I was searching for a new tomato-based sauce that I could use on (whole or ground) Italian sausage sandwiches. It was a cold day, so I wanted something that would cook all day, making the house smell great. I like that. Eight or so hours of great smells, culminating in a fantastic sandwich topped with slow cooker marinara sauce.

This slow cooker marinara sauce is a great all-around marinara sauce. Double the recipe and keep some in the freezer. It’s great to have on hand for those nights when you need a simple meal. Great on pasta, sandwiches, pizza, you name it.

Add a bit of dried red pepper flake for a little kick, if you want.

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Slow Cooker Marinara Sauce

Course Sauce

Cuisine American

Prep Time 10 minutes

Cook Time 8 hours

Total Time 8 hours 10 minutes

Servings 6 cups

Author From Budget Bytes

Ingredients

• 2 28 ounce cans crushed tomatoes
• 1 6 ounce can tomato paste
• 1 medium yellow onion chopped
• 1/2 tablespoon minced garlic
• 2 whole bay leaves
• 1 tablespoon dried basil
• 1/2 tablespoon dried oregano
• 1 tablespoon brown sugar
• 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
• Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

Instructions

• Add all ingredients to your slow cooker set to low heat.
• Stir and cook 8 hours, stirring every hour or so.
• If the mixture gets too thick add a little water and stir.
• Remove the bay leaves before using.