Slow Cooker Tomato Basil Pasta Sauce
Dump, stir and walk away. The slow cooker turns a can of tomatoes into a rich sauce full of basil while you get on with your day. Kids do most of the loading, and everyone gets a vote: smooth or chunky?
Difficulty
Easy
Prep
15 min
Cook
300 min
Total
315 min
Ages
4+
Batch size
Servings
6
Estimated cost (Walmart.com, Aug 2026)
~$23.27
total recipe
~$3.88
per serving
Prices checked at Walmart.com on Aug 2026. Based on full package costs — you may already have some of these ingredients on hand.
Ingredients
Check off what you already have
1 28 oz can Crushed tomatoes
~$1.28
Great Value, 28 oz
Prep
None
Store the rest
Transfer unused tomatoes to a container and refrigerate for up to 5 days, or freeze for 3 months.
1 medium Yellow onion
~$0.98
Fresh, sold individually (est.)
Prep
Peel and finely dice (~4 min)
Store the rest
Store whole onions in a cool, dry, dark spot for up to a month. Wrap a cut onion and refrigerate for up to 7 days.
3 cloves Garlic
~$0.50
Fresh, 1 head
Prep
Peel and mince (~3 min)
Store the rest
Store the whole head in a cool, dry spot. Individual cloves last about 10 days once separated.
4 tablespoons Tomato paste
~$0.68
6 oz can (est.)
Prep
None
Store the rest
Transfer unused paste to an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 5 days, or freeze by the tablespoon for 3 months.
2 tablespoons Olive oil
~$3.97
Great Value, 17 oz bottle
Prep
None
Store the rest
Keep the cap sealed. Store in a cool, dark spot. Good for about a year.
1 tablespoon Balsamic vinegar
~$2.47
Bottle (est.)
Prep
None
Store the rest
Keep the cap sealed. Store in a cool, dark pantry. Good for about 3 years.
1 teaspoon Sugar
~$3.24
4 lb bag (est.)
Prep
None
Store the rest
Keep sealed in an airtight container in a dry pantry. Sugar does not expire.
1 teaspoon Dried basil
~$1.27
Great Value, 0.62 oz
Prep
None
Store the rest
Keep the lid tightly sealed. Store in a cool, dark place. Stays potent for about a year.
1 teaspoon Dried oregano
~$1.27
Great Value, 0.75 oz
Prep
None
Store the rest
Keep the lid tightly sealed. Store in a cool, dark place. Stays potent for about a year.
1 teaspoon Salt
~$0.97
Great Value Iodized, 26 oz
Prep
None
Store the rest
Keep in the original container. Salt does not expire.
1/2 teaspoon Black pepper
~$2.98
Great Value, 3 oz container
Prep
None
Store the rest
Keep the lid sealed. Store in a cool, dry spot. Stays potent for 2-3 years.
1 cup, divided Fresh basil leaves
~$2.48
Fresh, 0.75 oz pack (est.)
Prep
Rinse and pat dry (~1 min)
Store the rest
Trim the stems and stand the basil in a glass of water at room temperature, loosely covered. Use within 5 days.
1 lb box Spaghetti
~$1.18
1 lb box (est.)
Prep
None
Store the rest
Reseal the box or transfer to an airtight container. Keeps in a dry pantry for over a year.