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Home / Italian Food

Tomato Basil Sauce

This wonderfully light tomato sauce is versatile and tasty. Perfect with pasta.

Erren Hart

|

last Updated:

03/25/2025
4.58 from 19 votes
Jump to Recipe
Serves: 6 servings
Prep: 10 minutes mins
Cook: 15 minutes mins
A photo taken from above of a plate of spaghetti with tomato sauce with a fork next to it

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Save time with this Tomato Basil Sauce recipe – An easy and delicious tomato sauce that’s great with pasta, meat, or shellfish!

A plate of spaghetti with tomato sauce with a fork next to it and fresh basil near the dish
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Why This Recipe Works

  • Make a rich authentic Italian Sauce with just a few simple ingredients.
  • The sweet basil adds sweetness without the addition of sugar.
  • Using fresh aromatics adds depth of flavor while keeping it quick to prepare.

Tomato Sauce From Scratch

This Italian tomato sauce is super simple to make and tastes so much better than store-bought. This fantastic, flavorful sauce can be used for anything from a pizza to a quick spaghetti dinner.

What Tomatoes Are Best

Whole peeled tomatoes are best for making tomato sauce.  This is due to the fact that they break down easily when cooked as they are canned fully intact, with less surface area exposed to the chemicals added to canned goods to keep them from breaking down too much.

To use them for the sauce, you can crush them with your hands, puree them in a food processor or mash them with a potato masher.

How To Make Tomato Basil Sauce

Slice or chop the basil. 

The rolled basil being sliced into thin slices

Heat the olive oil in a large saucepan and saute the onion until transparent.

Chopped onions sauteing in olive oil

Add the garlic and cook for about a minute until lightly browned (being careful not to let it get too dark).

A pan with onions and garlic cooking in olive oil

Add the tomatoes, fresh basil, salt, and pepper.

salt and pepper added to the Sauce in the pan

Cook, uncovered, over medium heat for 15-20 minutes.  

tomato sauce cooked in a pan

Taste for seasoning before serving.

A photo taken from above of a plate of spaghetti with tomato sauce with a fork next to it

storage FAQs

Can Tomato sauce be frozen? yes, it freezes really well. Just add it to an airtight, freezer-safe container and freeze for up to three months.

How long can tomato sauce be stored in the refrigerator? Stored properly in an airtight container, it can be stored in the refrigerator for up to three days.

Other Italian Dishes You’ll Love

  • Spaghetti Bolognese
  • Easy Homemade Tomato Sauce
  • Fettuccine Alfredo
  • Marinara Sauce
  • Spaghetti and Meatballs
  • Alfredo Sauce

Recipe Tips

  • When cooking the garlic, cook until it just starts to brown before adding the tomatoes.  Garlic burns easily and will become bitter when overcooked.
  • The basil should add enough sweetness to cut the acidity of the tomatoes, but if you feel it needs more sweetness, add sugar a half teaspoon at a time until it has the desired sweetness.
  • Seasoning is key to a quick cook sauce.  Season well with salt.  The taste between small additions, allow to dissolve and add until it’s perfectly seasoned.
  • For an added kick, add a pinch of red pepper flakes.
A photo taken from above of a plate of spaghetti with tomato sauce with a fork next to it

Recipe

Tomato Basil Sauce

This wonderfully light tomato sauce is versatile and tasty. Perfect with pasta.
4.58 from 19 votes
Print Pin
Prep Time: 10 minutes mins
Cook Time: 15 minutes mins
Total Time: 20 minutes mins
Serves 6 servings

Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 onion chopped
  • 5 garlic cloves (finely chopped)
  • 58 oz canned tomatoes ((4 -14.5oz cans) crushed)
  • a couple of good handfuls of fresh basil (chopped)
  • Salt and pepper (to taste)

Instructions

  • Heat the olive oil in a large saucepan and saute onion until transparent
  • Add the garlic and cook a minute longer.
  • Add the tomatoes & basil, season with salt and pepper and cook, uncovered, over medium heat for about 15-20 minutes.
  • Serve hot
Show Nutrition Hide Nutrition

Nutrition

Calories: 45 | Carbohydrates: 4g | Fat: 4g | Sodium: 1mg | Potassium: 10mg | Vitamin C: 0.7mg | Calcium: 5mg
Created by Erren Hart
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Update Notes: This recipe was originally posted in 2014, but was published again in 2018 to include step by step directions, nutritional information, a video, and new photos.

4.58 from 19 votes (8 ratings without comment)

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16 responses

  1. Allison Avatar
    Allison
    03/08/2019

    Loved this sauce over a big bowl of pasta. Perfection!

    Reply
  2. Katerina @ diethood .com Avatar
    Katerina @ diethood .com
    03/08/2019

    My family would LOVE this!! It sounds fantastic!!

    Reply
    1. Dylan Avatar
      Dylan
      11/12/2020

      Can I substitute dried basil for this recipe since I don’t have fresh basil at the moment? And If I can, how much should I use?

      Reply
      1. Erren's Kitchen Avatar
        Erren’s Kitchen
        11/13/2020

        H Dylan, you can used dried basil, and how much would depend on your personal taste, maybe add a teaspoon and taste? Dried is never as good as fresh but sometimes you have to go with what you have in the cupboard. Good luck 🙂

  3. Dee Avatar
    Dee
    03/08/2019

    My family eats pasta so much! So tasty and easy! Thank you!

    Reply
    1. Erren's Kitchen Avatar
      Erren’s Kitchen
      03/08/2019

      It is perfect for the busy evening’s!

      Reply
  4. Paula Avatar
    Paula
    03/08/2019

    Having a good sauce recipe in your arsenal is essential. This is now in my arsenal! Thank you!

    Reply
  5. Melanie Bauer Avatar
    Melanie Bauer
    03/08/2019

    This look beyond delicious! I love how easy to make this and it’s incredibly delicious, absolutely a must try!

    Reply
    1. Erren's Kitchen Avatar
      Erren’s Kitchen
      03/08/2019

      Thank you, Melanie, I’m glad you think so!

      Reply
  6. Jen Avatar
    Jen
    03/07/2019

    A good sauce is such an essential base to all dishes. Love that yours is so easy to make!

    Reply
    1. Erren's Kitchen Avatar
      Erren’s Kitchen
      03/07/2019

      Thank you Jen!

      Reply
  7. Jennifer Avatar
    Jennifer
    03/07/2019

    This is my favorite pasta sauce ever!! I make it all the time!

    Reply
    1. Erren's Kitchen Avatar
      Erren’s Kitchen
      03/07/2019

      It is good isn’t it!

      Reply
  8. Lorraine Avatar
    Lorraine
    08/30/2017

    This is not only quick ans easy, but it’s really delicious too! Thank you for sharing!

    Reply
  9. Janet Avatar
    Janet
    07/03/2016

    Made this with some very ripe tomatoes I had instead of canned tomatoes and it was terrific!

    Reply
  10. The Food Hunter Avatar
    The Food Hunter
    08/08/2014

    quick, easy & delicious!

    Reply
A woman with long dark hair and a dark blue shirt is smiling while leaning on a kitchen counter. In front of her are a plate of pasta and a cutting board with chopped herbs. A potted plant, a cooking pot, and a marble backsplash are in the background.

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