Want to know one place where a slow cooker really shines? With long-simmered sauces like puttanesca. Usually homemade tomato sauce needs to be stirred frequently, but theres no need with a slow cooker. Just stir together the ingredients and theyll slowly gel into a rich and tangy sauce, leaving you time to roast crispy broccolini and boil pasta. Pappardelle noodles are wide and flat, making it easier for the sausage and tomato bits to stick to each strand. The roasted broccolini is served alongside, but you could serve any leftovers chopped up and mixed in with the pasta.