Homemade Pizza Sauce Recipe (2024)

By Mary | 21 Comments

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Homemade Pizza Sauce Recipe (1)

{have you entered to win a KitchenAid Mixer yet? Today is THE LAST DAY to enter!!}

Ooh Monday, how you sneak up on me! I thought Saturday was Sunday, then Sunday felt like Saturday, and now Monday is coming out of nowhere! Can we just do this weekend again? I'm a big fan of the whole Saturday/Sunday combo. Let's do that every two days. At least I have pizza sauce to keep me going today: I fully intend to eat pizza every meal until it's gone. And doughnuts.

Homemade Pizza Sauce Recipe (2)

Pizza sauce is something I refuse to buy. I just can't do it! It seems like such a gimmick to me (although I'll admit it is delicious!). This stubborn antic of mine results in many a white pizza in our house: I almost never put sauce on a pizza. After discovering this recipe, though, our pizzas as we know them may be forever changed!

Homemade Pizza Sauce Recipe (3)

This sauce is very easy, and for the most part you just let it simmer down by itself until it's done. Easy peasy! I started with fresh tomatoes, but you could use canned diced tomatoes if you have those on hand instead. I'm hoping we have tomatoes coming out of our ears this summer (assuming our TBD new home has garden space!).

Homemade Pizza Sauce Recipe (4)

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Homemade Pizza Sauce Recipe (5)

Homemade Pizza Sauce

★★★★★5 from 1 reviews

  • Author: by Mary
  • Prep Time: 10 mins
  • Cook Time: 70 mins
  • Total Time: 1 hour 20 minutes
Print Recipe

Ingredients

UnitsScale

  • 2 lbs fresh tomatoes, chopped
  • 1 Tbsp olive oil
  • 1 Tbsp unsalted butter
  • 2 garlic cloves, finely minced (grated is even better)
  • 1 tsp dried oregano
  • ½ tsp dried rosemary
  • ¼ tsp dried thyme
  • ¼ tsp crushed red pepper flakes
  • salt
  • 6 large fresh basil leaves
  • 1 yellow onion, diced
  • 1 6 oz can tomato paste
  • 1 tsp sugar

Instructions

  1. Using a blender (immersion works perfectly), blend the tomatoes until mostly smooth. A few small chunks should remain. Set aside.
  2. In a large skillet, heat the olive oil and butter together until the butter is melted.
  3. Add the garlic, oregano, rosemary, thyme, and crushed red pepper flakes. Cook for three minutes, until the mixture is very fragrant.
  4. Add one teaspoon of salt, the blended tomatoes, basil, onion, tomato paste, and sugar. Stir until completely smooth.
  5. Bring the mixture to a simmer, and let simmer for 1 hour or until reduced by half. Salt to taste.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Pamela @ Brooklyn Farm Girl says

    As homemade pizza lovers, always looking for new sauces to try. Will give this a shot, thank you!

    Reply

  2. nessa says

    Looks super good!

    Reply

  3. Kay says

    Have you caned this pizza sauce and if not can you. I also have a lot of tomatoes this year and have been doing lots of canning . I have been looking for a pizza sauce to can.

    Reply

    • Mary says

      I have not canned this sauce, but I think you could! Just make sure to follow canning instructions for tomatoes!

      Reply

      • Louisaà says

        Once you add onions and garlic you will have to pressure can the sauce as the ph changes.

        Reply

  4. Caroline Carey says

    Mary....I am curious why dry herbs are used instead of fresh. Is it just a convenience factor, or does it make for a better sauce (shelf life, intensity, etc.)? Thanks, Caroline

    Reply

    • Mary says

      Hi Caroline! I would absolutely recommend fresh herbs, if you have them on hand! I used dried simply for the convenience! Enjoy! xo

      Reply

  5. Celia2M says

    Hey there, i loved this pizza sauce, but i don't use it for pizza, more just like sauce in general O:) how long do you think it can be preserve? i only have mason jars with me

    Thanks!

    Reply

    • Mary says

      Hi Celia! I have almost no experience canning, so I can't really advise you there. I'd do your research on canning tomato sauce and see what the internet says — I'm sure you'd need to do a water bath or pressure cooker to seal it... but once it's sealed, it should keep for a LONG LONG time! Good luck! xo

      Reply

      • Cheri says

        You may want to research this. My understanding is that you don't want to can if you used oils. Not certain, but worth checking into to avoid possible botulism.

        Reply

  6. Katie says

    How many tomatoes would you say you used? I do not have a food scale so I am not sure how many roma tomatoes to use?

    Reply

    • Mary says

      It totally depends on their size, obviously, but I think 8 would be a good estimate! Enjoy! xo

      Reply

  7. Becky says

    Delicious homemade sauce. My preference is a little sweeter sauce, so I added a couple of tablespoons of sugar and when it was done, about 1/2 tsp balsamic. A cooking class chef introduced me to adding balsamic to tomato based soups or sauces. Try it before and after you add it and you will be surprised. Just add a drizzle at a time though.

    Reply

    • Mary says

      Hi Becky! Thanks so much for the tip — I'll give it a go! xo

      Reply

  8. susan says

    Instead of canning the pizza sauce, can you put the sauce in a Food Saver sealer bag and freeze it? Will the taste be affected by freezing?

    pizza sauce

    Reply

    • Mary says

      Hi Susan! I think freezing would be just fine! I don't see why it would affect the taste. Let me know how it goes if you try! xo

      Reply

  9. aleven11 says

    each time i used to read smaller posts which as well clear their
    motive, and that is also happening with this piece of writing which
    I am reading here.

    Reply

  10. Debbie says

    I'm wondering if you canned this and how long you processed?

    Reply

    • Mary says

      Hi Debbie! I have not personally canned this, so I can't help you there!! I hope to learn more about canning soon! Good luck 🙂

      Reply

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Homemade Pizza Sauce Recipe (2024)

FAQs

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

Some popular pizza sauce alternatives include the following:
  • Pesto.
  • Ricotta Cheese.
  • Barbecue Sauce.
  • Ranch Dressing.
  • Tapenade.
  • Olive Oil and Garlic.
  • Sweet Chili Sauce.
  • Chimichurri Sauce.

Is pizza made with marinara or tomato sauce? ›

American pizza sauce is usually a tomato-based sauce with a variety of spices added to it, while marinara is a simpler sauce made with tomatoes, garlic, and herbs. This pizza sauce tends to be more flavorful and has a thicker consistency than marinara.

Should you cook homemade pizza sauce? ›

By cooking the sauce prior to baking the pizza, you are exposing that sauce to increased heating time, which will give the sauce even more of a “cooked flavor.” Depending on the type and amount of toppings used in conjunction with the cooked sauce, one may experience a scorched or burnt flavor in the resulting pizza, ...

Is tomato sauce or tomato paste better for pizza sauce? ›

A pizza sauce has a greater thickness to it thanks to the use of undiluted tomato paste. Pizza sauce tends to be somewhat simpler in terms of ingredients. While both feature tomatoes in one form or another, a pizza sauce's add-ins are often limited to things like garlic, oregano, basil, and olive oil.

Can you use regular tomato sauce as 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.

Can we use tomato ketchup instead of pizza sauce? ›

You can, but you'd need to do some stuff to it first… I'd recommend that you finely mince garlic, oregano (or just use Italian spices), and lightly fry them in (as little as possible) olive oil, then when fragrant (but not burnt), add your ketchup.

How do I turn marinara sauce into pizza sauce? ›

By enhancing it with a few extra ingredients, you can customize the flavor to suit your preferences. In a small saucepan, heat the marinara sauce over medium heat. As it warms, add the minced garlic, dried oregano, dried basil, onion powder, and red pepper flakes, if desired.

Does real Italian pizza have tomato sauce? ›

The most popular Italian pizzas only have tomato sauce, mozzarella cheese, basil leaves, and one more topping ingredient. Italians do not like putting too many ingredients in their pizzas.

Can you use spaghetti sauce as pizza sauce? ›

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.

Which cheese is best for pizza? ›

Mozzarella. Perhaps the most well-known and popular pizza topping of all-time, Mozzarella is cherished for its near perfect consistency and straightforward flavour.

Should you add sugar to pizza sauce? ›

Spices: Basil, oregano, onion powder, salt & pepper. Taste and adjust these spices to your liking. Sugar: I know it sounds like a weird addition but granulated sugar is an essential ingredient as it mellows out the acidity of the tomatoes.

Why is my homemade pizza sauce watery? ›

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?!

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

Both cooked and raw tomatoes can be used on pizza, and it ultimately depends on personal preference and the type of pizza being made. Here are some factors to consider: Cooked Tomatoes: Cooking the tomatoes can help concentrate their flavor and create a more uniform texture on the pizza.

Is Ragu tomato sauce good for pizza? ›

5th Place: Ragu Homemade Style Pizza Sauce

The sauce was thin but had a bit of texture, which seemed okay for pizza. The flavor was mild but had a pleasing neutrality so that it didn't overpower the cheese.

Is pizza sauce necessary? ›

Pizza ia a kind of flatbread with some toppings, eaten warm, straight from the oven. It is a crust, not the toppings, that defines a pizza. Beside one do not put any sauce on pizza, but usually only a thin layer of raw tomato passata.

Can you substitute spaghetti sauce with pizza sauce? ›

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.

Does pizza taste good without sauce? ›

While I'll never turn down a classic red sauce pizza moment, I love developing homemade pizza recipes without tomato sauces, because a whole new world of flavor options opens up. There's no bland pizza pies around here— I promise.

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