Vegetarian Crock Pot Spaghetti Sauce

Slow-cooked to perfection, this Vegetarian Crock Pot Spaghetti Sauce is a rich and hearty meat-free option packed with vibrant vegetables and Italian-inspired flavors. Starting with a base of sautéed onion, garlic, and a medley of fresh veggies like carrots, celery, zucchini, and red bell pepper, this sauce is blended with crushed tomatoes, tomato sauce, and tomato paste for a luxuriously thick texture. Seasoned with aromatic dried herbs—basil, oregano, and thyme—along with a touch of red pepper flakes for subtle heat, it simmers for hours in your crock pot, allowing the flavors to meld effortlessly. The addition of fresh parsley and basil just before serving adds a final burst of brightness. Perfect over your favorite pasta or as a versatile base for other Italian-inspired dishes, this plant-based spaghetti sauce is effortless, wholesome, and ideal for meal prepping.

Nutriscore Rating: 80/100

Prep Time:20 mins

Cook Time:360 mins

Total Time:380 mins

Servings: 8

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons Olive oil
• 1 large Yellow onion, diced
• 4 cloves Garlic cloves, minced
• 2 medium Carrots, finely diced
• 2 stalks Celery stalks, finely diced
• 1 medium Red bell pepper, diced
• 1 medium Zucchini, diced
• 28 ounces Crushed tomatoes (canned)
• 15 ounces Tomato sauce (canned)
• 6 ounces Tomato paste
• 2 teaspoons Dried basil
• 2 teaspoons Dried oregano
• 1 teaspoon Dried thyme
• 0.5 teaspoons Red pepper flakes
• 2 teaspoons Sugar
• 1 teaspoon Salt
• 0.5 teaspoons Black pepper
• 2 tablespoons Fresh parsley, chopped
• 2 tablespoons Fresh basil, chopped

Directions

Step 1

Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add diced onion and sauté for 3-4 minutes until softened.

Step 2

Add minced garlic and sauté for an additional 1 minute, stirring constantly to avoid burning.

Step 3

Stir in the carrots, celery, red bell pepper, and zucchini. Cook for 5-6 minutes until the vegetables begin to soften.

Step 4

Transfer the sautéed vegetables into a crock pot.

Step 5

Add the crushed tomatoes, tomato sauce, and tomato paste to the crock pot. Stir everything together until well combined.

Step 6

Sprinkle in the dried basil, oregano, thyme, red pepper flakes, sugar, salt, and black pepper. Stir to distribute the seasonings evenly.

Step 7

Cover the crock pot and cook on low heat for 6 hours or on high heat for 3 hours. Stir occasionally if possible.

Step 8

Taste the sauce near the end of the cooking time and adjust seasonings as needed.

Step 9

Just before serving, stir in the chopped fresh parsley and basil for a burst of fresh flavor.

Step 10

Serve the spaghetti sauce over cooked pasta of your choice or use it as the base for other Italian-style dishes. Enjoy!

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	(2430.5g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	1019.2

Total Fat 34.2g	0%
Saturated Fat 5.3g	0%
Polyunsaturated Fat 2.7g
Cholesterol 0mg	0%
Sodium 4971.3mg	0%
Total Carbohydrate 172.5g	0%
Dietary Fiber 45.3g	0%
Total Sugars 105.3g
Protein 33.9g	0%

Vitamin D 0IU	0%
Calcium 630.5mg	0%
Iron 18.7mg	0%
Potassium 7164.8mg	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: 27.2%

Protein: 12.0%

Carbs: 60.9%