- 1 ½ cups of diced onions
- 10 cloves of minced garlic
- 2 tsp garlic powder
- 2 tsp salt
- 1 tsp dried parsley
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1 tsp black pepper
- ½ tsp dried oregano
- ½ tsp dried thyme
- ½ tsp dried basil
Step-By-Step Instructions
- Pour the tomato sauce and crushed tomatoes into the slow cooker. Add diced onions, minced garlic, garlic powder, salt, onion powder, parsley, black pepper, oregano, thyme and basil. Stir well and cover.
- Set to LOW for 6-8 hours or HIGH for 3-5 hours. To prevent the sauce from burning, especially on the high setting, stir or gently shake every few hours if possible.
- Optional: add meatballs with 4 hours (low) and 2 hours (high) of cook time remaining.
Serve over pasta, sprinkled with parmesan cheese and red pepper flakes to take it up a notch. A side of crusty garlic bread, dinner rolls or Italian bread is perfect for serving and dipping.
Chef's Tips
There is no exact cook time for spaghetti sauce, but it's best cooked at a lower temperature for a longer time. This allows the tomatoes to release more flavor and the seasonings to really deepen the sauce's profile. While I recommend cooking at low for a minimum of 6 hours I always cook my sauce for longer, sometimes up to 12 hours.
How To Store Spaghetti Sauce
Keep spaghetti sauce refrigerated for up to 7 days or in the freezer in freezer safe storage containers for up to 6 months for optimal quality.
Recipe FAQs
Add uncooked meatballs, Italian sausage, ground beef, ground turkey or pork. All meat should be cooked until at least 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
I've never added sugar to my tomato sauces but if you find the sauce too acidic without it, add a few pinches of white or brown sugar to balance it out.
Recipe
Slow Cooker Spaghetti Sauce
Equipment
- slow cooker
Ingredients
- 2 cans tomato sauce 28 oz each
- 2 cans crushed tomatoes 28 oz each
- 1 ½ cup onions diced
- 10 cloves garlic minced
- 2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 2 tsp salt
- 1 teaspoon dried parsley
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- ½ tsp dried oregano
- ½ teaspoon dried thyme
- ½ teaspoon dried basil
Instructions
- Pour the tomato sauce and crushed tomatoes into the slow cooker. Add diced onions, minced garlic, garlic powder, salt, onion powder, parsley, black pepper, oregano, thyme and basil. Stir well and cover.
- Set to LOW for 6-8 hours or HIGH for 3-5 hours. To prevent the sauce from burning, especially on the high setting, stir or gently shake every few hours if possible.
- Optional: add meatballs with 4 hours (low) and 2 hours (high) of cook time remaining.
Ashley
This worked exactly as written, thanks!
Julie
Can you add peppers an mushrooms?
Kristina Tipps
absolutely!