This Sunday Sauce is a hearty, delicious crowd pleaser. There is just no other way to describe it! I was first introduced to this style of spaghetti sauce by our old babysitter, Kim, long ago when we lived in Florida and I was working full time for corporate America. While the baby (who is now 8 going on 9!) was napping and I was working, Kim would start or sometimes even make our dinner for us. And with our work schedules back then, her extra help with dinner was such a life saver at times. Granted, at that time in our lives, the meat wasn’t local and the tomatoes weren’t organic and the pasta definitely wasn’t whole-grain, BUT it was still a somewhat wholesome meal I very much enjoyed and remember to this day.
And thanks to a similar dish made by my friend Trang and a “Super Sunday Sauce” recipe I found in Rachael Ray Magazine, I was able to piece together how Kim made this for us, plus – added bonus – turn it into a dish that can simmer all day long in the slow cooker!
Slow Cooker Sunday Sauce
This slow cooker Sunday Sauce is a hearty, delicious crowd pleaser. There is just no other way to describe it!
Ingredients
- 4 tablespoons olive oil, divided
- 1 pound pork ribs, country style, preferably pasture raised
- 1 pound sausage, mild Italian, preferably pasture raised, either links that have been cut into 1 inch pieces or ground sausage
- 1 pound meatballs, beef, preferably grass-fed
- 1 onion, small, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 28-oz can crushed tomatoes
- 1 28-oz can diced tomatoes, with juice
- 1 teaspoon salt
- pepper, to taste
For serving
- whole-grain noodles, cooked
- basil, fresh
- parmesan cheese, freshly grated
Instructions
- In your largest skillet over medium heat, add 3 tablespoons of the olive oil and cook the ribs on one side for about 3 to 4 minutes. Add the prepared meatballs and sausage pieces to the pan (depending on the size of your pan you may need to cook the meat in batches) then flip the ribs over to the other side. After 2 to 3 minutes flip over the meatballs and sausage link pieces (or break up the sausage with a spatula if using ground). Keep cooking until all of the meat is done all the way through and no longer pink in the middle.
- Transfer the meat from the pan to the slow cooker. In the same pan heat the remaining tablespoon of olive oil over medium heat and add the onion. After 3 or 4 minutes add the minced garlic and cook for another 30 seconds or so. Scrape the onion and garlic on top of the meat in the slow cooker.
- Add both cans of tomatoes, salt, and pepper into the slow cooker on top of the meat mixture.
- Turn the slow cooker on high and cook for 5 to 6 hours or until the rib meat is falling off the bone. Serve with whole-grain noodles and a side salad and enjoy!
Recipe Notes
We recommend organic ingredients when feasible.
Nutrition Facts
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Never have seen grain fed meatballs. Can someone give me a brand? Also, I don’t do anything with ribs, so I would substitute another meat for that as well as Italian turkey sausage for the regular sausage. Other ingredients seem pretty straightforward.
You make the meatballs yourself using a recipe linked to within this recipe.
I think this recipe sounds like it is very tasty. It seems hard to justify the cost of using 3 pounds of meat for one dish. It seems like a food budget buster.
I think the whole idea behind “Sunday Sauce” was a way to use leftovers. I am sure you could just use whatever meats you had or could find on clearance and it would be just as good.
Thank you! This sauce is delicious!
Should the meat be drained or do you add everything to the crockpot?
Hi Laura. I leave it all in the crock pot. :)
I have been following your blog for years and bought the book a couple of weeks ago. We love all of the recipes from the book so far (so easy!). I have made your homemade red sauce a couple of times and today I am tackling this one – hoping it is just a delicious as the others. Thank you for making eating and cooking whole foods easy for this two working parent household with a toddler and another on the way!!
whoops sorry, didn’t see the previous 4 pages of comments, haha
Just curious, do I have to step #1? Because if it sits in the crockpot all day, doesn’t it get cooked through? Sorry, I’m super lazy. :D
Hi Yolanda. The meatballs might fall apart if you skip the first step.
Would beef stew meat work in place of the meatballs? I’m making this for someone who doesn’t like the texture of ground beef.
Hi Sarah. I think it would. :)
Lisa, your slow cook Sunday sauce is amazing, made your tried and true meatballs too! Can you please provide nutrition information for it? I had it over spaghetti squash and had to go back for seconds. :)
Hi Marlo. We do not provide nutrition information on our recipes. This post will help you understand why: https://www.100daysofrealfood.com/2013/01/04/healthy-eating-defined/. You can use an online tool like My Fitness Pal if you need those details.
Hi – is there a brand and size of slow cooker you recommend? The slow cooker recipes sound amazing!
Hi. Lisa uses a Panasonic. You can find it here: https://www.100daysofrealfood.com/my-kitchen-essentials/.
I know meat shreds in the crock pot which is great for the pork but does the meatballs stay whole or do the break apart also thank you
Hi Teresa. They stay mostly in tact. ~Amy
I would like to make a lot of this! What do you suggest freezing this in? Thanks :)
Hi Megan. I use large wide mouthed mason jars. Be sure you leave room for expansion. ~Amy
Have you ever used garden tomatoes for this recipe? If so about how much? Equal weight to the cans going in?
Hi Beth. We’ve not tried this with vine ripe tomatoes. This (from finecooking.com might help:
One 28-ounce can of tomatoes equals about 10 to 12 whole tomatoes, peeled (or about 2 pounds)
One 14-1/2-ounce can of tomatoes equals 5 to 6 whole tomatoes, peeled (or about 1 pound).
Can I just say how much in love that you guys actually respond to questions. And pretty darn prompt too. Thx so much. Trying it tomorrow.
That’s nice, Beth. I get behind plenty, though! :)
Are you able to freeze this sauce after it cooks?
Yes!
Do you think you can eliminate all the meat but the meatballs? We’re not big meat fans and especially not pork!
Hello. I imagine you could though that is obviously losing a rather large ingredient portion of the recipe. It is not something we’ve tried. You might go heavy on the meatballs. ;) ~Amy
Can I cook this on low in the crockpot? How long?
Hi Marissa. We have not tried cooking this one on low in the crock pot. However, similar recipes suggest cooking on low for 7-8 hours. ~Amy
Do you suggest pulling and shredding the pork off the bone? I’m assuming the meatballs and sausage can be served as is just didn’t know about the ribs thank you!
Hello. The pork is falling off the bone by the time it is finished cooking. It will be mostly separated. :) ~Amy