Spread it over homemade pizza dough for the ultimate pizza or use it as a dip for breadsticks!
Homemade Pizza Sauce Recipe
A DIY recipe that’s perfect for busy days! This quick and easy pizza sauce from scratch is made of basic ingredients, most all of which you likely already have on hand. And no waiting hours for a sauce to simmer here. Instead we add tomato paste to thicken it up. The best kind of recipe right? I’m all about simplifying things when possible for easy weeknight dinners. This sauce is naturally vegan, has has intense tomato flavor, it’s deliciously seasoned with fresh garlic, and it has the best Italian herb taste. It also has a great consistency because to me that is key to a perfect pizza sauce. I want the sauce to still exist once the pizza is done baking rather than all of it being absorbed into the crust. What’s not to love here? It’s a delicious recipe you’ll have on repeat!
Pizza Sauce Recipe Ingredients
Only SIX ingredients to make this (plus salt and pepper)! They are:
Extra virgin olive oil: This type of olive oil has the most flavor but if standard olive oil is what you’ve got that will work too. Garlic: The fresh garlic used here adds so much flavor to the sauce. If you want a more mild garlic flavor you can reduce to 1 tsp. Tomato paste: A crucial ingredient. This adds a rich, concentrated tomato flavor and really thickens up the sauce. Canned crushed tomatoes: I highly recommend this option vs. tomato sauce. I’ve done a side by side taste test and crushed tomatoes definitely won. Dried oregano: A key seasoning in pizza sauce, don’t skip this herb. Fresh basil: Another highlight to this sauce. It really livens up the flavors. Salt and pepper: As always add this to taste, just be careful not to overdue it. Remember there’s salt in the dough and toppings as well.
How to Make Pizza Sauce
Only THREE straighforward steps to prepare it:
How long does pizza sauce last in the fridge?
Pizza sauce should last about 5 days in an airtight container in the fridge.
Can I use tomato sauce?
While it is possible to use tomato sauce the flavor isn’t as good as crushed tomatoes. So I do recommend sticking with the canned crushed tomatoes. If you can’t find the standard size (15 oz) can of crushed tomatoes you can just measure out 1 3/4 cups from a larger (28 oz) can the reserve the rest for another recipe in the fridge or freezer (or make a double batch of this pizza sauce, making enough for 4 pizzas).
Variations
If you don’t have access to fresh basil then yes you can use dried it just won’t taste quite as fresh. Use 1 1/2 tsp dried basil. On the other hand you want to use all fresh herbs then that’s another option too, and it tastes delicious. Use 1 1/2 Tbsp fresh oregano. Try it with fresh tomatoes. To do so, peel then seed and crush fresh Roma or San Marzano tomatoes in a food processor (measure out proper amount needed). Substitute with whole canned Roma or San Marzano tomatoes if that’s what you have, crush in a food processor. Add other Italian style seasonings. Herbs like thyme, marjoram, fennel or rosemary. Stir some finely shredded or grated Parmesan or Romano cheese cheese right into the sauce for another boost of flavor. Try the sauce with red pepper flakes to taste for a nice little kick of heat. For an even thicker sauce use a little more tomato paste, if you want it thinner then reduce the tomato paste amount used.
How to Freeze Pizza Sauce
Can You Use Pasta Sauce for Pizza?
No, I don’t recommend it. Though marinara sauce and pizza sauce are both tomato based the two sauces actually have a few main differences:
One of the main differences is the consistency of the sauces. Marinara sauce or spaghetti sauce is thinner while pizza sauce is generally thicker (which makes for a non-soggy crust). Pizza sauce usually includes an oregano based flavor whereas spaghetti sauce has more of a basil seasoned flavor.
Looking for a White Pizza Sauce Recipe?
Try the white Alfredo style sauce I use on this pizza.
Tips for the Best Pizza Sauce
Don’t skip the brief saute for the garlic. This removes the harsh bite, which would otherwise overpower the sauce. On the other hand don’t brown it or it will taste bitter! Also saute the tomato paste to help rid it of that tin-like flavor. This also helps add a deeper tone to it, somewhat of a caramelization. Use fresh basil and fresh garlic for best flavor.
More Favorite Sauce Recipes to Try
Alfredo Sauce Marinara Sauce Pesto Spaghetti Sauce Vodka Sauce
