I've been making my homemade spaghetti sauce for years, but everything changed when I realized it's even better in the crock pot! This slow cooker spaghetti sauce recipe simmers all day, developing incredible flavor with almost zero effort.

Overhead view of rich red spaghetti sauce in a white slow cooker with a wooden spoon.

Katie's Recipe Notes

This crockpot spaghetti sauce really is better than any pasta sauce you'll find in a jar, making it 1,000,000% worth the five minutes it takes to plop all the ingredients in the crock pot.

I don't even sauté the onions or garlic first! There's no discernible difference in the texture or flavor and we all know having one less thing to wash is worth it!

This recipe makes almost 8 cups of sauce, which is enough for several dinners for my family. I freeze the leftover sauce in 2-cup portions, and thaw it when I need an easy weeknight dinner.

You might also like to know this recipe is naturally gluten-free, just like all of my recipes here on Wheat by the Wayside.

What to Serve With Crock Pot Spaghetti Sauce

Serve this sauce with your favorite pasta, I like my homemade gluten-free egg noodles or gluten-free ravioli.
I also use it to make my gluten-free lasagna that everyone always raves about!
My gluten-free chicken cutlets and baked chicken meatballs are a perfect pairing to round out the meal.

Ingredients

Whole Peeled San Marzano Tomatoes: These tomatoes are sweeter, less acidic, and more intensely flavored than regular canned tomatoes. Well worth the extra cost, in my opinion.
Tomato Paste: Adds concentrated flavor and thickness to the sauce. Without it, the sauce will be watery.
Fresh Herbs (optional): If you can get your hands on a handful of fresh basil and a sprig of oregano or thyme, it will take this sauce to the next level. Add them whole and remove the stems before serving.
The remaining ingredients, including fresh garlic, onion, olive oil, and spices (Italian seasoning, red pepper flakes, salt and pepper), are all pantry staples that make this sauce easy to whip up any time.

*Refer to the recipe card below for exact measurements.

Can I Make This a Meat Sauce?

You can certainly add meat to this recipe. I suggest you brown and crumble the meat in a separate pan first, then drain the fat before adding to the sauce.

My top choice for a traditional meat sauce is ground Italian sausage, ground beef, or a 50/50 combination of the two. Ground chicken or ground turkey would also work in this recipe.

Can I Add Veggies?

Feel free to add some vegetables. Carrots, zucchini, or mushrooms are all great options. The finer you dice or grate the veggies, the more they will disappear into the sauce.

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How to Make Slow Cooker Spaghetti Sauce

Step 1: Add all ingredients to the slow cooker. Break up the tomatoes with a wooden spoon, they will break down even more as the sauce cooks, and stir everything together.
Step 2: Cook on low for 6-8 hours or high for 3-4 hours.
Step 3: Before serving, remove any fresh herb stems and use an immersion blender to blend to your desired consistency, or you can leave it chunky if that's what you like.

A plate of spaghetti and meatballs garnished with parsley.

What To Do With Leftovers

Store leftover sauce in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days or several months in the freezer. Discard if you see any signs of mold or discoloration.