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.

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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 183 votes

Author: Natasha of NatashasKitchen.com

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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

Should I drain canned tomatoes for pizza sauce? ›

If you'd like a thicker sauce, strain the tomatoes from their juices before blending. This isn't just for convenience — a no-cook sauce will actually taste better on your pizza, giving you that fresh, zippy tomato flavor, even after it has been baked in a hot oven.

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? ›

Pizza sauce is VERY forgiving - you can use just about any tomatoes you like! If you're using canned tomatoes, we like using a smooth variety like tomato sauce or crushed tomatoes. You can use canned whole or diced tomatoes if you don't mind a more textured sauce. You can also use fresh tomatoes here!

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.

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.

Can I use spaghetti sauce for pizza? ›

You can substitute pizza sauce with pasta sauce, pesto, white garlic sauce, Buffalo sauce, Hummus, and more. The right recipe can make any sauce usable as a pizza base. However, make sure you're well aware of the flavor profiles of your toppings with your base sauce.

When making pizza do you make the sauce or cheese first? ›

Cheese always goes belowthe toppings

You've got your dough as the foundation. Then your sauce. The cheese is the next solid layer. Then your toppings (after all, they're called top-pings and not bottom-ings), and then finally your garnishes like basil, pepper, fresh mozzarella, etc, after the pizza is cooked.

Why is my homemade pizza sauce watery? ›

If you use big juicy eating tomatoes, you're going to get a lot of water. If you use the smaller plum type tomatoes, you get more flesh with less water. That's what commercial sauces use. Another thing is to evaporate some of the water.

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.

Is it better to cook or uncooked tomato sauce for pizza? ›

Because pasta sauce is not twice-cooked, making it often involves simmering the tomatoes with onions, garlic, and herbs before combining them with the pasta of choice. Pizza sauce, however, frequently uses uncooked crushed tomatoes, to make a sauce that is brighter and easier to spread across the dough.

How do I substitute tomato sauce for pizza sauce? ›

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

Is pizza sauce necessary? ›

If you aren't a fan of tomatoes and do not like the taste, you need not use them at all. With multiple options like bechamel, hummus, soy sauce, and plain old cheese you can very much bake pizza without tomato sauce.

References

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