Lazy pasta sauce would have been a better name for this recipe, this is such an easy recipe and only uses 5 ingredients! On those hot summer days when you don't want to heat up the kitchen and you don't feel like going outside to grill, using your crock pot is a lifesaver.
The best tip I can give you when you make this is to use the best chicken or turkey Italian sausage you can find and a can of Tuttorosso crushed tomatoes
I love the sausage I get from my Organic market, it's made with fresh wholesome ingredients and very little fat. But since their is no nutritional info, I am using the nutritional info from Isernio turkey Italian sausage. You could add more stuff to this sauce if you wish, some roasted red pepper would be wonderful, some crushed red pepper if you want more heat or some fresh herbs right before serving would be wonderful too.
Serve this over your favorite pasta (5 points extra for 1 serving pasta) or even over guiltless spaghetti squash and top it with a dallop of reduced fat ricotta for a complete meal. Enjoy!
Crock Pot Pasta Sauce with Sausage
Gina's Weight Watcher Recipes
Servings: 6 • Serving Size: 1/2 cup • Old Points: 2 pt • Points Plus: 3 pts
Calories: 115.4 • Fat: 3.4 g • Carb: 9.5 g • Fiber: 2.2 g • Protein: 13.8 g • Sugar: 4.4 g
Sodium: 455.8 mg
Ingredients:
- 1 lb lean chicken Italian sausage, casings removed
- 1 tsp extra virgin olive oil
- 5 cloves garlic, smashed
- 28 oz tuttorosso crushed tomatoes
- fresh cracked pepper
Directions:
Brown the sausage in a large skillet, breaking up any large pieces with a wooden spoon. When sausage is browned, drain if needed and add to crock pot.
Clean skillet with a paper towel and set flame to high; when hot add oil. Add garlic and cook until golden but do not burn; add tomatoes and garlic to crock pot along with fresh cracked pepper. Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours.
If you wish, take an immersion blender and blend the sauce a 2-3 seconds to break the sausage up into smaller pieces to combine with the sauce.























That sounds WONDERFUL! Going to have to add it to next week's meal plan.
ReplyDeleteAlong with loving this recipe, I also like the looks of that bowl holding the contents. Any info you can pass along?? :-)
ReplyDeleteWondering if you've ever used Italian Seasoned Ground Turkey...it tastes wonderfully similar to sausage. I will so be doing that with this recipe! :)
ReplyDeleteAlways looking for a good crockpot meal. Something about dinner already being done makes me not get other (unhealthier) ideas!
ReplyDeleteLooks great! I hear you on Tuttorosso, and they are my second favorite brand, but mine is Sclafani. They have a blue label that is painted directly onto the can. They are smooth and lovely and my sauce always comes out perfect. Anyway, I'll definitely try this crock pot method. Perfect for the summer in NYC when I can't bear to heat up the kitchen.
ReplyDeleteThis looks delicious thank you!!! Alot of your recipes have inspried me to start the "boyfriend vegetable project" because me boyfriend refuses to eat veggies and no one EVER made him so he is now a 20 year old meat and potatoes guy..... Your recipes look so DELICIOUS that im POSITIVE i will get him to love veggies!
ReplyDeleteSo thank you again xoxo
Yummy! I love that you do so many crock pot recipes :)
ReplyDeleteOh yum, saved for yet another wonderful meal at the house :) Thank you as always!
ReplyDeleteWould this still work without sausage for a vegetarian option?
ReplyDeleteWhat about mushrooms in place of sausage?
ReplyDeleteThis one is definitely going in my recipe files! This looks and sounds delicious!
ReplyDeleteThis is great and I will try (love my crock pot).
ReplyDeleteI think you could extend it with chicken stock, add cooked orzo, orecchiette or rice and make a soup out of it.
Linda, the bowls are from Pier One, aren't they pretty!
ReplyDeleteMegan, yes I actually have a recipe on my site somewhere for homemade turkey sausage meat.
Dolores - I'll have to look out for Sclafani!
Dani- good luck with that!
For a vegetarian option, I would just leave out the sausage.
Sounds delicious and I love how simple this recipe is! Anything that utilizes the crock pot deserves a try in my book! Thanks for sharing - I can't wait to try this one out soon!
ReplyDeleteLove this! So tasty looking.
ReplyDeleteThis sounds soooo delicious. Will be trying it very soon.
ReplyDeleteHi Gina
ReplyDeleteCan you make this in advance and freeze??
Kate
Yes, sauce always freezes lovely.
ReplyDeletecan this be made with ground chicken?
ReplyDeleteanother fantastic recipe...love it...
LOVE IT!!! With the hot weather in the South, I'm looking for recipes which require little turning on of the stove or Crockpot, which can cook overnight while I'm sleeping. Girl, I love your website and check it daily. Keep up the good work. I've started to workout, however my eating habits are not lining up. Thanks so much for the inspiration, Tammy.
ReplyDeleteIf I don't have a crockpot, do you cooking heat and time recs for the stove?
ReplyDeleteIf you make this with ground chicken, you will have to add seasoning and salt or it will be a bit bland.
ReplyDeleteThanks Tammy, happy to help!
PL - If you don't have a crock pot you can simmer on the stove for 2 hrs on very low heat.
Made this tonight! Delicious!! My husband even had 2 servings. I had it in the crock pot for 6 hours on low and was glad I got home when I did because any longer and it would have burned...it was starting to stick to the sides. My advice depending on your crock pot is to check it before 6 hours. Love your recipes Gina! Please keep them coming!
ReplyDeleteYes, good point! It would even be ready in 3 - 4 hrs low if you have a lower setting.
ReplyDeleteMaking this tonight! So excited!!
ReplyDeleteLooks great! I always make my meat sauce in a crockpot -- mom's recipe (lightened up) -- but simmered in a slow cooker all day instead of on the stove top. I love the convenience of the slow cooker (especially on work days), but like you, I appreciate using it even more during hot summer months.
ReplyDeleteHad this for dinner tonight. I just added an onion and some fresh herbs from my kitchen garden. It was wonderful over whole wheat rotini and steamed squash. Thanks so much for the recipe :)
ReplyDeleteThe crock pot is perfect for meat sauce!
ReplyDeleteI am cooking it as we speak! This is perfect for the eating plan I am on right now! Its almost like a phase 1 south beach diet except even more strict. I used chicken breast sausage so it is extra lean and added some dry oregano and basil to taste. We shall see the outcome! I will put over sauteed zucchini. Thx gina!
ReplyDeleteGoing to make this tomorrow. I hope turkey sausage will work just as well. My store didn't have chicken sausage but I figure its basically the same thing.
ReplyDeleteIt should be fine.
ReplyDeleteMade this tonight, replacing the chicken sausage with lean turkey sausage since my store didn't have any chicken sausage. It was WONDERFUL and a great replacement for the very time consuming and high calorie "meatballs and gravy" I usually make.
ReplyDeleteIsn't it great! Tastes like you slaved for hours making it too!
ReplyDeleteHow do you smash garlic?
ReplyDeletePut the garlic on the cutting board, lay the flat part of you large knife over the garlic and bang the knife which will smash the garlic.
ReplyDeleteThanks...
ReplyDeleteAlthough I hate my crock pot...I had it on the lowest setting and it started to burn on the sides after and hour and half!
Some crock pots cook to high even on low.
ReplyDeleteIf you were going to throw mushrooms into the sauce - at what point would you do that?
ReplyDeleteHi Gina, Thank you for sharing your recipes, they are so good and your pics are gorgeous. Loved seeing your daughter, what a cutie! My question is what size crock pot did you use? Mine is 6 quarts and seems like it might be too big or does it matter?
ReplyDeleteI don't think that would matter if it is larger, you could always double the recipe and freeze the rest for the future!
ReplyDeleteYUMMMM!!! We're not sausage fans, but will try with ground turkey and meatless as well. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteWhat kind of food proccesor/chopper do you have! I need one, and I would apprecitate your opinion! Thanks!
ReplyDeleteThis was awesome! When I was making this yesterday, my husband turned up his knows (chicken sausage??!!). After dinner, he scraped the crock pot clean! Thanks for all the great recipes!
ReplyDeleteI used the hand blender on this, any brand would work fine, I love them!
ReplyDeleteVal, so glad to hear that!! :)
I am sorry I didn't clarify. I have a hand blender, but I am wondering if you have a good recommendation for a food processor brand. I get overwhelmed when looking, and always leave without one.
ReplyDeleteI am currently making it for lunch today. I forgot to put it in last night so I have it on high for a couple of hours. For those of you who have complained about your crockpot. My last crockpot,too, cooked too high. I replaced it with a hamilton beach model that has a meat thermometer http://www.amazon.com/Hamilton-Beach-Forget-6-Quart-Programmable/dp/B001AO2PXK/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1310989469&sr=8-1
ReplyDeleteIt's the best crock pot I own and everything comes out just right.
When I was browning the garlic, I also brown up a little bit of fresh onion. And when I served it, I finely chopped up fresh basil, parsley and oregano to sprinkle over it.
ReplyDeleteHave this on the stove now. I had a 20oz package of Turkey Italian sausage in the fridge so......I cooked it all, added some chopped onion w/the garlic, and used 2 cans of Tuttosso tomatoes (I like this brand, my hubby prefers San Marzano). Wanted a sauce less meaty. Would have added some grated carrots if I had had any. Smells divine! Can't wait to eat it!
ReplyDeleteI made this today and it was amazing! seriously the best pasta sauce i've ever made! I cannot wait to eat the leftovers tomorrow!
ReplyDeleteJust made this tonight over spaghetti squash - I think it is now one of my new favorite meals ! I had never had Spaghetti squash before and I was pleasantly surprised ! The sauce was so amazingly flavorful. I have leftovers for lunch tomorrow ... is it lunchtime yet because I cannot wait to eat it again. Thanks Gina !
ReplyDeleteValerie
Hi Gina! Is there a reason there aren't any herbs/spices added here? It probably has a lot to do with the fact that you recommend the Tuttorosso brand, but if I just have store-brand crushed tomatoes, do you have an idea of how much I should add of the herbs/spices? I'm thinking of adding some basil and oregano. Thanks so much--your recipes are amazing! :)
ReplyDeleteMine didn't come out right, the tomatoes got really acidic, I am wondering if my crock pot's heat is messed up, had to throw it away. sad!
ReplyDeleteHi Gina! I'm brand new to this slow cooker thing....if I were going to add roasted red pepper, zucchini, mushrooms, or other veggies....do you add those with everything else or at the end? I'm concerned they'll get mushy.
ReplyDeleteThis sauce is delicious! I just made some and dear Lord, I am so glad I did not make more pasta (only made 1 serving) because I could eat another bowl of it!
ReplyDeleteI LOVE this recipe. I made this the next day you posted this recipe and my husband loved it! However, I feel a bit dumb because I have had such a hard time getting the casing off of the chicken sausage. Maybe I am getting the wrong kind of chicken sausage if that is possible but it just seems like it is meant to stay on there and it doesn't want to come off. It takes forever with me picking at it with my fingers. Is there any easier way that I am not seeing. I looked online and most people say that you just slit it down the middle and it should peel off.... well... not for this girl. :o( Any advice?
ReplyDeleteI squeeze it out. It will come out either end.
DeleteHi Gina. Is it possible to use a 28 oz. can of ground peeled tomatoes instead of the crushed tomatoes?
ReplyDeleteThis a a GREAT go to meal for the week. Leave it in the crock pot and come home to a YUMMY dinner! My husband requests this dinner every couple of weeks! Thanks for all of your great & healthy recipes!!!
ReplyDeletemade a double batch of this tonight in the crockpot. the house smelled so good while it was cooking. we are eating this for dinner tomorrow over whole wheat pasta. we will only use four servings so i am freezing the rest for another two dinners.
ReplyDeletei snuck a taste and it was amazing. i cant wait for dinner tomorrow night. i got the tuttorusso walmart. they were only a buck a can. it was the easiest sauce i ever made. thank you for a delicious and economical recipe.
Delicious! I didn't have crushed tomatoes, so I used one can diced tomatoes and one can sauce. I also used mozzarella-garlic chicken sausage. Both my husband and my five year old son loved it! Thanks once again!
ReplyDeleteHave a double batch cooking right now. It smells SO good, my son keeps asking if its dinner time yet.
ReplyDeleteThis was very simple and good but I thought it needed a bit more flavor. I added some red pepper flakes and a teaspoon of sugar. Perfecto.
ReplyDelete