Slow Cooker Chunky Marinara Sauce

Shoe shopping is actually responsible for the creation of this sauce.  Whaaat???  See, I was going to make pasta sauce on the stove top and I was going to let it slow simmer, to give all the flavors time to blend together and get all yummy.  But….then I saw an email from DSW and there was the cutest pair of sandals that were calling my name, so I knew I was going to have to go shopping that afternoon and check them out.

So what does that have to do with pasta sauce?  Since I was going to leave the house for a while, I wasn’t comfortable with leaving my sauce simmering on the stove unattended.  That’s when the light bulb went on and I realized I should let the slow cooker do all the work for me, so I could safely leave the house and check out those sandals.

Sadly, when I got to the store, I discovered that they didn’t have the sandals in the color I wanted .  🙁  But the sauce was amazing!  It couldn’t be easier to put together and after simmering all day, the flavors had blended beautifully and I had a nice, thick, chunky sauce.  This recipe makes close to two quarts of stock, which is great because it freezes beautifully.

Slow Cooker Chunky Marinara Sauce

• 2 (28 oz) cans whole tomatoes
• 1 (15 oz) can diced tomatoes
• 1 (6 oz) can tomato paste
• 1/2 cup red wine
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1 small onion, chopped
• 5 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tbsp dried Italian seasoning
• 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes
• 3/4 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp pepper
• small parmesan cheese rind
• fresh basil, chopped
• fresh parsley, chopped

Add whole tomatoes to slow cooker and gently mash with potato masher.

Add remaining ingredients, except for basil and parsley, stirring well to combine.

Cook on low for 8-10 hours or high for 4-6 hours.

Remove parmesan rind and mash again with potato masher, to further break up the tomatoes

Stir in basil and parsley right before serving.

<OPTIONAL> If you want a smoother sauce, you can puree sauce with an immersion blender or in a food processor, before stirring in basil and parsley, until sauce is desired consistency.

ENJOY!