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    Home » Kitchen Tips

    Homemade Pizza Sauce Recipe

    June 22, 2020 Updated March 16, 2021 BySam 124 Comments

    This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Please read my disclosure policy.
    Jump to Recipe Jump to Video Print Recipe

    An incredibly simple, no-cook, homemade pizza sauce recipe! It literally takes less than five minutes to make this easy, flavorful sauce for your homemade pizza!

    Spreading pizza sauce over pizza dough

    A Simple, Flavorful Sauce (In 5 Minutes!)

    Today’s recipe is all about keeping things simple.

    Five minutes needed, simple ingredients with only the bare minimum prep-work required, no chopping or dicing or simmering or cooking… literally all I’m asking you to do is toss some ingredients together and hit a button (or flip a switch). I’m sharing a robustly flavored, easy homemade pizza sauce recipe and I think you’ll really like this one. 

    On my pizza dough recipe (have you made that yet?? If not, you need to!) I get a lot of requests for a homemade pizza sauce, so I thought it was about time that I share one.

    Ingredients for homemade pizza sauce

    What You Need:

    Please note, this is just an overview of the ingredients used and why. For the full recipe/amounts of ingredients, please scroll down to the recipe card. 

    • Canned, diced tomatoes. Yes, canned! And yes, I’m a bit defensive about this. A bit more on that below.
    • Tomato paste. This thickens the sauce and is responsible for much of the tomato flavor.
    • Olive oil. This gives the sauce the proper mellow mouthfeel and adds flavor. Use extra virgin olive oil.
    • Basil. I use dried basil. While fresh herbs could be use instead, remember, this is meant to be a quick & easy pizza sauce recipe!
    • Garlic. I do use fresh here. Easy enough, just toss in a whole clove. If you’re using pre-minced garlic, I recommend a heaping teaspoon.
    • Dried oregano. I know I’ve rallied against oregano in the past, but I can’t deny that it’s essential for a classic, robust-tasting pizza sauce.
    • Sugar. A pinch deepens the flavor of the sauce and cuts the acidity from the tomatoes without making the sauce sweet. 
    • Sea salt. Finely ground, or you can substitute a bit less table salt.
    • Ground black pepper. Again I recommend grinding your own for best flavor.
    • Crushed red pepper. This is completely optional but I like the slight heat it adds. 

    You’ll also need a food processor or a blender to combine everything. I’ve linked to the one that I own and love in the recipe. I got it as a wedding gift and use it for everything (like my scones!).

    making sauce in food processor

    Canned Tomatoes

    Now, about those tomatoes… If I seem a little salty or defensive in the video (below, in the recipe card) about the fact that I’m using canned tomatoes, I am 😂 

    However, I use them for the same reasons that I use canned tomatoes in my marinara sauce (and prefer to use them in my salsa recipe). Not only is it easier, but the taste of canned tomatoes is actually typically better and less watery than fresh tomatoes. 

    Look, if there’s anyone who’s going to tell you to go the extra mile or put in the extra effort when making something at home, it’s going to be me. You’re going to have to just trust me when I tell you that canned tomatoes are just fine here. And let me remind you, this is specifically meant to be a fast, easy, no-cook pizza sauce. We’re not sacrificing flavor, we’re just saving time. 

    Note: you can substitute whole canned tomatoes for the diced that I use. 

    pizza sauce in glass jar with spoon

    A Few Quick Tips…

    • Don’t try substituting the canned tomatoes for fresh. You’ll lose a lot of flavor and the sauce will be quite watery. I know we just talked about this above, but it’s worth reiterating here. 
    • Classic diced tomatoes are great, but try using fire roasted for even more flavor!
    • Always do a quick taste test before using your sauce. Different brands of tomatoes may contain different ingredients, you may find you need to add a pinch more salt, or a bit more sugar if the acidic taste is particularly strong. 
    • Pizza sauce is meant to be a bit thick, but if the sauce is too thick for your liking add a drizzle more olive oil.

    How to Use:

    Use your pizza sauce right away or store in your fridge until ready to use. I like to use mine for dipping my garlic knots or over my popular pizza dough, simply spread it evenly over the rolled out dough, cover with cheese (and whatever other toppings you like) and then bake until the cheese is melty.

    I find that I typically use about ½ cup of sauce for a 10-12″ pizza. This recipe makes about two cups, and you can save any extra in the fridge or freezer.

    Storing

    Store leftover sauce in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a week. Homemade pizza sauce may also be frozen (in an airtight container, of course), for up to three months. To thaw, I recommend just moving the container to the refrigerator the day before you intend to use it and allowing it to thaw overnight. Stir before using. 

    red sauce in glass jar on counter

    More Recipes You Might Like:

    • Easy Homemade Biscuits
    • Lasagna Soup
    • Stuffed Shells

    Enjoy! 

    Spreading pizza sauce over pizza dough

    Homemade Pizza Sauce (Easy, No-Cook!)

    This recipe makes about 2 cups or 16 oz of pizza sauce. I typically use ½ cup per 10-12" pizza.
    4.98 from 92 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Dinner
    Cuisine: American, Italian
    Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 5 minutes minutes
    Servings: 4 servings
    Calories: 94kcal
    Author: Sam Merritt

    Ingredients

    • 14.5 oz (411 g) canned diced tomatoes or fire roasted tomatoes undrained
    • 6 oz (170 g) canned tomato paste
    • 1 Tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
    • 2 teaspoons granulated sugar
    • 2 teaspoons dried basil
    • 1 clove garlic
    • 1 teaspoon finely ground sea salt
    • ¾ teaspoon dried oregano
    • ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper freshly ground
    • ¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes optional

    Recommended Equipment

    • Food Processor
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Instructions

    • Combine all ingredients in food processor or blender.
      14.5 oz (411 g) canned diced tomatoes or fire roasted tomatoes, 6 oz (170 g) canned tomato paste, 1 Tablespoon extra virgin olive oil, 2 teaspoons granulated sugar, 2 teaspoons dried basil, 1 clove garlic, 1 teaspoon finely ground sea salt, ¾ teaspoon dried oregano, ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper, ¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
    • Pulse 15 times or until mixture is smooth.
    • Use immediately or store in an airtight container to use later.

    Notes

    I typically use ½ cup of pizza sauce for one 10-12" pizza.

    Storing

    Store leftover sauce in an airtight container. Will keep in the refrigerator for up to a week or the freezer for up to 3 months. 

    Nutrition

    Serving: 0.5cups | Calories: 94kcal | Carbohydrates: 15g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 4g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 1065mg | Potassium: 638mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 10g | Vitamin A: 769IU | Vitamin C: 19mg | Calcium: 58mg | Iron: 3mg

    Nutritional information is based on third-party calculations and should be considered an estimate only. Actual nutritional content will vary based upon brands used, measuring methods, cooking method, portion sizes, and more.

    Tried this recipe? Show me on Instagram!Mention @SugarSpun_Sam or tag #sugarspunrun!
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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Emma

      December 23, 2023 at 10:31 am

      5 stars
      WOW! this is delicious. Thank you for sharing.

      Reply
    2. Keth

      December 06, 2023 at 4:46 pm

      5 stars
      Easy peasy and so delicious! Thank you!

      Reply
    3. CJ

      August 22, 2023 at 8:32 pm

      5 stars
      Great sauce! Super easy and fast to make. I added double the amount of red pepper flakes as we like it spicy.

      Reply
      • Joyce

        December 12, 2023 at 8:20 pm

        Just wondering why sea salt instead of regular salt.

        Reply
        • Sam

          December 13, 2023 at 2:56 pm

          I just prefer the flavor, but regular salt will work. 🙂

        • Steve Pritchard

          January 10, 2024 at 6:39 pm

          pizza sauce put meto sleep so decided to make our own( less sugar) but can I mix the cheese in the dough to consume less gluten

    4. Brit

      June 30, 2023 at 11:21 am

      This sauce is amazing! It is my go to recipe for a simple tomato sauce that I use in a whole bunch of recipes. I make it in bulk and store it in smaller portions in the freezer.

      Reply
    5. Nicole

      May 25, 2023 at 9:47 pm

      5 stars
      I made this sauce to go with your pizza dough recipe. It was really good! I only used about a quarter of it and froze the rest for next time.

      Reply
    6. Jorge Filletsch

      February 10, 2023 at 7:22 pm

      5 stars
      Love this sauce! Tony Soprano would like it too.

      Reply
      • Sam

        February 12, 2023 at 4:29 pm

        Thank you so much for your review, Jorge!

        Reply
    7. Sandra M. Bernard

      January 27, 2023 at 3:53 pm

      It’s pizza night again and we always use both this recipe for the sauce along with your pizza dough! Absolutely delicious every time and so quick!

      Reply
      • Martin Cramer

        February 15, 2024 at 10:32 pm

        How many fresh romano tomatoes instead of canned tomatoes?

        Reply
        • Sam

          February 16, 2024 at 10:35 am

          Hi Martin! I don’t recommend using fresh tomatoes here. You will lose a lot of flavor and the sauce will be quite watery. 🙁

    8. Linda

      January 24, 2023 at 12:56 pm

      5 stars
      We really love this sauce recipe for pizza and lasagna. With grocery prices through the roof, this delicious homemade recipe is a breeze to make AND inexpensive. With alternate versions, I’ve used more or less garlic and even used a larger can of petite diced tomatoes–with great results. Also, I’ve been without a blender at times, and a potato masher tool works well to break down the tomatoes. A very tasty, easy to make, inexpensive sauce.

      Reply
      • Sam

        January 24, 2023 at 8:35 pm

        I’m so glad you’ve enjoyed it so much, Linda! 🙂

        Reply
    9. Louise

      January 16, 2023 at 9:44 pm

      5 stars
      Perfectly easy and very zippy! My husband loved it. Another winner.

      Reply
    10. Steve Morgan

      January 14, 2023 at 12:45 am

      5 stars
      Super easy. I was somewhat anxious since it was a first time effort. My wife helped a bit with the baking time and temp. But I a,proud to say it worked great! Nice flavors in the crust and sauce too. We did pepperoni and mozzarella cheeses. So good

      Reply
    11. Steve Morgan

      January 14, 2023 at 12:43 am

      First time a charm. Worked perfectly. Great dough and super delish sauce. My wife loved the pizza. We did not use a parchment paper and had a good result.

      Reply
    12. Rachel

      November 30, 2022 at 12:28 pm

      5 stars
      So easy and delicious! I personally think canned tomatoes are a great option!

      Reply
      • Sam

        November 30, 2022 at 9:09 pm

        I’m so glad you enjoyed it so much, Rachel! 🙂

        Reply
      • Dawn

        January 03, 2023 at 12:01 am

        I just tried your pizza dough and pizza sauce tonight and it was fabulous, so easy, that’s what I like. Thank you for the recipes. Amazing.

        Reply
        • Emily @ Sugar Spun Run

          January 03, 2023 at 2:05 pm

          We’re so happy you enjoyed both recipes, Dawn! Thanks so much for the review ❤️

    13. Tlcmich

      November 29, 2022 at 5:04 pm

      5 stars
      A big hit with my family!
      Amazing texture and so easy to make. I used quick rise yeast but still let it rise twice, once in the bowl and again on the pizza sheet but you could skip the first proof. I’m experimenting with different dried herbs and increased the amount of garlic powder to 1/2 tsp. I’ve been doubling the recipe as well and only used one package of yeast with great raised crust.

      Reply
    14. Howard

      November 25, 2022 at 2:38 pm

      5 stars
      Thanks for another good yet simple recipe. I did double up on the garlic.

      Reply
    15. Dick

      October 30, 2022 at 6:16 pm

      5 stars
      I added a 1/8 teaspoon of onion powder and it kicked the flavor up a notch. At least for me.

      Reply
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    The author (Sam) in blue shirt holding donut Hi, I'm Sam! I'm dedicated to bringing you sweet, simple, and from-scratch dessert recipes. My life may or may not be controlled by my sweet tooth. Send help (or chocolate). Read more about me.

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