It is soon to be Valentine’s Day and what could be more romantic than to share a bowl of pasta. To make your day easier all you have to do is put your ingredients in a slow cooker. That leaves you the whole day to explore and enjoy each others company. When you arrive home a big pot of delicious Slow Cooker Marinara Sauce is waiting for you.
You can think past the pasta too and make pizza, soup, mussels, braised meats or poached eggs with this delicious versatile sauce. You can leave it naturally vegan or change it up to how you enjoy it. A good sauce is the start to many recipes.
Start with great ingredients and you will in turn, end up with a great sauce. I used our own canned tomatoes but there are increasingly better products out there now. I am in love with San Marzano tomatoes, some brands are better than other. For the pureed tomatoes you can buy them already like that or pop some great quality tomatoes in a blender. So easy and it makes a difference.
You can enjoy this sauce all year long in all of you favorite dishes!! But for right now think Valentine’s Day!! Hugs and kisses!!
- 1 medium onion, chopped
- 6 tsp. garlic paste or 6 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 Tbsp. olive oil
- 1500 ml. (50 oz.) pureed tomatoes, freshly pureed or purchased canned
- 3 large sprigs of fresh basil, pureed with the tomatoes or finely chopped
- 28 oz. can San Marzano tomatoes
- 1 Tbsp. sugar. optional
- 1 tsp. salt
- 3-4 Tbsp. tomato paste
- Saute onions and garlic in the olive oil in a medium skillet, over medium heat, until translucent. Add to a large pot of a slow cooker. Add all the remaining ingredients. Add more tomato paste if desired for thickness.
- Cook on low for 2½ - 3½ hours on high or 5-7 hours on low. Break up tomatoes at the end of cooking and then let cook for a half hour longer to thicken. Enjoy with your favorite recipe or on pasta or pizza.
Susie Gall says
I love the idea of using a slow cooker. Thanks for sharing!
Noshing with the Nolands says
Thanks so much Susie!
Nicole Neverman says
This is a fantastic idea! I love the thought of having a lovely Valentine’s day dinner with so much of the effort taken out 🙂
Noshing with the Nolands says
Thank Nicole, who doesn’t love a romantic dinner with little effort!
jill says
Valentine’s Day, marinara sauce, spaghetti — Lady and the Tramp comes to mind! I like the idea of making a nice marinara sauce in the slow cooker.
Noshing with the Nolands says
Thanks so much Jill, I picture it as being romantic too. Nice bottle of Chianti and some fresh bread!! Plus you don’t have to be in the kitchen all day!!
Shauna Smart says
This marinara sauce looks like so delicious and I love that its a slow cooker recipe! I’ll have to try it out!