Homemade Pizza Sauce
Make your own delicious and versatile pizza sauce at home. With just a few simple ingredients, you can create a flavorful sauce for all your pizza creations.
A good pizza sauce doesn’t need to be complicated, and this simple stovetop version shows how much flavor you can build with just a handful of ingredients. Crushed tomatoes provide the base, tomato paste adds body, and a short simmer brings everything together. The sauce is smooth enough to spread easily yet thick enough to stay in place while the pizza bakes.
Because the sauce cooks quickly and keeps well, it’s a solid option for weeknight pizza nights or meal prep. You can make it ahead, refrigerate or freeze it, and use it for pizzas, stromboli, calzones, or even as a dipping sauce for breadsticks.
What You’ll Like About This Recipe
- Straightforward method. Everything cooks in one saucepan and needs only a brief simmer. This makes the sauce approachable for beginners and convenient for experienced cooks.
- Balanced tomato flavor. The combination of crushed tomatoes and tomato paste creates a sauce that is both bright and rich. A small amount of sugar helps round out the acidity.
- Customizable seasoning. Oregano, salt, and pepper form a base that can be adjusted to suit your taste. The recipe naturally adapts to extra herbs, garlic, or heat.
- Suitable for many uses. Besides pizza, the sauce works well for dipping, layering in casseroles, or spooning over toasted bread. Its consistency makes it especially useful for baked dishes.
Ingredient Notes
- Olive oil – Helps soften the garlic and carries flavor throughout the sauce. Extra-virgin adds a fuller aroma but regular olive oil works too.
- Garlic – Provides a mellow, savory base after sautéing. Fresh minced garlic gives a cleaner flavor than jarred versions.
- Crushed tomatoes – Create the main texture and body of the sauce. Choose a brand with good tomato flavor and minimal added salt.
- Tomato paste – Thickens the sauce and adds depth. It also helps the sauce cling to pizza dough without making it soggy.
- Sugar – A small amount balances acidity. You can omit it if your tomatoes are naturally sweet.
- Oregano – Dried oregano works well because its flavor holds up to cooking and blends evenly.
Steps to Make Homemade Pizza Sauce
- Heat the olive oil in a saucepan and sauté the garlic until softened. This builds the base flavor without browning the garlic.
- Add the crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, sugar, oregano, salt, and pepper. Stir until everything is evenly mixed.
- Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer. Reduce the heat and cook until slightly thickened.
- Taste and adjust the seasoning, then let the sauce cool or use it immediately.
- Spread on pizza dough or store for later use in other dishes.
Pro Tips
- Sauté the garlic gently to avoid bitterness; it should turn fragrant but not brown.
- Simmer the sauce uncovered so it thickens naturally without needing extra ingredients.
- Adjust thickness with a splash of water if the sauce becomes too dense.
- Blend briefly with an immersion blender if you want a smoother texture.
- Make a double batch if you freeze pizza components for easy dinners.
Recipe Variations
- Herb-forward version. Add basil, thyme, or Italian seasoning. Fresh basil can be stirred in after cooking for a brighter finish.
- Spicy version. Add crushed red pepper flakes during the simmer for gentle heat. A small amount of Calabrian chili paste also works well.
- Garlic-rich version. Increase the garlic or add roasted garlic for a deeper, mellow flavor.
- Chunkier version. Stir in a small amount of diced tomatoes for more texture, especially for focaccia or pan pizzas.
- No-cook version. Combine the ingredients without simmering for a lighter, fresher sauce—best with high-quality canned tomatoes.
More Ways to Use Pizza Sauce
- Dipping Sauce: Serve it alongside fried mozzarella, chicken strips, tortilla rolls, wings, or pesto pinwheels.
- Casseroles: Make a pizza casserole or baked pizza dip.
- Pasta: Replace your favorite jar of sauce with it or use it to make this one pot spaghetti dinner.
- Meatloaf Glaze: Brush over a meatloaf just before it’s done, or add some to a meatloaf mixture.
- Chicken or Eggplant Parm: Use it as a sauce on your eggplant Parmesan or chicken Parmigiana.
How to Store and Reheat
Refrigerate: Cool the sauce completely and store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days.
Freeze: Freeze in portions using airtight containers or freezer bags for up to 3 months. Label with date and thaw in the fridge overnight.
To Reheat: Rewarm in a saucepan over low heat, stirring occasionally, or microwave in a heat-safe bowl in short bursts.
Homemade Pizza Sauce
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
- 2 medium cloves garlic, minced
- 1 14.5-ounce can crushed tomatoes
- 4 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1/2 teaspoon granulated sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon dried leaf oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon Diamond kosher salt, or to taste
- 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
Instructions
- Sauté: Heat the oil in a saucepan over medium heat. Add the garlic and sauté for 2 minutes, or until it is softened.
- Combine: Add the crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, sugar, oregano, salt, and pepper to the saucepan and stir to blend.
- Simmer: Bring the pizza sauce to a simmer. Reduce the heat to low and simmer for 10 minutes. Refrigerate or freeze the cooled sauce or use it immediately.
- To Use: Spread the sauce over a round of raw or store-bought pizza dough and cover with your choice of toppings. Bake following your pizza dough or crust recipe instructions.
Nutrition
Disclaimer:
Our nutritional information is based on a third-party application that analyzes the ingredients list to determine the values. The information is meant to be helpful, but should be considered an estimate. Values may differ depending on measurements, brands, serving variations, and database availability.
