This easy Homemade Pizza Sauce Recipe is made in 5 minutes with 9 ingredients. It's the best pizza sauce perfect for homemade pizza nights.
The morning before we go grocery shopping...while I sip my coffee and my kids finish their breakfast...I like to ask them what they want for dinner the next week. Without fail their first answer is always, "pizza!"
We love making pizza at home because it's easy (my kids have been making it every week since they were 5), fun and less expensive than delivery. This is our go-to easy homemade pizza sauce recipe. It takes five minutes to whip up and will make the best pizza you've ever had.
We're from Chicago (born and raised)...so we've enjoyed some of the best pizza in the world. I remember, one evening after dining at a famous pizza restaurant, we got in the car and I asked my husband how he liked it. It turned out he was less than impressed. I thought my pizza-loving-husband had gone crazy!
His problem was with the sauce! "There was only a thin layer and it tasted just like tomatoes" was his personal opinion. He likes his pizza saucy and flavorful and that particular pie just didn't cut it. Moral of the story: there's no weak sauce allowed in our household. And this Easy Homemade Pizza Sauce Recipe ensures that!
How to Pizza Sauce from Scratch
To make this homemade pizza sauce from scratch you crack open two cans, add some seasonings, stir and you're set to go. You can easily make it ahead of time and store in the refrigerator until you're ready to make your pizza!
Tip: use a red spatula
If you'd like to prevent turning your white spatulas orange, I suggest using a red spatula to make this recipe. This red spatula (pictured below and used in the video) is my favorite! I use it for everything, especially making red-colored foods like this homemade pizza sauce!
One the sauce is finished, use it to make homemade pizza! This Easy Homemade Pizza Dough Recipe is our go-to! It requires no rising, and makes a delicious pizza in under 30 minutes! Or try this whole wheat pizza dough or this zucchini pizza dough!
Spread the sauce generously and evenly. The flavor and essence of a pizza lies in the pizza sauce. Be sure to put a nice thick layer on and spread it evenly.
Homemade Pizza Sauce Serving size
This recipe makes enough sauce to make two large pizzas, or four medium-sized pizza.
Easily Doubled (or tripled)
This easy pizza sauce recipe is easily doubled or tripled. I love serving making pizza with a huge salad when we have guests over for dinner. You can also make the crust into small personal pizzas and let the kids put their own toppings on it, which is really fun!
Store/Freeze
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.
Recipe FAQs
This is a common question I get asked all the time! Here are some distinctions between the two:
Spaghetti sauce has a higher water content. This is why I don't recommend using a jar of marinara when making homemade pizza, you could end up with a mushy watery mess!
Pizza sauce is thicker. this goes along with the point above, but pizza sauce contains tomato paste, which causes it to spread easier and more evenly!
Pizza sauce is more flavorful. This might be my own opinion, but we like a lot more spices in our pizza sauce than we do in our spaghetti sauce!
This recipe is for a no-cook pizza sauce so it does not need to be cooked.
I actually get this question a lot - please do not use ketchup as pizza sauce. Ketchup is not a substitute for any of the ingredients in this recipe.
Easy Homemade Pizza Sauce Recipe: Substitutions
Here are a few possible substitutions that can be made in this recipe.
- Tomato Sauce. Sometimes I run out of cans of tomato sauce, and in a pinch I have used a can of diced tomatoes that I tossed in my Vitamix to turn into sauce! You can also use fresh blended tomatoes as well.
- Tomato Paste. Please don't leave out the tomato paste! It makes the pizza sauce thick which is key in making non-soggy pizza!
- Oregano/Italian seasoning. I always make this with dried spices, but feel free to use fresh. Also, if you like a sauce with a less bold flavor, you might want to start will less and add more to your liking.
- Garlic salt. If you don't keep garlic salt on hand, use a little more garlic powder and regular sea salt.
- Granulated sugar. This can be left out to make a sugar-free version. Or you can substitute coconut sugar. I think the little bit of sugar enhances the flavor of the tomatoes.
Vegan Pizza Sauce
The sauce itself is vegan, so you can make some pretty amazing vegan pizzas out of this recipe, and save yourself lots of money buying vegan options at the store.
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Easy Homemade Pizza Sauce Recipe
Ingredients
- 6 oz tomato paste (1 -6 oz can)
- 15 oz tomato sauce (1 - 15 oz can)
- 1-2 TBS oregano to taste
- 2 TBS Italian seasoning
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp onion powder
- ½ TBS garlic salt
- ¼ tsp freshly ground black pepper
- 1 tsp sugar* coconut sugar for paleo or omit
Instructions
- Mix tomato paste and sauce together in a medium size bowl until well combined (all the lumps of paste are incorporated into the sauce).
- Add the rest of the ingredients (oregano, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, onion powder, garlic salt, pepper and sugar) and mix well!
- Use in your favorite pizza recipe!
Video
Notes
- Refrigerate: Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to two weeks. The sauce will thicken in the refrigerator, so be sure to let it come to room temperature or gently warm it in the microwave before using!
- Freeze. Store in an airtight container in the freezer for up to two months!
Ingredient Substitutions
- Tomato Sauce. Sometimes I run out of cans of tomato sauce, and in a pinch I have used a can of diced tomatoes that I tossed in my Vitamix to turn into sauce! You can also use fresh blended tomatoes as well.
- Tomato Paste. Please don't leave out the tomato paste! It makes the pizza sauce thick which is key in making non-soggy pizza!
- Oregano/Italian seasoning. I always make this with dried spices, but feel free to use fresh. Also, if you like a sauce with a less bold flavor, you might want to start will less and add more to your liking.
- Garlic salt. If you don't keep garlic salt on hand, use a little more garlic powder and regular sea salt.
- Granulated sugar. This can be left out to make a sugar-free version. Or you can substitute coconut sugar. I think the little bit of sugar enhances the flavor of the tomatoes.
Nutrition
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Candice
I know you said don't omit the tomato paste but I didn't have any. I added an additional small can of tomato sauce and let it reduce on the stove while my dough was prepping. It still turned out really good. My kids love fresh pizza and it is much more cost-efficient for a family of 6. I like to make a few batches of pizza dough and keep it in the freezer so I'll make sure to have a few extra cans of tomato paste and sauce on hand. Much better than store-bought pizza sauce.
David
This Pizza sauce is simple quick and easy. It has wonderful flavor and I will make again.
KTM3330
This was good in a pinch. I'll use less oregano maybe just 3/4 to 1T and maybe skip the garlic salt next time.
Shannon
Thank you so much for sharing this. We bought a home during COVID and it had an Italian pizza oven in it. We have been searching the 1 1/2 years we have been here for the perfect pizza crust and pizza sauce recipes. YOU NAILED IT!!!!! I did add about a teaspoon of turmeric because it is so good for us that I sneak it in wherever I can. My husband took a taste and said, "You had better save that one!"
Tim
Works fine for a 5 minute zing. I’m inclined to prep a day or 2 ahead of time and let the flavors meld.
Laura
Love that idea, Tim!
Troy
Tasted great for a quick "no cook" sauce. It will cook as the pizza does. My Italian seasoning has crushed red pepper, so it is a bit spicy but delicious. Thanks!
Dianne
Just found this by searching for an easy pizza sauce recipe. It is AMAZING! I love how easy it is and how incredibly tasty! I will share this with everyone!
Laura
Thank you Dianne!
Linda
I added too much oregano (1.5 T)but I should have tasted it before I started adding the second tablespoon. The Italian seasoning I use also contains oregano. I added a bit more sugar to combat the bitterness caused by the oregano and that did the trick. Next time, I will likely use only 1/2 T. SO easy and quick.
Darlene
Ran out of sauce so looked this one up. Loved it ! Now I won't have to ever run out of ordinary sauce, I'll just make my new " extraordinary " sauce.
Oregon
Have made this sauce a few times, I really like it for the taste and simplicity. I give the leftovers a water bath and turns out that little bit of heat and letting it sit in the pantry til you need more makes a much tastier sauce....I also reduce my favorite marinara sauce down to paste consistency and use all the ingredients except for any salts and add to taste, anchovy paste, marjoram and basil
Annette
So this sauce can be canned