Easy to make Slow Cooker Tomato Meat Sauce is an easy 2 step process and requires little hands-on time!
We recently had guests for a week that ended in an Engagement party and a tailgating football event the next day. Although I love entertaining enough is enough it can be a lot of work. After that week, I wanted easy food that I could throw together while I get my life house back in order.
I like to keep this meat sauce cooked and ready in the refrigerator. It’s great for spaghetti, calzones, lasagna, pizza and dipping breadsticks. I like to add the beef and let it cook in the slow cooker, but you can leave the meat out especially if you don’t have immediate plans to use this tomato sauce.
Homemade Gift Ideas
Slow Cooker Tomato Meat Sauce is also great as a gift for teachers, neighbors, party hosts, or just a little happy for a friend. When I package it for gifts, I do not add the meat. Just follow the instructions omitting the beef. Saute the onions in 2 T vegetable oil instead of the beef drippings. Put the tomato sauce in a quart or pint jar, tie pretty raffia around it. The sauce makes a great gift all by itself or package it with pasta, a small basil plant, garlic bulbs, and your favorite spaghetti or lasagna recipe!
While you’re here, check out these recipes
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Slow Cooker Tomato Meat Sauce
Ingredients
- 1 lb 90% lean ground beef omit if making sauce for a gift
- 2 (28 oz cans) tomatoes crushed
- 1 medium onion approx 1 cup
- 1 Tablespoon crushed garlic minced
- 1 teaspoon oregano
- 3 bay leaves fresh
- 1 Tablespoon sundried tomatoes chopped
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper
- 1/4 cup roasted red pepper
Instructions
- Turn slow cooker on 250 degrees.
- I rough chopped my onion because I was trying to see how fast I could get all the ingredients in the slow cooker. Chop them small if you prefer.
- Cook onion and ground beef in a skillet on medium high heat until no longer pink. I didn't have to drain any fat off since my meat was lean.
- While onions and beef are cooking, add remaining ingredients to slow cooker - tomatoes, garlic, oregano, bay leaves, sundried tomatoes, salt, pepper, red pepper, and roasted red pepper.
- Add beef and onions and stir. Place lid on and allow to cook on 200-250 degrees for 4 hours.
- Remove bay leaves and use in recipe of your choice
Nutrition
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(Mason Jar Gifts)
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Kim Honeycutt says
I LOVE MEAT SAUCE!! When my Mom would make spaghetti sauce, I ate it by the bowl full. Also, love slow cooker recipes! Pinning this to try! Thanks!!
Leslie @ House on the Way says
Looks wonderful! Thanks for sharing at the Twirl & Take a Bow Party! Hope to see you at the party Tuesday! Have a great week!
Julie @White Lights on Wednesday says
This recipe sounds delicious! I can’t wait to try it Paula. Great pictures too!!
Paula says
Thanks, Julie!
Krista @ Joyful Healthy Eats says
I make sauce all the time at home but never in a crock pot. This looks delicious Paula, and now I want pasta! 🙂 Just wanted to let you know I’m featuring you this week at Show Stopper Saturdays! 🙂
Paula says
Ohhhhhhhh, Thanks Krista!
Jamie @ Love Bakes Good Cakes says
For years and years I was content to buy the jarred stuff at the store ….. when I finally decided to make it myself, I couldn’t believe how easy it was and how much better it tasted! I’m a fan of slow cooker cooking, Paula – pinning this! I have also Buffered this to share on Facebook! Thanks so much for linking up to All My Bloggy Friends this week – I hope you have a great weekend!
Paula says
Thanks so much for sharing, Jamie. I was the same about buying it Jamie, then decided one that that there had to be a easier cheaper way. I’ve been happy with this. I usually make a lot and freeze ti.
Andi says
I love this recipe, Paula! I recently received a lot of tomatoes, and I think I’m going to have to use them in this 🙂 Thanks for sharing this with us at Saturday Night Fever!
Paula says
You’re welcome, Andi! I always make extra and freeze it too!
Michele @ Flavor Mosaic says
This is a great idea to cook the pasta sauce in the slow cooker. I also love the idea of jarred pasta sauce as a gift. Thanks for sharing.
Paula says
You’re welcome! I love my slow cooker, always looking for ways to use it.
Becca from ItsYummi.com says
The one thing that drives me bonkers about great pasta sauce is how long it takes to simmer, because I end up having to get up and down from my chair all day to check on it. You’ve solved my issue, Paula. THANK YOU!
Paula says
You’re welcome, Becca! I like slow cooker dishes that I can start during the day, all heck breaks loose at my house after the boys get out of school.
Consuelo @ Honey & Figs says
It’s pasta night today and I’ think I’ve just found what I’ll be coooking… It looks terrific c:
Paula says
Thank you so much, hope you enjoy it!
Carla says
I love this Paula! Since I eat ground turkey, I’m assuming I’d still take the same steps. I don’t think the drippings from ground turkey are that much, though. Would you still use oil to saute the onions?
Carla says
Oh, and Happy SITS Saturday Sharefest!
Paula says
Thanks for stopping by!
Paula says
You may need a little oil, I’d render the turkey and see. Add just a little if you need it. Thanks for stopping by.
Nancy P.@thebittersideofsweet says
this is such a great idea! It is nice to have a really good back up recipe for those moments when it is needed!!
Paula says
Thank you Nancy. I agree. I really enjoy cooking, but it’s not always easy with 2 little ones!