Pizza Sauce Recipe
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Ditch those store-bought versions, because my homemade Pizza Sauce is about to take your pizza nights to a whole new level. Simple to whip up yet bursting with robust flavors, this sauce is the secret touch your pizzas have been missing!
Easy Pizza Sauce Recipe
There’s something truly satisfying about a Friday night, curling up on the couch with a cheesy slice of delivery pizza in hand. I’ll admit, even I can’t resist the lure of a no-cook night with a hot pizza arriving at my doorstep. But let’s face it, nothing compares to the comfort and joy of crafting your own pizza in the heart of your home kitchen, especially when you have the perfect homemade pizza sauce to drizzle over that dough.
Enter my homemade pizza sauce – the game changer for all your pizza endeavors. It’s rich, it’s tangy, and it’s ridiculously easy to whip up. With the pure flavors of tomato intermingling perfectly with aromatic garlic and onions, a hint of sweetness, and a kick from the Italian seasoning, this sauce is all about balance and depth. And that optional dash of red pepper flakes? It’s for those of you who, like me, appreciate a good heat wave every now and then.
A slathering of this sauce on your homemade pizza dough, and you’ve already won half the pizza battle. From margherita to pepperoni, every pizza you make with this sauce will not just be a pizza; it will be your pizza, made unforgettable with your signature homemade sauce.
Why This Pizza Sauce Recipe Works
- Freshness: There’s nothing quite like the taste of a sauce made from scratch. This pizza sauce is devoid of preservatives and artificial flavors, a freshness you can taste in every bite.
- Balanced Flavors: With this sauce, it’s all about balance. The tanginess of the tomatoes, the sweet undertone from the sugar, the aromatic whiff of the Italian seasoning and garlic, and the heat from red pepper flakes if you choose to include them.
- Easy and Quick: Despite its complex flavors, this sauce is surprisingly quick and easy to make. It doesn’t require exotic ingredients or cooking skills. In less than 20 minutes, you’ve got a pizza sauce ready to rival any pizzeria.
- Olive oil – Sunflower, safflower, avocado, grapeseed, or vegetable oils will work instead. While all these other oils would work, I do love the flavor of a good olive oil in a pizza sauce.
- Onion – Use a cheese grater for your onion. Shallot will also work.
- Garlic – Minced.
- Tomato – I used a can of each tomato paste and tomato sauce.
- Italian seasoning – Feel free to use more or less. If you don’t have it, you can make your own using my recipe here.
- Salt & pepper – Season to taste.
- Sugar – Sugar alternatives, including honey and agave, will work. Make sure you don’t skip this ingredient, its role is to cut the acidity of the tomatoes and creates a more balanced sauce.
- Red pepper flakes – Optional if you’d like some heat in your sauce.
Alright, let’s get our hands saucy! This pizza sauce is incredibly easy to make. Let’s break it down, step by step.
Start by heating the olive oil in a saucepan over medium-high heat. Toss in your grated onion and let it sizzle. Stir it often and keep an eye on it. You’ll want it just starting to brown, which should take around 4-5 minutes. Next up is the garlic. Stir it into the pan and let it cook for about 30 seconds, or until it begins to release that irresistible aroma we all love. But be careful not to let it burn, it happens quickly!
Now, time for the fun part. Stir in the tomato paste and let it cook for about a minute. Then, add your tomato sauce, Italian seasoning, salt, pepper, and sugar. If you like a bit of heat, throw in those red pepper flakes. Stir everything together until it’s well combined.
Finally, let your sauce bubble away. Reduce the heat to low and let it simmer. Stir it occasionally and let the magic happen for about 5-10 minutes. You want the sauce to thicken to your liking. And voila! Your homemade pizza sauce is ready to take center stage on your pizza dough.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I make this pizza sauce ahead of time?
Absolutely! One of the best things about this homemade pizza sauce is how well it keeps. Make a big batch and it’ll save you time on your future pizza nights. Store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a week, or freeze it for up to 3 months.
My sauce is too thick/thin. How can I adjust it?
If your sauce is too thick, add a little water or some extra tomato sauce to thin it out. If it’s too thin, let it simmer for a few more minutes until it reduces to the consistency you prefer.
Can I use fresh tomatoes instead of canned tomato sauce?
Sure! If you prefer using fresh tomatoes, just blanch, peel and puree them to substitute the canned tomato sauce. Remember, the flavor might slightly vary depending on the freshness and type of your tomatoes.
What’s The Difference Between Marinara And Pizza Sauce?
Pizza sauce is generally thicker, has a more concentrated, robust flavor, and is often a bit sweeter. It’s typically cooked down to create a rich, dense texture that won’t make your pizza dough soggy. On the other hand, marinara sauce is usually thinner and has a lighter, more aromatic flavor, with chunkier tomatoes and a focus on the garlic, onions, and herbs. It’s typically used for pasta dishes, but can also be used for pizza if you prefer a lighter sauce.
How To Make Pizza
- Start with my homemade pizza dough recipe. You can also use store-bought pizza dough to save time. Preheat the oven to 550F or the highest setting of your oven.
- Roll the dough out to your desired size and place it on a pan. Spread sauce over the dough, leaving about 1 inch of dough around the edges for the crust.
- Top first with your desired cheese (I like mozzarella), then your toppings.
- Bake the pizza for 8-10 minutes, or until the crust turns golden.
How To Use Up Your Pizza Sauce
I’m sure you’ll be using this sauce to slather all over some fresh homemade pizzas, but what if you end up with leftovers? What if you feel like getting creative with your homemade sauce? Give these recipes a try:
- Pizzadillas
- Pepperoni Pizza Stuffed Mushrooms
- Skillet Pizza Dip
- Pizza Bubble Ring
- Pepperoni Pizza Pasta
You can also use extra pizza sauce as a dip for appetizers like these:
- Cheesy Cauliflower Tots
- Toasted Ravioli
- Pretzel Bites
- Air Fryer Mozzarella Sticks
- Baked Parmesan Zucchini Crisps
Expert Tips
- Customize Your Flavors: Feel free to tweak the seasoning based on your preference. Love a garlicky sauce? Add a bit more. Want a touch of heat? Increase the amount of red pepper flakes.
- Be Patient: Allow the sauce to simmer for the full 5-10 minutes. This time allows the flavors to meld together and the sauce to reach the right consistency. Don’t rush it!
- Make Ahead: This sauce keeps well in the fridge for about a week and in the freezer for up to 3 months. Making it ahead of time not only saves you time on pizza night but also allows the flavors to develop even more.
- Double Up: If you have room in your freezer, consider making a double batch of this sauce. It’s always handy to have delicious homemade pizza sauce ready to go when the pizza craving hits!
Storage
Store your pizza sauce in an airtight container or jar. It’ll last, refrigerated, for 5-7 days. Your sauce will also last 3 months frozen. Make sure it has fully cooled down to room temperature before freezing it. It’ll keep best in a jar.
To thaw from the freezer, pop it into the fridge the night before you need it. Some moisture may separate out, but just stir it back into the sauce. For a fast reheat, microwave it at 20 second intervals, stirring between, until heated through. You can also warm it up saucepan over medium heat.
Other Homemade Sauce Recipes To Try
- Marinara Sauce
- Homemade Mayonnaise
- Thousand Island Dressing
- Easy Homemade Pesto Recipe
- Enchilada Sauce
- Buffalo Sauce Recipe
- Homemade Tzatziki Sauce
Before You Begin! If you make this, please leave a review and rating letting us know how you liked this recipe! This helps our business thrive & continue providing free recipes.
Pizza Sauce Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 small onion (or 3 shallots, grated)
- 3 cloves garlic (minced)
- 6 ounce tomato paste (1 can)
- 15 ounce tomato sauce (1 can)
- 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
- ½ teaspoon salt (or to taste)
- ½ teaspoon pepper (or to taste)
- 1½ teaspoon sugar (granulated, or to taste)
Optional
- 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
Before You Begin! If you make this, please leave a review and rating letting us know how you liked this recipe! This helps our business thrive & continue providing free recipes.
Instructions
- Heat the olive oil in a saucepan over medium-high heat. Add the grated onion and cook, stirring often, until the onion just begins to brown. 4-5 minutes.
- Add the garlic and cook for another 30 seconds or until aromatic. Stir in the tomato paste and let it cook for 1 minute before adding the tomato sauce, Italian seasoning, salt, pepper, sugar, and red pepper flakes (if you're using them). Stir everything well to combine.
- Let the sauce come to a bubble, then reduce the heat to low. Simmer, and stir occasionally, for 5-10 minutes, or until thickened to your preference.
Notes
- This recipe will yield about 2 cups of pizza sauce.
- Nutritional information is per quarter cup.
- Store your pizza sauce in an airtight container or jar. It’ll last, refrigerated, for 5-7 days. Your sauce will also last 3 months frozen. Make sure it has fully cooled down to room temperature before freezing it. It’ll keep best in a jar.
- To thaw from the freezer, pop it into the fridge the night before you need it. Some moisture may separate out, but just stir it back into the sauce. For a fast reheat, microwave it at 20 second intervals, stirring between, until heated through. You can also warm it up saucepan over medium heat.
Nutrition Information
Notice: Nutrition is auto-calculated for your convenience. Where relevant, we recommend using your own nutrition calculations.
