Homemade Pizza Sauce (5-Minute Recipe) (2024)

Meet your new favorite red pizza sauce! The secret is out and this is how the pros make red sauce for pizza. It’s ridiculously easy and since there is no cooking required, this red sauce has beautiful tomato flavor similar to what you’d enjoy in a fancy Italian pizzeria!

P.S. We love this on homemade Pizza Dough, but it doubles as a great dip for breadsticks or pizza crust.

Homemade Pizza Sauce (5-Minute Recipe) (1)

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Why this is the BEST Pizza Sauce:

Pizza sauce made from scratch is so much better than store-bought pizza sauces. Pre-cooked and canned sauces tend to dry out on a pizza and the true flavor of the tomatoes becomes dull, while this uncooked sauce keeps it’s vibrant tomato flavor and color.

Authentic pizza sauce is not cooked until it is put into the oven on pizza. I learned how to make the best red sauce from the pizza masters at Bon Appetit and Baking Steal.

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Ingredients for Homemade Pizza Sauce:

Start with your favorite crushed tomatoes. We love Italian San Marzano tomatoes and a single 28 oz can is all you need to make about 3 cups of tomato sauce. Simple flavorings are all you need: garlic, extra virgin olive oil, fine sea salt, and dried oregano.

You might be tempted to add more than 1/2 Tbsp salt but after the flavors meld, the sauce will be perfect. Also, remember your toppings (like cheese) will also add saltiness to your pizza.

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How to Make Pizza Sauce:

To make this easy tomato sauce for pizza, all you need is a blender or food processor and there is no cooking required – seriously!

  1. Pulse together all of the ingredients until blended and well-combined.
  2. Cover and refrigerate for at least 3 hours or up to 7 days before using. It’s best the next day.

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How to Store Pizza Sauce:

We love this red sauce because it is a make-ahead recipe. It keeps really well for at least a week in the refrigerator and just gets better with time as the flavors meld together. We love it best the next day which is perfect with our overnight pizza dough.

  • TO REFRIGERATE: Pour sauce into a mason jar or airtight storage container, cover tightly and refrigerate for 1 to 2 weeks.
  • TO FREEZE: You can also freeze pizza sauce by portioning into freezer-safe zip bags, remove any extra air and seal. Lay flat in the freezer and it will be quicker to thaw. You can also freeze pizza dough for an easy pizza night when the craving hits.

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P.S. If you prefer a white sauce for pizza, make sure to try our homemade garlic-parmesan White Pizza Sauce. It is our children’s favorite and the one they always request for homemade pizza.

Get the Print-friendly Recipe for Red Pizza Sauce below:

Homemade Pizza Sauce (5-Minute Recipe)

4.98 from 189 votes

Author: Natasha of NatashasKitchen.com

Homemade Pizza Sauce (5-Minute Recipe) (7)

This is how the pros make pizza sauce. It's easy with no cooking required. This red sauce has rich tomato flavor. It's also perfect as a dip for breadsticks or pizza crust.

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Prep Time: 5 minutes mins

Total Time: 5 minutes mins

Ingredients

Servings: 12 (Makes 3 cups of pizza sauce)

Instructions

  • Combine all of your ingredients in the bowl of a food processor or blender and pulse together until well combined and blended.

  • Cover and refrigerate for the flavors to meld at least 3 hours or store in the refrigerator for 1 to 2 weeks.

Nutrition Per Serving

32kcal Calories5g Carbs1g Protein1g Fat1g Saturated Fat378mg Sodium194mg Potassium1g Fiber3g Sugar142IU Vitamin A6mg Vitamin C23mg Calcium1mg Iron

  • Full Nutrition Label
  • Nutrition Disclosure

Nutrition Facts

Homemade Pizza Sauce (5-Minute Recipe)

Amount per Serving

Calories

32

% Daily Value*

Fat

1

g

2

%

Saturated Fat

1

g

6

%

Sodium

378

mg

16

%

Potassium

194

mg

6

%

Carbohydrates

5

g

2

%

Fiber

1

g

4

%

Sugar

3

g

3

%

Protein

1

g

2

%

Vitamin A

142

IU

3

%

Vitamin C

6

mg

7

%

Calcium

23

mg

2

%

Iron

1

mg

6

%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Course: Condiments, Sauce

Cuisine: American, Italian

Keyword: pizza sauce, red sauce for pizza

Skill Level: Easy

Cost to Make: $

Calories: 32

If you make this recipe, I’d love to see pics of your creations on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter! Hashtag them #natashaskitchen

Our Best-Ever Homemade Condiments:

When it comes to sauces and condiments, homemade always wins. Here are our top sauces, dips, dressings, and condiments that you have to try!

  • Homemade Tartar Sauce – the perfect blend of flavors and super easy
  • Tzatziki Sauce – fresh, light and perfect for chicken and veggies
  • Marinara Sauce – takes just 20 minutes and the flavor is amazing
  • Horseradish Sauce – mouthwatering and excellent over beef
  • Italian Dressing – creamy but light and tangy

Natasha Kravchuk

Homemade Pizza Sauce (5-Minute Recipe) (8)

Welcome to my kitchen! I am Natasha, the blogger behind Natasha's Kitchen (since 2009). My husband and I run this blog together and share only our best, family approved and tested recipes with YOU. Thanks for stopping by! We are so happy you're here.

Read more posts by Natasha

Homemade Pizza Sauce (5-Minute Recipe) (2024)

FAQs

What can I use if I don't have pizza sauce? ›

Some popular pizza sauce alternatives include the following:
  1. Pesto.
  2. Ricotta Cheese.
  3. Barbecue Sauce.
  4. Ranch Dressing.
  5. Tapenade.
  6. Olive Oil and Garlic.
  7. Sweet Chili Sauce.
  8. Chimichurri Sauce.

How long is homemade pizza sauce? ›

Store this pizza sauce in a glass jar with a lid for up to 2 weeks in the refrigerator, or up to 3 months in the freezer. To use, let the sauce come to room temperature before spreading it on your pizza dough.

What are 5 sauce options for pizza? ›

A Quick Guide to Different Types of Pizza Sauces
  • Marinara Sauce. Marinara is one of the more versatile pizza sauces that you have to choose from. ...
  • Spicy Red Sauce. ...
  • BBQ Sauce. ...
  • Buffalo Sauce. ...
  • Alfredo Sauce. ...
  • Pesto Sauce. ...
  • Chocolate Sauce. ...
  • Become a Wood-fired Pizza Expert Overnight.

Can I use ketchup as my pizza sauce? ›

Ketchup is best utilized as a substitute in recipes that already have some sweetness. In most cases, start with a ½:1 swap and add more American Garden's ketchup as needed to adjust the flavor. Do you crave pizza but don't have any pizza sauce? Don't worry, you can get great results using American Garden's ketchup.

Can you use regular tomato sauce as pizza sauce? ›

Directions. Mix tomato sauce, garlic, oregano, and basil in a bowl until well combined. Spread mixture over pizza crusts as desired.

What makes homemade pizza taste better? ›

Cornmeal and olive oil make all the difference

Inspired by the pizza crust often found in delivery pizzas, the publication points to cornmeal as the key to a quality texture and suggests basting the dough with an oil-based spread to enhance the color and flavor.

What spice gives pizza its flavor? ›

Italian Seasoning

Italian seasoning combines herbs like basil, thyme, chili flakes, garlic powder, rosemary, parsley and oregano. Some blends also incorporate dried sage or fennel seeds. Italian seasoning adds extra flavor to traditional-style pizza.

Why is my homemade pizza sauce watery? ›

Be careful not to over blend. Over blending may cause too much water to seep out of your tomatoes resulting in a watery pizza sauce. If you are using crushed tomatoes, simply dump into a container/bowl, add salt to taste and mix to combine. Easy, right?!

What are the best tomatoes for pizza sauce? ›

SUMMARY – San Marzano are the tomatoes by excellence for classic red sauce pizza. Some other varieties include the Pomodorino del Piennolo- yellow or red. If San Marzano is impossible to find where you live, oblong peeled tomatoes are the best next choice.

What sauce is closest to pizza sauce? ›

Tomato sauce and BBQ sauce are just versions of pizza sauce. One alternative, used frequently in Italy, is pesto. Although usually an olive oil/basil/garlic/nut combination, it can also made with fresh oregano and Parmesan. Another option is seafood, particularly clams and sardines.

What is the best cheese to use for homemade pizza? ›

The most commonly used cheese on pizza is mozzarella, because it melts beautifully without turning oily or lumpy. Cheeses such as feta, haloumi and aged gouda are tasty toppings, but they're a bit fancy for families and don't melt as well as mozzarella. Low-moisture mozzarella in particular has great melt and stretch.

How do you make pizza sauce taste better? ›

  1. Use ripe, juicy tomatoes for a fresh, bright flavor.
  2. Add herbs such as basil, oregano, and garlic for depth of flavor.
  3. Balance sweetness and acidity with a pinch of sugar and a splash of red wine vinegar.
  4. Simmer the sauce to allow the flavors to meld and thicken.
  5. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
Jan 30, 2023

What other sauces can you use on pizza? ›

The familiar tomato pizza sauce is a staple on almost any pizza and goes well with many different toppings, whether you prefer sausage and pepperoni or an array of tasty vegetables. But pizza sauce can go far beyond just tomato, with alternatives like pesto and even barbecue sauce providing plenty of fun flavor.

How do I substitute tomato sauce for pizza sauce? ›

Yes you can…even as it is, straight out of the can, although it might lack a bit of flavor for just a tomato sauce pizza. You can use it cold or cook it down a bit to make it thicker. Of course you can add some condiments (onion, garlic), salt and pepper and hebs and spices.

Is pizza sauce necessary? ›

Pizza means flatbread. This means that a pizza can really be called pizza if it has no cheese. That's the case of pizza alla marinara, with crushed tomatoes, garlic, oregano, and a drizzle of extravirgin olive oil. A real pizza can be without any tomato sauce, like this pizza ortolana, with a fresh vegetables medley.

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