How to Make Pizza Sauce: Quick, Easy, and Delicious Homemade Recipe

Making pizza at home is a fantastic way to enjoy a fun and customizable meal, and it’s often more budget-friendly than ordering takeout. While the dough and toppings are crucial, the real heart of a great pizza lies in the sauce. Forget bland, store-bought options! With this incredibly easy homemade pizza sauce recipe, you can create a flavorful base in just 5 minutes using simple ingredients you likely already have in your pantry.

This recipe is born from genuine pizza passion. Growing up in Chicago, I was surrounded by some of the world’s best pizza. My experience working in a pizzeria there taught me the secrets to a truly outstanding pizza sauce – it needs to be bold, flavorful, and perfectly textured. This recipe captures that pizzeria quality, ensuring every homemade pizza you make is a guaranteed hit.

Why This Homemade Pizza Sauce Recipe Works

This isn’t just another tomato sauce; it’s specifically crafted for pizza. Here’s why you’ll love it:

Speed: From start to finish, it takes only 5 minutes. Perfect for busy weeknights or spontaneous pizza cravings.
Simplicity: You only need 8 common ingredients. No fancy supermarket trips required!
No-Cook: This is a no-cook sauce, meaning you simply mix everything together. This keeps the fresh tomato flavor vibrant and saves you even more time.
Flavor Depth: Despite its simplicity, this sauce is packed with flavor, thanks to a balanced blend of herbs and seasonings.
Customizable: Easily adjust the seasonings to your taste. Want it spicier? Add a pinch of red pepper flakes. Prefer a sweeter sauce? A touch more sugar or honey will do the trick.

Simple Substitutions for Pizza Sauce Ingredients

Sometimes you might be missing an ingredient or want to tweak the recipe slightly. Here are some easy substitutions:

Tomato Sauce: If you’re out of tomato sauce, you can use a can of diced tomatoes. Just blend them briefly to achieve a smooth consistency. Fresh tomatoes, blended, also work beautifully.
Tomato Paste: Don’t skip the tomato paste! It’s essential for thickening the sauce and concentrating the tomato flavor, preventing a soggy pizza.
Oregano & Italian Seasoning: Dried spices are convenient and what I typically use. However, feel free to use fresh herbs if you have them. If you prefer a milder flavor, start with less and add more to taste.
Garlic Salt: If you don’t have garlic salt, use an extra ¼ teaspoon of garlic powder and ½ to 1 teaspoon of sea salt instead.
Granulated Sugar: The sugar balances the acidity of the tomatoes and enhances the overall flavor. You can omit it, or substitute honey for a slightly different sweetness.

Note: This recipe is naturally vegan, making it a fantastic choice for everyone to enjoy!

Step-by-Step Guide: How to Make Pizza Sauce

Making this pizza sauce is as easy as 1-2-3!

Combine Tomato Paste and Sauce: In a medium bowl, whisk together the tomato paste and tomato sauce until smooth and fully combined. Using a whisk helps to prevent any lumps.
Add Spices and Seasonings: Add the oregano, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, onion powder, garlic salt, black pepper, and granulated sugar to the bowl.
Mix Well: Stir all the ingredients together until the spices are evenly distributed throughout the sauce. Give it a taste and adjust any seasonings to your preference.

That’s it! Your homemade pizza sauce is ready to use. Spread it generously over your favorite pizza dough and get creative with your toppings.

Tips for the Best Homemade Pizza Sauce

Taste and Adjust: Always taste your sauce before using it on a pizza. This allows you to adjust the seasonings to perfectly match your taste preferences. Need more garlic? Add a pinch more garlic powder. Want a bit of heat? Red pepper flakes are your friend.
Consistency is Key: The tomato paste is crucial for achieving the right thickness. A thicker sauce will prevent your pizza from becoming soggy.
Freshness Matters: While this recipe uses canned tomatoes for convenience, using high-quality canned tomatoes will make a difference in flavor. Look for brands known for their rich tomato taste.

Perfect Pizza Recipes to Use with This Sauce

Once you have your delicious homemade pizza sauce, the pizza possibilities are endless! Here are a few ideas to get you started:

Classic Cheese Pizza: A simple yet satisfying choice that truly lets the sauce flavor shine.
Pepperoni Pizza: The all-time favorite, enhanced by your flavorful homemade sauce.
BBQ Chicken Pizza: A fun and flavorful twist. Use this pizza sauce as a base and top with BBQ chicken, red onions, and cilantro.
French Bread Pizza: For a super quick and easy meal, spread this sauce on French bread halves, add your favorite toppings, and bake.

How to Store Homemade Pizza Sauce

Making a big batch of this pizza sauce is a great timesaver. Here’s how to store it:

Refrigerator: Store leftover pizza sauce in an airtight container, like a glass jar with a lid, in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks. It will thicken as it chills. Let it come to room temperature or gently warm it in the microwave before spreading on pizza dough.
Freezer: For longer storage, freeze the sauce in an airtight container for up to 3 months. Thaw it in the refrigerator overnight before using.

Pizza Sauce Recipe FAQs

How much sauce does this recipe make?
This recipe yields enough pizza sauce for approximately two large pizzas or four medium pizzas.

Can I easily double or triple this recipe?
Absolutely! This recipe is very easy to scale up. Simply double or triple all the ingredients to make a larger batch.

What’s the difference between pizza sauce and spaghetti sauce?
This is a common question! Here are the key differences:

Water Content: Spaghetti sauce typically has a higher water content, making it thinner. Pizza sauce is deliberately thicker.
Thickness: Pizza sauce is thicker due to the addition of tomato paste. This thickness is essential for pizza as it prevents the sauce from making the crust soggy.
Flavor Profile: Pizza sauce is generally more boldly flavored and herb-heavy than spaghetti sauce, designed to stand out under toppings and cheese.

Do I need to cook homemade pizza sauce?
No, this recipe is specifically designed as a no-cook pizza sauce. Cooking is not required. The flavors meld together beautifully without heating.

Can I use ketchup as pizza sauce in a pinch?
While it might be tempting in an emergency, ketchup is not a suitable substitute for pizza sauce. Ketchup lacks the depth of flavor and the right balance of acidity and herbs needed for a good pizza sauce. It is much sweeter and will not provide the authentic pizza taste you’re looking for.

Making your own pizza sauce at home is incredibly rewarding. This recipe proves that you don’t need hours or a long list of ingredients to create a truly delicious pizza base. Give this 5-minute homemade pizza sauce recipe a try and elevate your next pizza night!

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Easy Homemade Pizza Sauce Recipe

By Laura

This easy Homemade Pizza Sauce Recipe is made in 5 minutes with 8 ingredients. This no-cook sauce is truly the best pizza sauce recipe ever – developed from my experience working in a Chicago pizzeria!

4.99 from 1482 votes

Prep Time 5 minutes
Total Time 5 minutes

Course Condiment, Main Course, Side Dish
Cuisine American, Italian
Servings 24 Servings
Calories 23.3 kcal

Equipment

Medium Bowl
Whisk or Spoon

Ingredients

1 15-ounce can tomato sauce
6 ounces tomato paste
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
1 teaspoon garlic powder
½ teaspoon onion powder
1 teaspoon garlic salt
½ teaspoon black pepper
1 teaspoon granulated sugar (optional)

Instructions

Mix tomato paste and sauce together in a medium size bowl until smooth.
Add the rest of the ingredients – oregano, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, onion powder, garlic salt, pepper and sugar – and stir until evenly distributed throughout the sauce.
Taste and adjust seasonings to your liking.
Spread onto your favorite pizza dough recipe.

Ingredient Substitutions

Tomato Sauce: Canned diced tomatoes (blended), fresh blended tomatoes.
Tomato Paste: Essential for thickness, do not omit.
Oregano/Italian seasoning: Fresh herbs can be used. Adjust amount to taste.
Garlic salt: Substitute with ¼ teaspoon garlic powder and ½ to 1 teaspoon sea salt.
Granulated sugar: Can be omitted or substitute with honey.

How to Store Pizza Sauce

Refrigerate: Up to two weeks in an airtight container.
Freeze: Up to two months in an airtight container.

Nutrition

Nutritional information is an approximation.

Did you enjoy this recipe? Have a question? Leave a comment below!

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