Crock Pot Tomato Meat Sauce

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Let your slow cooker do all the work for you with this hearty, flavorful Crock Pot Tomato Meat Sauce. It’s minimal effort with maximum flavor! That’s my kind of recipe.

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My husband is fully Italian and his grandmother makes the most incredible all day tomato sauce you’ll ever taste! We’ve tried many times to replicate it, but it’s never quite the same as hers. One thing about grandmothers; they never write anything down! They just KNOW. There’s no exact measurements of anything, they just know what to put in, when to add ingredients and when it needs a little something extra. That super power only comes with making the same recipe over and over for YEARS to perfect it.

However, Nanna would be proud of this crock pot tomato meat sauce. It tastes like you stood over the sauce pot all day, without having to stand over the sauce pot all day. Its truly a winner! This recipe makes a lot of sauce and it freezes well.

What equipment do I need?

• 7 quart crockpot
• crockpot liners (optional, for easy clean up)
• a large sauté pan
• meat masher
• measuring cups and spoons

Ingredients

• Ground beef– I use lean beef, 90/10
• Canned tomato sauce, crushed tomatoes, and tomato paste. I personally love the Tuttoroso brand of canned tomato products.
• Beef broth
• Yellow Onion
• Sugar-this balanced the acidity of the tomatoes
• Garlic– you can use fresh cloves grated or use the jarred stuff already minced for you
• Seasonings: salt, pepper, bay leaves and Italian seasoning. I also use a bunch of fresh oregano tied together with kitchen twine in the sauce. It gives off the flavor but can be removed after cooking (because again, kids)

How to make Crock Pot Tomato Meat Sauce

First you’ll cook your ground beef , seasoning the meat and add in the onions. Once that’s cooked you’ll just dump all of the ingredients in the crock pot and wait for the deliciousness! This takes less than 20 minutes to put together and then it’s hands off until you’re ready to eat!

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Tips

• If you love a hearty sauce, go ahead and add 2 pounds of ground beef. Want to switch things up? Try Italian sausage, ground pork, turkey, or chicken instead.
• I like to grate my onion directly into the meat as it cooks—my kids are convinced onions are basically poison, so this trick makes them disappear into the sauce while still adding great flavor. If onions aren’t an issue at your house, you can simply dice them instead.
• For extra depth, stir in ½ cup of red wine. Feeling bold? Add a pinch of red pepper flakes for a spicy kick.
• Have a garden full of tomatoes? This recipe is the perfect way to use fresh tomatoes when they’re in season.
• If you’d rather keep things simple, you can even use frozen meatballs in place of ground beef. Just add a 2-pound bag right in with the sauce ingredients.
• This sauce also freezes beautifully. Let it cool, then transfer to a gallon-sized freezer bag or portion it out in Souper Cubes. It will keep up to 6 months. To reheat, either thaw overnight in the fridge or warm straight from frozen on the stovetop.
• Want a vegetarian version? Skip the meat and load your sauce with diced veggies like carrots and celery, then swap in vegetable stock for a hearty, meatless alternative.

More Crock Pot Recipes

• Crock Pot Minestrone Soup
• Ravioli Casserole
• Mississippi Pot Roast in the Crock Pot
• Creamy Tomato Soup
• Crock Pot Italian Beef Sandwiches

Serve over bucatini noodles (our favorite!) or spaghetti, with a big salad and cheesy garlic bread sliders.

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