Slow-Cooked Tomato-Basil Pasta Sauce

By AislePrompt Editorial · ·

How this recipe was made — this recipe was drafted by AislePrompt's AI-assisted pipeline from technique templates and USDA-sourced nutrition data, and published by AislePrompt Editorial — see how AislePrompt recipes are drafted and published.

A rich, simmered tomato sauce infused with fresh basil, perfect for coating pasta and bringing out the natural sweetness of ripe tomatoes. This Mediterranean recipe (vegetarian), ready in about 80 minutes, blends olive oil, yellow onion, and garlic into a versatile sauce that lifts everything from grain bowls and roasted vegetables to grilled proteins — a small-batch staple worth keeping in the fridge. Each serving lands at about 480 calories and feeds 4, so a small batch covers several meals across the week without taking over the fridge. Tap "Add this recipe to your weekly plan" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Prep: 25 min Cook: 55 min Serves 4 Italian cuisine 480 cal/serving
Add this recipe to your weekly plan → Shop this recipe on Instacart → Shop equipment ↓

Ingredients

The chef’s knife we’d prep this with → Best Chef's Knives for 2026: Top Picks + Buying Guide

Affiliate disclosure: AislePrompt may earn a commission on qualifying purchases made through Amazon links, at no additional cost to you. See our policy →

Equipment for this recipe

Tools this recipe's steps call for, with a link to each on Amazon.

More Cookware & pots → Shop all kitchen tools →

Instructions

  1. Step 1: Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add 1 medium finely diced yellow onion and cook for 5 minutes until soft and translucent.
  2. Step 2: Add 3 minced garlic cloves and cook for 1 minute until fragrant, stirring constantly.
  3. Step 3: Stir in 28 oz canned crushed tomatoes, 14.5 oz diced tomatoes, 1 tsp dried oregano, 1 tsp dried basil, 1 tsp sugar, and 1/2 tsp salt. Bring to a simmer.
  4. Step 4: Reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 45 minutes, stirring occasionally.
  5. Step 5: Stir in 1/4 cup chopped fresh basil. Meanwhile, cook 12 oz spaghetti in a large pot of salted boiling water for 8-10 minutes until al dente.
  6. Step 6: Drain pasta, reserving 1 cup pasta water. Toss pasta with sauce, adding a splash of pasta water if needed to reach desired consistency.

Related recipes