You can make a classic marinara sauce with just some on-hand ingredients, such as onion, garlic, basil, and canned (or boxed) tomatoes. For those looking for something even simpler yet still delicious and nutritious, using canned tomatoes to make a quick tomato basil sauce recipe is a win-win!
Relying on canned tomatoes for quick meals is a great way to get maximum nutrition with minimal effort for a flavorful canned tomato basil sauce recipe. When I first made this, I was intrigued at how SIMPLE this tomato basil sauce is! And the best part is that the kids (who were young at the time) would eat it by the spoonfuls! They tell me this is the best tomato basil sauce recipe for pizza!
This recipe offers an easy solution for busy individuals who don’t have the time or energy to cook daily. It’s fast enough that you could whip it up after work on weekdays or lazy weekends when you don’t want to spend too much effort in the kitchen. Plus, it’s so tasty that no one would guess it was made from canned items! This simple creamy tomato basil sauce recipe can be adapted according to individual taste; adding olives or capers will add extra zing or chili flakes for some heat.
What is the difference between marinara sauce and tomato basil sauce?
Marinara sauce is made to be thinner and simple to make with just a few ingredients. Tomato sauce is typically more complex, with thick, rich, in-depth flavors, usually with added vegetables or meats. This recipe mimics more of a marinara sauce, but you keep the thick and chunky tomato pieces by not blending them.
Is this recipe still healthy if you use canned tomatoes?
Canned tomatoes are a great way to add flavor and texture to any dish while providing essential vitamins and minerals your body needs. Studies have shown that canned tomatoes are a great source of antioxidants like lycopene, which can help protect your cells from damage caused by free radicals. The tomato is also rich in vitamin C and other nutrients such as potassium, magnesium, iron, and folate, which are important for maintaining good health. That is why I always have a pantry stocked with a wide variety of canned tomatoes.
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Simple Tomato Basil Sauce
- Total Time: 30 minutes
Description
Do you want to make a delicious tomato basil sauce that won’t sacrifice your health goals? Then try this simple, flavorful recipe that gives you a full serving of vegetables in less than 30 minutes!
The result is a delicious, healthy tomato sauce perfect for pasta dishes or pizza toppings! It has bright, zesty basil and garlic flavors and is also made with ripe, canned tomatoes packed with nutritional benefits like dietary fiber, vitamins A & C, calcium, phosphorus, and potassium. This is a recipe staple in my house, and I hope you will enjoy it too!
Ingredients
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 yellow onion, diced
- 6 cloves of garlic, minced
- 1 28 oz. can of San Marzano Whole Peeled Tomatoes
- 1 tbsp agave
- 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
- 1/4 cup fresh basil leaves, chopped
- salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Heat the olive oil in a large saucepan over medium heat.
- Add the onions and cook for about 4 minutes until softened.
- Add the garlic and continue cooking for an additional minute.
- Pour in both cans of San Marzano tomatoes along with the juice from them, and break up the tomatoes using a wooden spoon or spatula. (If you have a handheld meat chopper, open the can and use the chopper to crush the tomatoes right inside the can).
- Add the agave, crushed red pepper flakes, and salt and pepper.
- Bring to a light simmer over medium heat, then reduce heat to low and simmer for 25 minutes until thickened, stirring occasionally.
- Stir in the fresh basil leaves at the end of the cooking time.
- Taste again to check seasoning levels and adjust as necessary.
Notes
If you love the basil flavor, add as much as you like for even more flavor!
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
