Are you ready to transform your ordinary dinner into a restaurant-worthy Italian feast? Imagine coming home to a kitchen filled with the rich, aromatic scents of a slow-simmered tomato sauce and freshly baked garlic knots that will make your taste buds dance with joy! This simple yet extraordinary recipe combines the convenience of a slow cooker with the classic flavors of traditional Italian cuisine, promising a meal that will have your family and friends begging for seconds.
Prep Time: 20 mins
Cook Time: 4 hrs
Total Time: 4 hrs 20 mins
Cuisine: Italian
Serves: 8 servings
Ingredients
- 2 cans crushed tomatoes (28 oz each)
- 1 onion, chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 1 package refrigerated pizza dough
- 2 tablespoons butter, melted
- 2 cloves garlic, minced (for knots)
- Parsley for garnish
Instructions
- Prepare the slow cooker sauce by combining crushed tomatoes, chopped onion, 3 minced garlic cloves, dried basil, dried oregano, salt, and pepper in the slow cooker.
- Cover and set the slow cooker to low heat, allowing the sauce to simmer and develop rich flavors for approximately 4 hours, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking.
- About 30 minutes before sauce completion, prepare the garlic knots by rolling out the refrigerated pizza dough on a lightly floured surface.
- Cut the pizza dough into 1-inch wide strips, then tie each strip into a loose knot, tucking the ends underneath.
- In a small bowl, mix melted butter with 2 additional minced garlic cloves to create a garlic butter mixture.
- Brush each dough knot with the garlic butter mixture and place on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
- Bake garlic knots in a preheated oven at 400°F (200°C) for 12-15 minutes, or until golden brown and puffy.
- Once sauce is finished, taste and adjust seasonings as needed.
- Serve the slow cooker spaghetti sauce over cooked pasta, garnish with fresh chopped parsley, and accompany with warm garlic knots on the side.
Tips
- For the most flavorful sauce, use high-quality crushed tomatoes and let them simmer low and slow. The longer cooking time allows the flavors to develop and intensify.
- Don't rush the sauce - patience is key! Stirring occasionally prevents sticking and ensures even flavor distribution.
- When making garlic knots, make sure your pizza dough is at room temperature for easier handling and shaping.
- For extra flavor, add a parmesan rind to the sauce while it's cooking for a deeper, more complex taste.
- If the sauce seems too thick, you can thin it out with a little pasta water when serving.
- Brush the garlic knots generously with the garlic butter mixture for maximum flavor and a beautiful golden-brown finish.
- Serve immediately for the best texture - garlic knots are at their prime when they're warm and freshly baked!
Nutrition Facts
Calories: 320kcal
Carbohydrates: 45g
Protein: 8g
Fat: 12g
Saturated Fat: 4g
Cholesterol: 15mg
