Love making this in batches and saving for later use! Nothing beats homemade! Don’t buy at the store!
This slow cooker tomato sauce recipe offers a delicious and convenient way to create a homemade base for pasta dishes, soups, stews, or pizzas.
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Here’s a breakdown of the ingredients (in a table) and instructions for making this versatile sauce:
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Ingredients:
| Ingredient | Quantity |
|---|---|
| Tomatoes | 10-12 large, peeled, chopped |
| Onion | 1 large, finely chopped |
| Garlic | 4 cloves, minced |
| Olive Oil | 1/4 cup |
| Sugar | 1 tablespoon |
| Salt | 1 tablespoon |
| Black Pepper | 1 teaspoon |
| Dried Basil | 1 teaspoon |
| Dried Oregano | 1 teaspoon |
| Dried Thyme | 1/2 teaspoon |
| Red Pepper Flakes (optional) | 1/2 teaspoon |
| Fresh Basil | 1/4 cup, finely chopped |
Instructions:
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Prep the Tomatoes: For easier peeling, blanch the tomatoes in boiling water for 1 minute. Then, transfer them to an ice bath to cool them quickly. This helps loosen the skins for easier removal. Peel the tomatoes and chop them into pieces. Set them aside.
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Sauté the Onion and Garlic: In a skillet over medium heat, heat the olive oil. Add the chopped onion and cook it until softened and translucent, about 5 minutes. Add the minced garlic and cook for an additional minute, being careful not to burn it.
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Transfer to Slow Cooker: Transfer the sautéed onions and garlic to your slow cooker.
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Combine the Ingredients: Add the chopped tomatoes, sugar, salt, pepper, dried basil, dried oregano, dried thyme, and optional red pepper flakes to the slow cooker. Give everything a good stir to combine the flavors.
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Slow Cook and Thicken: Set your slow cooker to low and cook the sauce for 6-8 hours. Stir occasionally throughout the cooking process. The sauce will thicken and the flavors will meld together as it simmers.
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Add Fresh Basil: About 30 minutes before the estimated cook time is up, stir in the chopped fresh basil.
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Puree or Leave Chunky: Once the cooking time is complete, use an immersion blender to puree the sauce to your desired consistency. You can leave it chunky if you prefer a more rustic texture.
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Adjust and Serve: Taste the sauce and adjust the seasoning with additional salt or pepper if needed. You can serve the sauce immediately or let it cool before storing it in jars or freezer-safe containers.
Tips:
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- If you don’t have fresh basil, you can substitute 1 teaspoon of dried basil for the chopped fresh basil.
- For a richer tomato flavor, you can use canned crushed tomatoes instead of fresh tomatoes.
