Heat the olive oil in a large saucepan over medium heat until shimmering.
Add the finely chopped onion, celery, and minced garlic to the pan and cook, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables are softened and fragrant, about 5 minutes.
Pour in the canned crushed tomatoes and stir to combine with the aromatics.
Add the roughly chopped basil, salt, and black pepper; bring the sauce to a gentle boil.
Once boiling, reduce the heat to low, cover the pan, and simmer the sauce gently for 40 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Remove the saucepan from the heat and serve immediately or let cool before storing.