Crock Pot Pasta Sauce

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Crock Pot Pasta Sauce is so easy to make and has so many uses. Plus, it will make your home smell delicious. Cooking this sauce in the crock pot gives it so much flavor since it can easily cook much longer than if it was on the stove top. Also, because this is a homemade sauce you can control so many of the variables. This recipe is added sugar free, vegan and vegetarian!

crock pot pasta sauce in a crock pot with a wooden spoon

How to Make Crock Pot Pasta Sauce

This recipe could not be easier to make. Simply gather all of the ingredients and combine them in the crock pot. Set the crock pot to low and cook for 4-8 hours on low.

If you are around while the sauce is cooking, I recommend stirring it every couple hours, however if you are not then don’t worry about it! You will need:

Canned crushed tomatoes- I get the ones with no other ingredients except for tomatoes. There are many different varieties but I like to add my own seasoning.
Canned tomato sauce- Again, this will have just one ingredient. Make sure there is no added sugar or seasoning.
Tomato paste- This ingredient helps to add a lot of strong flavor to the sauce because it is so condensed. Be sure to get the plain variety.
Italian seasoning- dried spices will work perfectly in this recipe because of the cooking time.
Chopped garlic- There is an amount in the recipe however feel free to add as much as you prefer! There is no such thing as too much garlic in my opinion!
Salt and pepper- add these during cooking or at the end to your taste.

See below for the full recipe and amounts.Now that you have all of this delicious sauce… what should you do with it?

How to Use Pasta Sauce

This pasta sauce has so many uses! Here are a few of my favorite ways to use this versatile sauce:

Of course, just put it on pasta (and add a big hunk of garlic bread) for an easy dinner idea!
Add meatballs or sausage into the crock pot to cook along with the sauce. Try our Crock Pot Sausage and Peppers recipe!
As a pizza sauce
In a lasagna (or this Spinach Lasagna)
Eggplant or chicken parmesan
As a dip with mozzarella sticks or Mozzarella Stuffed Turkey Meatballs
Sausage Casserole or Baked Ziti
Over roasted spaghetti squash
For a meaty spaghetti sauce brown your preferred ground meat (ground turkey, ground beef or ground chicken) in a large skillet and add to the sauce.

Need some more ideas? Check out this list of 50 Things to Make with Pasta Sauce!

Storage Tips

This recipe makes a pretty big batch of sauce. Any leftover should be cooled and then stored in the refrigerator. Use the sauce within a week or freeze it! Sauce will freeze well and can be used after defrosted and reheated. Frozen sauce will last up to 3 months.

Frequently Asked Questions

Isn’t pasta sauce usually made with fresh tomatoes?

Pasta sauce can be made with either fresh tomatoes or canned tomatoes. I prefer to use canned tomatoes for this recipe because it is a major time saver and it ensures that the flavor is consistent each time I make it.

Why should I make homemade sauce?

Homemade sauce in the crock pot is inexpensive and makes a large batch. This sauce can either be used right away or portioned out (in the fridge or freezer) to help make quick meals on busy days.

Can I add anything else to this pasta sauce?

Absolutely! While this is a flavorful sauce when made as the recipe calls for you can also add in fresh vegetables such as spinach, peppers, onions, shredded carrots, etc as well as fresh herbs like fresh basil for extra flavor. Also, feel free to add red pepper flakes for heat or a little bit of cream or cheese for a creamy sauce.

Is slow cooker spaghetti sauce better than jar sauce?

This will depend on personal preference. I enjoy this slow cooker recipe more because I can change the flavor to meet my preferences. This sauce recipe has so many uses that make dinner time easy! (See above for some of our suggestions.)

Does this recipe make a large batch?

Yes, if you do not want to have extra sauce on hand it can be cut in half. Homemade spaghetti sauce can be stored in airtight containers in the refrigerator for up to 1 week or freeze for up to 3 months.

My leftover sauce has white on the top after being refrigerated?

If you see any white or orange on top of the sauce after it has been refrigerated don’t worry! This is just some fat that has separated out of the sauce and congealed on top. This can be removed or just let it reheat back into the sauce when you use it.

My sauce is very acidic, what can I add to fix that?

A small amount of sugar or brown sugar can be added to the finished sauce to help cut the acidity. The acidity of the tomatoes can vary depending on brand so start slow and add a little bit of sugar at a time.

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If you love this recipe be sure to check out these other sauce recipes: Easy Homemade Meat Sauce and Healthy Cauliflower Alfredo Sauce. Or looking or more simple meal recipes? Try our Lemon Butter Shrimp and Pasta, Simple Gluten-Free Chicken Piccata, Three Bean Turkey Chili, Crock Pot Chicken Fajitas, or Turkey Sloppy Joes!