Slow Cooker Puttanesca Sauce
3 Comments Nov 10, 2022
Updated May 28, 2025
This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.
This Crock Pot Puttanesca Sauce delivers bold, briny flavor with minimal effort—just toss everything in the slow cooker and let it simmer into a rich, savory sauce that’s perfect over pasta.
Puttanesca is a bold, flavorful sauce with roots in Southern Italy, known for its use of simple pantry ingredients. It’s a great choice when you want something quick yet full of character—salty, savory, and satisfying. This version brings those classic Mediterranean flavors to your slow cooker, making it an easy way to upgrade pasta night.
Ingredients for Pasta Puttanesca
This unique sauce comes together quickly with these fresh ingredients.
- Tomatoes: This pasta puttanesca features a can of whole tomatoes and canned tomato sauce. Using canned tomatoes makes this recipe much easier to make. You can go with the store brand or use canned San Marzano Tomatoes.
- Capers: Gives the flavors of tangy lemon meshed with the brininess of olives.
- Kalamata Olives: Used in most Greek dishes, these olives provide a rich, smoky, and fruity flavor all in one. Or you can use pitted black olives if your family prefers.
- Anchovies: Salt-cured and canned in oil, the fishy taste of anchovies is perfectly balanced with the other ingredients in this pasta dish. Use three chopped anchovy fillets or anchovy paste.
- Seasonings: Salt and freshly ground pepper, crushed red pepper flakes, lemon zest, garlic, and onion help season this sauce to perfection.
How to Make Puttanesca Sauce in the Crockpot
Making pasta puttanesca in the slow cooker is a simple way to build deep, savory flavor without much effort. Once the tomatoes are broken up, everything simmers together until rich and fragrant. Just before serving, a few fresh ingredients are stirred in to brighten the sauce. Spoon it over pasta and you’re done—no need to fuss. Find the full recipe in the recipe card below the images.
Cook’s Tips
If the sauce is too thick, stir in a little hot pasta water until it reaches your preferred consistency.
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
Kalamata olives add bold flavor, but you can substitute black or green olives—or use a mix.
Anchovies add subtle depth, but if you prefer to skip them, adjust with extra salt or try a bit of canned tuna for a similar savory note.
My Serving Suggestions
Here are my favorite ways to serve:
- Serve with spaghetti or your favorite pasta (this is also great over white rice!)
- Add some variation by cooking mussels with this sauce.
- As for side dishes, you can’t go wrong with a nice Caesar salad. Don’t forget the garlic bread!
Featured Comment
“My son had made this for us when we came to dinner.
– Krista
It was fabulous. I got the recipe and have made this for our friends, which are Italian. They even agreed that this recipe was as good as hers. Love this recipe will make it a lot.”
Slow Cooker Puttanesca Sauce
Ingredients
- 28 oz. whole peeled tomatoes, canned
- 15 oz tomato sauce, canned
- 1 small onion, diced
- 1 cup Kalamata olives, halved lengthwise
- 3 Tbsp. capers
- 3 anchovies, chopped or 2-3 tsp anchovy paste
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 tsp. sea salt
- 1 tsp. black pepper
- ½ tsp. crushed red pepper
- ¼ Cup olive oil
- 1 Tbsp fresh parsley, chopped
- 3 tsp fresh basil, chopped
- 1 Tbsp fresh oregano, chopped
- 1 lemon, (you'll need just the zest)
Serving ideas
- cooked spaghetti
- parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Add the canned whole tomatoes to the slow cooker. Using a potato masher, crush them into pieces; you'll want to leave some nice chunks of tomato. If you don't have a potato masher you can break the tomatoes apart with clean hands.
- Add everything else BUT the fresh herbs and lemon zest.
- Cook on HIGH for 4 hours or LOW for 6 hours, stir at least once halfway through cooking.
- When done, stir in the fresh parsley, fresh basil, fresh oregano, and lemon zest. Season to taste.
- Serve immediately with spaghetti or your favorite pasta, garnish with more fresh parsley or basil. Enjoy!
Sarah’s Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition info is auto-generated. This information is an estimate; if you are on a special diet, please use your own calculations.
More Slow Cooker Pasta Recipes
Slow Cooker Marinara Sauce and Slow Cooker Spaghetti Sauce are easy, flavorful staples that pair perfectly with pasta, meatballs, or layered casseroles.
Try Crockpot Spaghetti and Meatballs for a hands-off classic, or lighten things up with Spaghetti Squash and Turkey Meat Sauce for a healthy, hearty option.
For a complete meal, Slow Cooker Chicken Marinara lets tender chicken simmer in rich sauce—great served over pasta or rice. My Crockpot Chicken Spaghetti is a meal to try, tastes like marinara and alfredo together.
My son had made this for us when we came to dinner.
It was fabulous. I got the recipe and have made this for our friends, which are Italian. They even agreed that this recipe was as good as hers. Love this recipe will make it a lot.
By accident I put twice the amount of chopped anchovies, but it still tasted great! It cooked while I was studying so that’s a plus 😉 Thanks for the recipe.
Good to know about the anchovies. Glad you enjoyed it.