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Heather's Dish

Heather's Dish

Authentic Italian Red Sauce (in a Crock Pot!)

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I’m confused.

Authentic Italian Red Sauce (in a Crock Pot!) from @HeathersDish

I guess let me start off with this (not-so-new) nugget of info:  I’m obsessed with Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives.  Like to the point that I’ve literally seen every.single.episode.  To the point that my husband is sick and tired of coming home and seeing re-runs on TV.  To the point that should you engage me in a conversation about the show, you should probably be prepared to chat for a minimum of an hour about it.

 

Obsessed.  Really.

 

So here’s where I’m confused though:  what do you call this sauce?  It’s not really marinara so to speak – I believe true marinara is made with onions and garlic and lots of basil.  I mean, this sauce has those things but in veeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeery limited quantities.  On TripleD (totally just went there) I hear it called marinara, tomato sauce, red sauce, gravy, red gravy.  And since I’m only really Italian by marriage, I have not a clue what to call this.

Authentic Italian Red Sauce (in a Crock Pot!) from @HeathersDish

And so we’re going with red sauce.  Because it’s red and it’s a sauce.  Good?  Good!

 

I think the point that I should make here though is that this sauce is awesome on many many levels:

  • It’s inexpensive – even if you buy the fanciest of canned crushed tomatoes!
  • It’s flavorful – with only two ingredients!
  • It’s so very simple – two words: CROCK.POT.
  • It’s the kind of sauce that makes people ask, “WHAT is that recipe?” and you just respond with a smile and say you can’t give away your family’s authentic recipe.

My sister-in-law is real-deal Italian and has an amazing red sauce & meatball recipe that she literally will not even share with her husband (Nate’s brother).  It’s her grandmother’s and she’s been sworn to secrecy and have I mentioned that she WILLNOTSHARE the recipe?  (Brooke, I love you so much.  I just want the recipe :))  But I think it’s the intrigue that makes it that much more special, you know?

 

But like I said, I’m only Italian by marriage.  And I’m Texan by birth, which means I think sharing is caring.  So I won’t make y’all wait any more – as long as you promise to share!

Authentic Italian Red Sauce (in a Crock Pot!) from @HeathersDish

AUTHENTIC ITALIAN RED SAUCE (IN A CROCK POT!)

  • 2 28-oz cans crushed tomatoes**
  • 1 Tbsp prepared pesto

Put everything in a crock pot (I would recommend using a crock pot liner – cleanup will be so easy if you do!) and cook on low for 8-10 hours.  You really really do want to do the whole low and slow thing here; the sauce gets super sweet and rich and the pesto just melts into it!  Serve with whatever pasta you like, or feel free to simmer your favorite meatball recipe in there too!

**Note:  I know in the first photo I show a can of crushed tomatoes + a can of whole tomatoes.  I made a mistake at the store and bought the whole, but I would HIGHLY recommend only using crushed.  Another note on the tomatoes:  San Marzano really are the best if you can find them, but I’ve made this sauce several times with regular old Walmart store brand and it turns out fabulously.  I think the point is just make it – you won’t regret it!**

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Comments

  1. Will Gould says

    January 8, 2014 at 7:25 am

    Hi Heather, I joined the Tasty Kitchen web site yesterday found from getting a recipe from the pioneer woman site. I made two of your recipies yesterday and both were a big hit. I had both crockpots going at once. One was Authentic Texas Crockpot Chili and the other was Authentic Italian Red Sauce (in a crockpot) I really had the urge for chili because where I live in Rhode Island has been extremely cold and chili was in order lol
    I found Authentic San Marzano crushed DOP and used “RANA” basil pesto. The only other add was a pork chop and a stick of pepperoni. The sauce turned out better than I expected and will be making it again. Today I’m going to try your stuffed chicken breasts with roasted red pepper and goat cheese.
    Thanks, Will Gould

    Reply
    • Heather says

      January 8, 2014 at 9:28 am

      Thanks so much Will! I’m so glad you’re enjoying those recipes – they are some of our favorites too! So glad you’re here 🙂

      Reply
  2. She Rocks Fitness says

    December 22, 2012 at 4:09 pm

    YES another person who has seen almost every episode of Diners and Drives! HA! I thought I was the only female obsessed with it. High-Fives! This recipe is redunkulous and cannot believe it’s only 2 ingredients. I may just try it, because it’s so odd that it’s so simple. Enjoy the weekend!

    Reply
  3. kelley {mountain mama cooks} says

    December 21, 2012 at 8:01 am

    From only two ingredients…..I’m so intrigued! I am definitely trying it!

    Reply
  4. Laurie {Simply Scratch} says

    December 18, 2012 at 8:07 pm

    This is one of those recipes I wish I thought of {but oh-so glad you did}!

    Reply
  5. Jen @ Savory Simple says

    December 18, 2012 at 2:12 pm

    So simple, yet so perfect

    Reply
  6. DessertForTwo says

    December 18, 2012 at 12:27 pm

    Yes! Texans believe is sharing recipes, that’s for sure! Sometimes, I’m even so bold as to put a recipe card on something I bring, as if I know it’s so delicious you want the recipe before you even ask! 🙂

    Reply
    • Heather says

      December 18, 2012 at 1:16 pm

      And THIS IS WHY I LOVE YOU – this comment speaks to my heart! 😉

      Reply
      • Stacey says

        December 18, 2012 at 5:52 pm

        I’ve totally done that. Sharing IS caring, y’all! 😉

        Reply
  7. Maria says

    December 18, 2012 at 12:24 pm

    My brother, who is a homemade pizza genius, SWEARS by the Walmart brand of crushed tomatoes. It just made me think of him when I saw the photo. 🙂

    Reply
    • Heather says

      December 18, 2012 at 1:16 pm

      They work so perfectly!

      Reply
  8. Aggie says

    December 18, 2012 at 11:57 am

    Need. To. Make. This. Happen.

    Why haven’t I made sauce in the crockpot? Could this get any easier??

    Reply
    • Heather says

      December 18, 2012 at 1:15 pm

      Kinda makes me want pasta every day for the rest of my life…I’d hardly ever have any dishes!

      Now if I could just figure something out for this laundry situation…

      Reply
  9. Claire @ Live and Love to Eat says

    December 18, 2012 at 10:20 am

    Love the simplicity of this recipe – so many DDD recipes look so easy!

    Reply
  10. Bev @ Bev Cooks says

    December 18, 2012 at 9:30 am

    Mommy.

    Reply

Trackbacks

  1. How to Make Tomato Sauce from Fresh Tomatoes | Heather's Dish says:
    July 30, 2014 at 8:07 am

    […] entire process only took me about 30 minutes including cooling time. I used the sauce to make my favorite crockpot marinara, meaning that the prep work for an entire meal (two meals actually) was 30 minutes. Pretty […]

    Reply
  2. Healthy Spaghetti Squash Parmesan | Heather's Dish says:
    January 29, 2014 at 5:01 am

    […] them have at it! Another thing to note is that you can really use any marinara sauce you like. This authentic Italian red sauce (in a crockpot!) is killer and a staple in our house, but I’m also a really big fan of Barilla’s […]

    Reply

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Just a couple quick reminders: ⭐️ healthy doe Just a couple quick reminders:

⭐️ healthy doesn’t have to be hard
⭐️ you’re allowed to “mess up”
⭐️ you’re allowed to be multidimensional
⭐️ don’t overcomplicate it 
⭐️ YOU ARE CAPABLE 

I have so many thoughts swirling around in my head these days, and half the time I don’t know which way is up. But I do know this: focusing on simplicity is the name of the game this year for me. It starts with the things I can control: my food intake, moving my body, my thoughts, my actions. The rest will stem from there!

Does anyone even do a word of the year anymore after 2020? If you do I’d love to see you share it below!
“I’m angry with God.” With those 4 words my “I’m angry with God.”

With those 4 words my Daddy forever changed the way I saw God. A pillar of fire didn’t come from the sky, the ground didn’t open up and swallow him whole, we didn’t get in a car wreck on the way home from piano lessons. And my Daddy never turned his heart from God; a short 20 minutes later we sat down at the dinner table and he praised him through prayer before we ate dinner. 

He taught me that when we are sad or frustrated or anxious or angry or feel that surely the weight of life will kill us - God is big enough to handle those feelings. Not just handle them, but walk closer than our breath through them. He cares, he’s there, and he even wants us to tell him. The more I think about it the more I see that my dad sharing his anger with God was the most honest display of faith I had seen up to that point.

The other day I uttered those same words in front of my boys, “I’m angry with God.” Just like me, they looked around to see where my smiting would come from, likely shocked (as I was) when it didn’t come. And just like me, they will see their parent praise God even in the midst of a firestorm of emotion. 

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For someone who loves words so much, I really don' For someone who loves words so much, I really don't have many of them right now. 
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