Crock Pot Marinara Sauce Vegetarian and Fat Free

Transform your weeknight dinners with this easy, flavor-packed Crock Pot Marinara Sauce that's completely vegetarian and fat-free! Made with wholesome ingredients like canned tomatoes, fresh garlic, and a touch of carrot for natural sweetness, this slow-cooked sauce is rich, aromatic, and irresistibly satisfying. The hands-off magic of the crock pot ensures all the flavors—from earthy oregano and thyme to a hint of optional red pepper flakes—meld beautifully over eight hours, creating the ultimate homemade marinara. Perfectly versatile, it pairs effortlessly with pasta, pizza, or as a dipping sauce, while being a healthier, guilt-free alternative to store-bought varieties. This make-ahead-friendly recipe is meal prep perfection—freeze for up to three months and enjoy fresh marinara anytime you crave it!

Nutriscore Rating: 80/100

Prep Time:10 mins

Cook Time:480 mins

Total Time:490 mins

Servings: 8

Ingredients

• 56 oz Canned whole peeled tomatoes
• 6 oz Tomato paste
• 1 medium Onion, diced
• 4 cloves Garlic cloves, minced
• 1 small Carrot, grated
• 2 tsp Dried basil
• 2 tsp Dried oregano
• 1 tsp Dried thyme
• 0.5 tsp Crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
• 1 tsp Salt
• 0.5 tsp Black pepper
• 1 leaves Bay leaf
• 1 cup Water
• 2 tbsp Fresh parsley, chopped (optional)

Directions

Step 1

1. In a crock pot, pour the canned whole peeled tomatoes and crush them lightly with a wooden spoon or your hands to break them up into smaller chunks.

Step 2

2. Add the tomato paste and water, stirring well to combine into a smooth base.

Step 3

3. Stir in the diced onion, minced garlic, and grated carrot. The carrot adds natural sweetness to balance the acidity of the tomatoes.

Step 4

4. Add the dried basil, oregano, thyme, crushed red pepper flakes (if using), salt, black pepper, and the bay leaf. Mix thoroughly to distribute the seasoning evenly.

Step 5

5. Cover the crock pot with its lid and set it to cook on low heat for 8 hours. Stir occasionally if possible.

Step 6

6. After 8 hours, remove the bay leaf and taste for seasoning. Adjust salt and pepper if necessary.

Step 7

7. If you prefer a smoother sauce, use an immersion blender directly in the crock pot to blend until the desired texture is achieved, or transfer the sauce to a blender and blend in batches.

Step 8

8. Stir in the fresh parsley (if using) immediately before serving for a fresh burst of flavor.

Step 9

9. Serve over pasta, use as a pizza sauce, or enjoy as a dipping sauce for breadsticks. Let cool completely before storing leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days, or freeze for up to 3 months.

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	(2174.4g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	634.3

Total Fat 4.9g	0%
Saturated Fat 0.3g	0%
Polyunsaturated Fat 0g
Cholesterol 0mg	0%
Sodium 4496.1mg	0%
Total Carbohydrate 147.4g	0%
Dietary Fiber 39.4g	0%
Total Sugars 93.6g
Protein 23.7g	0%

Vitamin D 0IU	0%
Calcium 458.8mg	0%
Iron 17.7mg	0%
Potassium 4822.3mg	0%

*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Source of Calories

Fat: 6.1%

Protein: 13.0%

Carbs: 80.9%