Slow Cooker Spaghetti Sauce From Scratch
Are you tired of buying store-bought spaghetti sauce that's loaded with preservatives and additives? Why not try making your own slow cooker spaghetti sauce from scratch? Not only is it healthier, but it's also incredibly easy to make and delicious! In this article, we'll show you step-by-step how to make slow cooker spaghetti sauce from scratch.
Ingredients
Before we begin, let's gather all the necessary ingredients:
- 2 pounds of fresh tomatoes
- 1 onion, diced
- 4 cloves of garlic, minced
- 1 green bell pepper, diced
- 1 teaspoon of dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon of dried basil
- 1 teaspoon of salt
- 1/2 teaspoon of black pepper
- 1 tablespoon of olive oil
- 1/2 teaspoon of sugar (optional)
Don't worry if you don't have all of these ingredients on hand. You can always adjust the recipe to your liking by adding or removing ingredients.
Instructions
Now that we have all the ingredients, let's get started:
- Start by washing and chopping the fresh tomatoes. You can remove the skin if you prefer, but it's not necessary.
- Next, heat the olive oil in a pan and sauté the diced onion, minced garlic, and diced green bell pepper until they're soft and fragrant.
- Add the sautéed vegetables to the slow cooker along with the chopped tomatoes, dried oregano, dried basil, salt, black pepper, and sugar (optional). Stir everything together until well combined.
- Cover the slow cooker and cook on low for 6-8 hours or on high for 3-4 hours. The longer you cook the sauce, the thicker and more flavorful it will become.
- Once the sauce is done cooking, use an immersion blender or transfer the sauce to a blender and blend it until it's smooth and creamy. Be careful not to burn yourself if the sauce is still hot.
- Finally, taste the sauce and adjust the seasonings as needed. Serve the sauce over your favorite pasta and enjoy!
Tips and Tricks
Here are some tips and tricks to help you make the perfect slow cooker spaghetti sauce from scratch:
- If you don't have fresh tomatoes, you can use canned tomatoes instead. Just make sure to drain off any excess liquid before adding them to the slow cooker.
- If the sauce is too thick, you can add a little bit of water or chicken broth to thin it out.
- If the sauce is too thin, you can cook it on high for an additional 30 minutes to an hour to thicken it up.
- To make the sauce even more flavorful, you can add some red wine or balsamic vinegar.
- You can also add some cooked ground beef, sausage, or meatballs to the sauce for a heartier meal.
Conclusion
There you have it, a delicious and easy recipe for slow cooker spaghetti sauce from scratch. Not only is it healthier and more flavorful than store-bought sauce, but it's also incredibly easy to make. So next time you're in the mood for some spaghetti, give this recipe a try!