Slow Cooker Marinara Magnifica

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A hearty marinara sauce made with plenty of vegetables, two type of tomatoes, and spices make for a tasty sauce that’s great served over top of pasta.

Last year I had an abundance of tomatoes in my garden.   I made a ton of salsa and tomato sauce.  I also ended up canning a bunch of tomatoes that I could use throughout the winter to make some of my favorite dishes.

I still had a lot of tomatoes left and I wanted to make a huge pot of marinara that I could freeze and use all winter and spring. Since I also had some green peppers in the garden I wanted to use those as well.

I found a recipe for Slow Cooker Marinara Magnifica that uses both tomatoes and peppers, makes a huge pot, and has tons of spices.I liked that I could let it simmer in the slow cooker all day long and it would be ready whenever I had time to portion and freeze it.

Ingredients:

• olive oil
• onions (I like to use sweet onions but use your favorite type)
• brown sugar (if you don’t have brown sugar you can use granulated)
• garlic cloves (I use a lot but you can use more or less depending on your tastes)
• bell peppers (use your favorite color or whatever you have on hand)
• fresh tomatoes (I used ones from my garden but you can buy them at the market)
• crushed tomatoes (this will give your sauce a nice smooth base)
• tomato paste (I like buying the resealable tubes in case I can’t use an entire can)
• red wine (if you don’t want to use wine you can use beef broth instead)
• oregano (use fresh or dried)
• parsley (use fresh or dried)
• salt (I like using kosher or sea salt)
• black pepper (using fresh cracked is best)

I started by heating the olive oil in a skillet and sauteing the onions along with the brown sugar in order to caramelize them.   While this step adds a ton of flavor you can simply skip it and just put everything in the slow cooker.

This recipe is super easy because everything is just placed into the slow cooker and then it’s cooked on low all day long.  I like to check it throughout the day and add more salt or seasonings as needed.

Once the vegetables have softened and the tomatoes are easy to break down the sauce is probably finished.  You can leave it chunky or you can put it into a food processor and process until it is smooth.

Do I have to use fresh tomatoes?

You do not have to use fresh tomatoes.   I only use them when I have them from my garden or when I can get them at the farmer’s market.  If you don’t have them you can use 16 ounces of diced tomatoes in place of them.

Can I use different vegetables in the marinara?

Yes!  I always use the peppers and tomatoes for the base along with the onions but feel free to add in other vegetables.   In my most recent time making this marinara sauce I added in a cup of carrots and it was delicious.  You could also add in celery or mushrooms.

Can I make marinara in the Instant Pot?

You sure can!   I’ve done this twice and it has worked out really well.   I set the Instant Pot to saute and caramelize the onions right in the pot and then add in the other ingredients.   Be cautious when adding the wine as you shouldn’t put much alcohol in the Instant Pot.  I ended up adding 1/4 cup.   Put the lid on and cook on high pressure for 25 minutes.  Naturally release the pressure for 10 minutes then take off the lid.   Taste the sauce and add additional salt and seasonings.

How do I freeze the marinara sauce?

Let the sauce cool completely.   Then portion it into quart sized freezer bags.  I always write the date and name of the recipe on the bag.   Squeeze out as much air as possible and place in the freezer for up to 6 months.  When you are ready to use it you can thaw it in the refrigerator over night or you can slice the bag and put the frozen sauce into a pan on the stove to heat it up.

We used this sauce over top of fresh pasta which was a good choice.  The flavor of the sauce is rich and inviting.

Since I used several vegetables they flavored the sauce as well.   The wine adds a nice depth to the sauce and the spices just add more flavor.

More Pasta Recipes:

• Pasta Primavera
• Slow Cooker Bolognese
• One Pot Pasta with Sausage, Mushrooms, and Broccoli
• Baked Feta Pasta
• Pumpkin Tomato Sauce

Because the sauce simmers in the slow cooker all day all the flavors meld together into a beautiful sauce.  This recipe makes a lot so we had enough to use on pasta one night and then I froze more for later.

This recipe is easily doubled when made in the slow cooker so you can make and freeze multiple batches.  I like to freeze them in quart sized bags and then take a bag out through out the winter when we need a fresh sauce to brighten up our day.

You can easily add in additional vegetables and spices if you’d like.   You can also omit veggies and spices as well.  Make this sauce your own!

If you’ve tried my Slow Cooker Marinara Sauce or any other recipe on Hezzi-D’s Books and Cooks please take a minute to rate the recipe and leave a comment letting me know how you like it.  I love hearing from you!  You can FOLLOW ME on:

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