3 Ingredient Slow Cooker Tomato Sauce
Do you ever come across recipes that seem too good to be true? Thats exactly how I felt about this beauty when I first stumbled upon it. How can 3 very simple ingredients come together to create something that bloggers were waxing lyrical over?
Well, I tried it, and discovered it to be every bit as wonderful as promised. However, for me there was one obvious flaw: 45 minutes of simmering seemed like a very long time at the end of the day when tummies are rumbling, so I tried to simplify it even further by tossing it in the slow cooker, and was delighted by the results. Imagine, returning home at the end of the day, and having a rich, velvety tomato sauce ready to be tossed with your favourite pasta, lush!
Enjoy!
- 1 800g/28oz tin of tomatoes* (see notes)
- 5 tbsp unsalted butter, cubed
- 1 medium onion, peeled and quartered
- salt & pepper to taste
- pasta, herbs and parmesan to serve
- Slow Cooker Method:
- Put tomatoes, butter, and onions in the slow cooker, and cook on high for 3 hours, or low for 8 hours. Remove the onion, and give everything a good stir. Season to taste, and toss with cooked pasta of choice. Serve with herbs and/or cheese if desired.
- Stovetop Method:
- Put tomatoes, butter, and onions in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Bring to a simmer, and reduce the heat to low. Simmer for 45 minutes. Remove the onion, and give everything a good stir. Season to taste, and toss with cooked pasta of choice. Serve with herbs and/or cheese if desired
Notes
*I like to use chopped tomatoes for ease, but whole tomatoes work well too. You will have to crush them with a spoon during or after cooking. I like to use unsalted tomatoes so I can control the salt content. If you use salted tomatoes, you will likely need less or no salt. Finally, I like to spend a little more on good quality tomatoes here, it does seem to make a difference.
Discovered on Rachel Eats, and adapted from Marcella Hazan’s Essentials of Classic Italian Cooking.
What is the temp for the slow cooker?
Hi Heather, my slow cooker just has two settings: high or low! I cook this on high for 3 hours, or low for 8.
Great thanks
Wow this does look amazing and so easy too! Need to try this!
Nice idea
Oh wow! ! This slow cooker tomato sauce looks super easy and delish, Emma! Brilliant!
Thanks Anu!
Amazing! Never thought to try this in the slow cooker- maximum ease! Ever since I tried the 3 ingredient tomato sauce, I’ve been struggling to keep butter out of every sauce I make. It just makes tooooo much sense to me now! Haha.
Ahhhh its so good. Something magical happens to butter in pasta sauce 🙂
I have heard of this famous sauce before but have never tried it – but I love your simpler method!! A crockpot is a beautiful thing 🙂 I can only imagine how nice it would be to come home to this sauce. Thanks for sharing this great idea!
Thanks Julia!
This sauce looks super easy and delicious, Emma! Definitely gonna try it, thanks for the great idea 🙂
Thanks Evi!