Pizza Sauce Recipe: Easy, Rich, & Tasty!

Make any pizza flavor taste incredible with an easy, rich, and tasty Pizza Sauce you can make right at home!

Instead of buying pizza sauce, why not make a version of your own? You will surely taste how fresh, savory, and sweet it is, especially once you cook it into the pizza. Without much effort, you can make it by yourself.

When you can’t find pizza sauce that suits your taste, maybe it’s time to try one that you can make from scratch. You might be surprised to know that making your own sauce at home is actually easier than it seems!

pizza sauce recipe

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In this guide, you will learn all the best ingredients to make the perfect pizza sauce. It’s a hack that I’ve been using for a while and my family always loves it when I use it for their favorite pizza recipes. Wait until you experience it yourself!

How to Make Pizza Sauce

I’ve tried many pizza sauce recipes, but this is one of the easiest ways to do it. With tomatoes, onions, olive oil, and spices, you can get good-quality sauce at home. Whip out your blender and your pan because you’ll need them for this recipe.

Nothing says “pizzazz” like pizza sauce!

Ingredients

You will only need four simple ingredients to make Pizza Sauce:

Tomatoes

Pizza sauce won’t be the same without fresh tomatoes.

Most pizza sauces have fresh tomatoes as their base because of their color and flavor. Their sweet and tangy flavors make them perfect for sauce recipes. Tomatoes also have a rich red color to make the dish appealing.

Moreover, tomatoes are juicy and pulpy, making them easy to blend and mash. Once seasoned and cooked, the tomatoes will have an even better flavor. Tasting it in the pizza will surely keep you on the edge of your seat.

Trust the excellent quality you can get from tomatoes because I also use them for Jollof Rice, Spaghetti, and Fried Eggs, and they gave me the best results!

Red onions

Why are red onions the best onions to use for pizza sauce?

Red onions have a spicy and mild flavor that will have an even richer taste when you cook the sauce. They can also add a fragrant aroma to the sauce to make the sauce more inviting.

You can also use these onions for salads and sandwiches for a crisp and juicy quality. Aside from adding it to the sauce, you can also use red onions for the toppings. I used it in the Chicken Pizza recipe, and it was absolutely delicious!

pizza sauce ingredient
Seasoning

One of the most important secrets to the bet pizza sauce is the seasoning.

Whenever you make pizza sauce, don’t forget to season it with herbs and spices. In this recipe, I suggest adding sea salt, smoked paprika, oregano, basil, sugar, and ground pepper for a good balance of salty and savory flavors.

These seasonings will surely take the level of the sauce to the next level. You can also try other herbs and spices, depending on what you want to taste in your own sauce!

Olive oil

Adding olive oil to the sauce will give it a fresh and fruity flavor. It even helps improve the consistency of the sauce without making it too thick or watery. If you can use it for your pizza dough, then you can certainly use it for your sauce too.

Who knew that you had all the necessary ingredients in your pantry? Let’s add some pizzazz to your Pizza Sauce! 

Directions

These are the steps you need to do to make Pizza Sauce:

  1. Rinse the tomatoes.
  2. Slice the tomatoes and onions with a knife.
  3. Use a blender to puree them until smooth.
  4. Heat olive oil in a frying pan.
  5. Sautee the garlic, red onion, and seasonings over medium heat.
  6. Allow it to cook for a minute. 
  7. Then, pour in the tomato mixture and cook for five minutes.
  8. Use a splash guard to cover the pan.
  9. Add the fresh basil.
  10. Cook for 20 minutes or until the sauce thickens.
  11. Once cooked, let it cool and use or store it!
Italian pizza margherita

Taste the it and imagine tasting this delicious pizza sauce. Assemble the pizza with your preferred toppings, pop it in the oven, and have a true Italian experience!

Tips

Tomatoes

Buying tomatoes
  • The Daily Meal suggests buying tomatoes that feel slightly firm.
  • The color of the skin should be a shade of deep and bright red.
  • It should have an earthy and sweet fragrance near the steam.
Storing tomatoes
  • Keep the tomatoes in a lined container to last for a few days.
  • You can also store the tomatoes in the fridge for two weeks.
  • Tomatoes can also be frozen to last longer.
  • Once sliced, store them in a container in the fridge for up to two months.
homemade Italian pizza

Pizza Sauce Variations

The best thing about making your own pizza sauce is that you can give it almost any flavor as you want.

Don’t be afraid to sprinkle some chili flakes on the pizza sauce when adding spice. It’s part of the fun! You can even season it with Italian seasoning, garlic powder, onion powder, bay leaf, and more.

For cheesy goodness infused in the sauce, you can cook it with grated Parmesan for a creamier texture and tastier flavor. You can also make the sauce thicker by adding tomato paste.

Quick Tip!

If you don’t have fresh tomatoes, then you can still make use of canned tomato sauce and adjust the seasoning to your liking. For more flavor, you can make it more Italian by adding thyme, rosemary, or fennel. 

classic homemade pizza sauce

No-Blender Pizza Sauce

Instead of using fresh tomatoes and blending, you can use tomato paste or tomato sauce and mix them together. Alternatively, cook the ingredients and puree them with a masher.

  • Frying pan: Cook the pizza sauce in a frying pan.
  • Blender: Process the ingredients in a blender.
  • Splatter Guard: Use this tool to keep your cooking area clean. 
  • Spatula: Mix the ingredients using a spatula.
  • Knife: Chop the ingredients with a knife.

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How to Use Pizza Sauce

In just 30 minutes, your pizza sauce is ready to use!

Generously and evenly spread the it on the Pizza Dough before putting in your preferred toppings. Then, put them in the oven to cook. It’s easy to serve and use it, so the secret lies in how you season and cook it. 

Pizza sauce or No-Cook Pizza Sauce can serve as dips for finger food such as rolls, calzone, and garlic bread. It can also be added to waffles, noodle bakes, sandwiches, patties, casseroles, eggs, pasta, and more! 

It’s ironic to think that pizza sauce isn’t just for pizza, but it’s one of its qualities that makes it versatile, cost-efficient, and useful. I especially love it for Pizza Margherita and Chicken Pizza!

What to use Pizza Sauce for

pizza sauce ingredient

Storage Tips

  • At room temperature: Don’t let the pizza sauce stay at room temperature for two hours.

MAKE AHEAD

In the fridge: Put the sauce in a jar or container and place it in a fridge to last up to seven days.

To freeze: Pour the sauce into a container or jar, and put it in the fridge.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the typical pizza sauce?

The classic and typical pizza sauce is actually just some tomato sauce or tomato puree. It’s a good base for the pizza because of how colorful, tangy, and sweet it is. Nowadays, you can add in seasonings and even onions to make it better.

What is another name for pizza sauce?

Sometimes, pizza sauce is called marinara. However, they are not actually the same because they differ in texture, flavor, ingredients, flavor, and preparation. Hence, it can be called tomato sauce or tomato puree instead.

Can you use ketchup as pizza sauce?

Yes, you can use ketchup as an alternative to pizza sauce, especially if the ketchup is tomato-based. However, remember that ketchup will not have the same flavor as the sauce because ketchup is sweeter than the sauce.

Which sauce is best for pizza?

Tomato sauce is the most commonly and best used in pizzas. It has a gorgeous red color, sweet and tangy flavor, and an incredible aroma that goes with any pizza flavor.

The base for sauce is tomatoes or tomato puree. It is responsible for the color and overall flavor of the condiment. The juicy quality of the tomatoes also makes a good layer of moisture in the dish.

rich pizza sauce

This post may contain general information and does not constitute professional medical advice. Always seek information or advice from a qualified medical professional. Please read the full disclaimer for details.

homemade pizza sauce

Pizza Sauce

5 from 1 vote
This classic pizza sauce recipe never gets out of style because it’s simply flavorful, appetizing, and palatable.
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings 3 (12” pizza)
Course Made from scratch, Sauce
Cuisine Italian
Calories 148kcal

Ingredients
  

For the tomato sauce

  • 5 vine tomatoes (small-sized)
  • ½ red onion (small-sized)

For the pizza sauce

  • tomato sauce
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 2 garlic cloves
  • ½ red onion (small-sized)
  • 1 tsp pepper (crushed)
  • ½ tsp sea salt
  • 1 tsp smoked paprika
  • 1 tsp oregano
  • 1 tsp sugar
  • 1 tbsp fresh basil (finely chopped)

Instructions
 

  • Rinse the tomatoes.
  • Slice the tomatoes and onions with a knife.
  • Use a blender to puree them until smooth.
  • Heat olive oil in a frying pan.
  • Sautee the garlic, red onion, and seasonings over medium heat.
  • Allow it to cook for a minute. 
  • Then, pour in the tomato mixture and cook for five minutes.
  • Use a splash guard to cover the pan.
  • Add the fresh basil.
  • Cook for 20 minutes or until the sauce thickens.
  • Once cooked, let it cool and use or store it!

Video

Notes

  • Use quality tomatoes for delicious, fresh, and nutritious pizza sauce.
  • Cook the sauce to enhance all of the flavors.
  • You can never go wrong by pairing it with Homemade Pizza Dough or a full-blown Homemade Pizza for all occasions! 
  • If you want to make a smoother pizza sauce, let it cool and blend it into a smooth paste.
  • While tomatoes are not common allergens, there may still be reactions to a tomato-based pizza sauce. You can use alternative pizza sauces, including barbecue sauce, pesto, or Italian dressing.

Nutrition

Serving: 1 (of 3)Calories: 148kcalCarbohydrates: 15gProtein: 3gFat: 10gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 7gSodium: 401mgPotassium: 582mgFiber: 4gSugar: 8gVitamin A: 2087IUVitamin C: 32mgCalcium: 49mgIron: 1mg
Keyword authentic pizza sauce, fresh pizza sauce, healthy pizza sauce, homemade pizza sauce, italian pizza sauce, perfect pizza sauce

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