WW Recipe of the Day: Skinny Slow Cooker Marinara Sauce
Marinara sauce is one of my favorite ingredients to have on hand for quick and easy meals.
When you don't have the time to cook tomato sauce from scratch, jarred marinara sauce is life-saver. I always have a jar or two in the pantry.
But I've learned to read the ingredient and nutritional labels to avoid unnecessary extra sugar, fat and calories.
As a Lifetime Weight Watcher, I'm always on the lookout for a brand that tastes good for the fewest SmartPoints and a reasonable price.
I like Classico Tomato & Basil Pasta Sauce. A good value, a jar usually costs $3 or less and each ½ cup serving has just *2 WW SmartPoints.
Making homemade marinara is almost as easy as jarred, especially when you use your slow cooker. And because it has less sugar, each serving of this easy healthy marinara has just *1 WW SmartPoint.
WW Low Sugar Slow Cooker Marinara Sauce
This simple skinny slow cooker marinara sauce is perfect for busy days since the longer it simmers, the better it is.
I used my new favorite slow cooker, my Instant Pot (affiliate link), to whip up a batch recently.
I love that I can saute and slow cook all in the same pot.
The leftovers can be portioned out and frozen for future quick and easy meals.
WW Friendly Marinara Sauce
Slow Cooker Marinara Sauce Recipe Notes
This simple slow cooker low sugar marinara sauce can be used so many ways - over pasta, zucchini noodles or spaghetti squash, to top homemade pizza or chicken parmesan, in your favorite lasagna or as a dipping sauce for pepperoni pizza muffins or crispy baked zucchini sticks.
It's a great basic recipe that can be adapted to suit your tastes.
I've included some of my favorite ideas for embellishing it.
How Many Calories and WW Points in this Marinara Sauce?
According to my calculations, each ½-cup serving is about 50 calories and:
1 *SmartPoints (Green plan)
1 *SmartPoints (Blue plan)
1 *SmartPoints (Purple plan)
1 *PointsPlus (Old plan)
To see your WW PersonalPoints for this recipe and track it in the WW app or site, Click here!
Slow Cooker Marinara Sauce Recipe Variations
zestier: add dried spices such as oregano, basil, Italian Seasoning, fennel seed, more garlic, capers, chopped anchovies, balsamic vinegar (at the end)
chunkier: use 1 can crushed tomatoes and 1 can diced tomatoes
meaty: add cooked crumbled ground beef, pork, turkey, chicken or sausage
more vegetables: add chopped zucchini, sliced mushrooms, sliced olives, chopped spinach, etc
fishy: stir in tuna, anchovies, shrimp, scallops, etc (at the end)
cheesy: stir in grated Parmesan (at the end)
creamy: stir in a bit of cream or evaporated milk (at the end)
If you like this skinny slow cooker marinara sauce, be sure to check out my other easy, healthy Weight Watchers friendly recipes including Pasta Puttanesca, Slow Cooker Meatballs & Sauce, Crock Pot Cajun Pasta Sauce, Chicken Parmesan Lasagna and Slow Cooker Lasagna Soup
Are You Ready To Slow Cook Yourself Slim?
If you've made this Low Sugar Crock Pot Marinara Sauce, please give the recipe a star rating below and leave a comment letting me know how you liked it. And stay in touch on Pinterest, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter for the latest updates.
Skinny Slow Cooker Marinara Sauce Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 onion, finely chopped
- 2 carrots, peeled and finely chopped
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 clove garlic, finely chopped
- 2 cans (about 28 ounces each) crushed tomatoes
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
Instructions
- Ideal slow cooker size: 4- Quart.
- Place oil in a skillet set over medium heat. Add the onions and carrots and sprinkle with salt. Cook, stirring often until the vegetables are tender, about 5 minutes.
- Add the garlic and cook for another minute, stirring constantly to prevent it from burning.
- Scrape the vegetable mixture into the slow cooker. Add the tomatoes and sugar. Stir well to combine.
- Cover and cook on LOW for 6-8 hours.
- Remove cover and stir well.
- Cook on HIGH uncovered for 1 hour for a thicker marinara sauce.
Recipe Notes
- zestier: add dried spices such as oregano, basil, Italian Seasoning, fennel seed, more garlic, capers, chopped anchovies, balsamic vinegar (at the end)
- chunkier: use 1 can crushed tomatoes and 1 can diced tomatoes
- meaty: add cooked crumbled ground beef, pork, turkey, chicken or sausage
- more vegetables: add chopped zucchini, sliced mushrooms, sliced olives, chopped spinach, etc
- fishy: stir in tuna, anchovies, shrimp, scallops, etc (at the end)
- cheesy: stir in grated Parmesan (at the end)
- creamy: stir in a bit of cream or evaporated milk (at the end)
Source: adapted from Fix-It and Forget-It Lightly Revised and Updated: 600 Healthy, Low-Fat Recipes for Your Slow Cooker (affiliate link) by Phyllis Good
*Points® calculated by WW. *PointsPlus® and SmartPoints® calculated by Simple Nourished Living; Not endorsed by Weight Watchers International, Inc. All recipe ingredients except optional items included in determining nutritional estimates. SmartPoints® values calculated WITHOUT each plan's ZeroPoint Foods (Green plan, Blue plan, Purple plan) using the WW Recipe Builder.
Watch Phyllis from Fix-It and Forget-It as she shows you how she likes to make her own slow cooker marinara sauce:
More Healthy Recipes for Weight Watchers with Marinara Sauce
- Zucchini Marinara Pasta Swap (HungryGirl)
- Slow Cooker Rustic Italian Marinara Sauce (TheYummyLife)
- Creamy Marinara Sauce (DashingDish)
- Italian Potato Skins (HungryGirl)
- Vegetarian Spaghetti Squash Skillet (Cookin'Canuck)
- Quick Marinara Sauce (SkinnyTaste)
- The Perfect Easy Marinara Sauce (Slender Kitchen)
- Simple Summertime Fresh Roasted Marinara Sauce (Skinny Kitchen)
- Shrimp & Slaw Marinara (HungryGirl)
Search for More Weight Watchers Marinara Sauce Recipes
Martha is the founder and main content writer for Simple-Nourished-Living.
A longtime lifetime WW at goal, she is committed to balancing her love of food and desire to stay slim while savoring life and helping others do the same.
She is the author of the Smart Start 28-Day Weight Loss Challenge.
A huge fan of the slow cooker and confessed cookbook addict, when she's not experimenting in the kitchen, you're likely to find Martha on her yoga mat.
This post contains affiliate links to products I like. When you buy something through one of my Amazon links or other (affiliate links), I receive a small commission that helps support this site. Thank you for your purchase!
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nancy@skinnykitchen.com
Martha., you've shared some really yummy marinara recipes. Thanks so much for including my Simple Summertime Fresh Roasted Marinara Sauce on your list!
With my warmest regards,
Nancy
Harriet Marholis
I signed up for your recipes some time ago, and even paid for my membership, however I never received anything from you.
Martha McKinnon
Hi Harriet, I don't have a paid membership here on Simple Nourished Living, just a signup for free emails with recipes and other weight loss tips & hints. I sell eBooks but they are a one time purchase that you download. Hope this helps. Warmly, Martha
Sandy
Anytime I make marinara sauce, I substitute a shredded carrot for sugar. The natural sweetness is just right and doesn’t add any points.
Martha McKinnon
Great tip Sandy. Thanks for sharing!
Sigrid J. Aeschleman huh
My go to recipe for marinara sauce!!