This post may contain affiliate links. Please see our disclosure policy.
You won't believe how easy it is to make pizza sauce at home! Ready in minutes, using just a handful of pantry ingredients, this pizza sauce recipe is thick, flavorful, and so much better than anything store-bought.
We love pizza in all-shapes and form at our house. And while we certainly enjoy unique spins on pizza like Buffalo Chicken Pizza and Taco Pizza, there is nothing like a classic pizza made with soft, chewy pizza crust, classic pizza sauce, and tons of mozzarella cheese.
Whether you are craving a slice of that said classic pizza, making pizza pasta, or need a flavorful dipping sauce for pizza bread or Italian meatballs, you need a good pizza sauce. And this recipe yields a flavorful, thick pizza sauce that is better than anything you can get at the store. And it is so easy to make!
Ingredients for Pizza Sauce
- Crushed Tomatoes: I recommend using crushed tomatoes or tomato puree as both are thicker and have a more robust flavor than tomato sauce. However, feel free to use tomato sauce if that is all you have on hand.
- Tomato Paste: Tomato paste adds a rich, deep tomato flavor, as well as helps to thicken the pizza sauce.
- Olive Oil: Use extra virgin olive oil for the best flavor.
- Garlic: Adding whole garlic cloves that are lightly crushed will infuse the sauce with garlic without overwhelming the pizza sauce.
- Sugar: Adding a bit of sugar will help to balance out the acidity of the tomatoes in the pizza sauce. Feel free to use honey in place of the granulated sugar.
- Italian Seasoning: Italian seasoning is a mix of oregano, parsley, thyme, basil, and red pepper flakes. It adds just the right flavor to homemade pizza sauce.
- Salt: I recommend using kosher salt. If you don't have kosher salt on hand, use half the amount of iodized salt.
Ingredient Modifications
- Sweeten the Sauce: If you like your pizza sauce on the sweeter side, feel free to double the added sugar. Alternatively, decrease the sugar if desired.
- No garlic cloves? In place of the garlic cloves, add 1 teaspoon of garlic powder.
- Spice it Up: If you like a bit of kick, add up to ½ teaspoon of crushed red pepper flakes to your homemade pizza sauce.
- No Italian Seasoning? In place of Italian seasoning, use ½ teaspoon each of dried oregano, dried basil, dried parsley, and dried oregano.
- Low-Sodium Pizza Sauce: If you need your pizza sauce to be lower in sodium, use no-salt-added crushed tomatoes and decrease or omit the added kosher salt.
- Using Whole Canned Tomatoes or Diced Tomatoes: If you only have diced or whole tomatoes on hand, simply blend them up in a blender before proceeding with the recipe.
∗ Tips for the Best Homemade Pizza Sauce ∗
The following tips are provided to help you achieve perfect results. You will find the ingredient quantities and detailed instructions in the recipe card at the bottom of this post.
- Crush the garlic. Crushing the garlic will help to release the flavor of the natural oils in the garlic, yet is milder than adding chopped or minced garlic. To crush the garlic, lay the flat side of a large knife over the garlic. Hold the knife with one hand carefully, and use the other hand to carefully whack the knife against the garlic. Remove the peel and discard.
- Simmer the sauce. While there are recipes for no-cook pizza sauce, taking the time to simmer the pizza sauce over low heat will help to thicken the sauce and deepen the flavor, achieving a pizza sauce worthy of a pizzeria.
Yield
This easy pizza sauce recipe yields about 2 cups, which is enough sauce to generously cover 3-4 large pizzas. Feel free to double the recipe to make a large batch of pizza sauce or cut the recipe in half, keeping in mind that homemade pizza sauce stores well.
Storage Instructions
- Refrigerate: Allow the pizza sauce to cool slightly and then transfer it to an airtight jar or container and store it in the refrigerator for up to 7 days.
- Freeze: Allow the pizza sauce to cool completely and then transfer the pizza sauce to freezer-safe containers or bags. Store it in the freezer for up to 3 months, defrosting overnight in the refrigerator before using.
Serving Suggestions
This easy pizza sauce is the perfect topping to homemade pizza dough, covering with cheese and making a delicious homemade pizza. However, there are many more ways to enjoy homemade pizza sauce.
- Quick and Easy Pizza Recipes: I keep a batch of this homemade pizza sauce on home to quickly whip up English Muffin Pizza, Air Fryer Bagel Pizzas, French Bread Pizzas, and Pita Pizzas.
- Pizza Meatloaf: Make the most outrageously delicious cheese-stuffed meatloaf using pizza sauce in and on top of the meatloaf.
- Make a Unique Grilled Cheese: Use pizza sauce to make a kid's favorite--Pizza Grilled Cheese.
- As a Dipping Sauce: This Homemade Pizza Sauce makes the perfect dipping sauce for Italian Baked Meatballs, Pull-Apart Pizza Bread, or Pizza Rolls.
Did you make this recipe?
If you enjoyed this recipe, please leave a comment with a 5-star review at the bottom of the post. Thank you!
The Best Homemade Pizza Sauce
Ingredients
- 15 ounces crushed tomatoes
- 6 ounces tomato paste
- 2 cloves garlic cloves, crushed
- ½ tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
- 2 teaspoons granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
Instructions
- In a small saucepan combine 15 ounces crushed tomatoes, 6 ounces tomato paste, 2 cloves garlic cloves (crushed), ½ tablespoon extra virgin olive oil, 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning, 2 teaspoons granulated sugar, and 1 teaspoon kosher salt.
- Bring to a simmer over medium heat. Once gently simmering, turn the heat to low and simmer, until thickened, about 10-15 minutes, stirring often. Remove the pizza sauce from the heat, and remove and discard the crushed garlic.
- Serve warm as a dipping sauce or use as a base for pizza.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Difficult to copy and save recipe; need a print option.
Hi Nick! There is a print button available on every recipe in the recipe card.
Tasty and easy to make. Will make this time and time again. Thanks Kristen!
Love hearing this, Helen! Thanks for taking the time to leave a review.
This homemade pizza sauce is awesome and works well as a marinara for pasta too!!
I made this pizza sauce last night and it turned out perfect! Love that this can be made ahead too and refrigerate for later. No more storebought pizza for us, this homemade version is so much better.
I love hearing that! Thanks for sharing Natasha!