Easy homemade pizza sauce made with 5 ingredients in less than 5 minutes! Way more flavorful, inexpensive and delicious than store-bought sauce!
Table of Contents
Best Red Sauce
We make homemade pizzas almost every week at our house. Although we love to make different variations like BBQ chicken pizza, spinach pesto pizza or this alfredo pizza recipe, a classic red sauce on a homemade pepperoni pizza is definitely the family favorite. So delicious!
Homemade pizza sauce is seriously so easy to make and is done in less than 5 minutes! Although store-bought may seem a little more convenient, trust me when I say you’ll never go back after making this easy recipe. It tastes way more fresh than store-bought and is super inexpensive. Plus it’s made with just 5 simple ingredients.
We love to use it on homemade pizza dough or when making french bread pizzas. It’s truly the perfect addition to any pizza and tastes so fresh and delicious. It’s also super healthy and is gluten-free, paleo, sugar-free and low carb. Yes please!
Difference Between Pizza Sauce and Spaghetti Sauce
The main difference between pizza sauce and spaghetti sauce (also called marinara or pasta sauce) is the cooking method. Pizza sauce is typically uncooked and is made with either fresh or canned tomato and spices. Because it isn’t cooked prior to going in the oven, it results in a more fresh and strong tomato flavor.
On the other hand, spaghetti sauce is slowly simmered like homemade bolognese to create a more rich and deep flavor. It usually contains a few more spices and may also have a little more texture since many spaghetti sauces aren’t puréed. I also like to add ground beef to my spaghetti sauce to make it more hearty.
5 Simple Ingredients
- Tomato sauce: This is the base of the sauce.
- Basil: You can use dried basil or fresh from the garden.
- Oregano: An Italian herb that packs a punch of flavor.
- Garlic: Fresh minced garlic or garlic powder both work.
- Salt and pepper: Add as much or as little, to taste.
How to Make Pizza Sauce
This recipe couldn’t be any easier! Seriously, no cooking required and it comes together in one bowl.
- WHISK. In a small bowl, whisk together all ingredients. Salt and pepper to taste.
- TASTE. If desired, add more seasonings like red pepper flakes or sugar to taste.
- SPREAD. Spread on pizza dough and add desired toppings. Bake pizza according to directions.
Tips + Variations
- Amount. This recipe makes enough for two 12-inch pizzas. You can half or even double the recipe depending on how many pizzas you are making.
- Fresh herbs. Use fresh basil, oregano and minced garlic for a bolder Italian flavor.
- Spice. Add in a few red pepper flakes for a touch of heat.
- Sweeten. You can sprinkle in some sugar for a sweeter taste if preferred.
- To thicken: If you like it on the thicker side, try adding about 2 to 4 Tablespoons of tomato paste. I’d add 1 Tablespoon at a time until desired consistency is met. The tomato paste will add a bolder tomato flavor, but it still tastes just as delicious!
Storing + Freezing
Pizza sauce will keep for about 3 to 5 days in the fridge in an airtight container. I like to store any leftover sauce in a glass mason jar. It also freezes well, too. Simply place in a zip top bag and freeze up to 4 months. Allow to thaw in the refrigerator or place in warm water to thaw.
Other Ways to Use Pizza Sauce
If you have leftover sauce, there are plenty of other ways to use it up! Check out some of our favorites below.
- Stromboli
- Pizza chicken roll ups
- French bread pizzas
- Pizza pinwheels
- For dipping with breadsticks or garlic cheese rolls
- Pizza dip
- Sheet pan pizza
More Homemade Italian Sauces
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Homemade Pizza Sauce
Ingredients
- 8 ounce can tomato sauce
- 1 Tablespoon chopped fresh basil , or 1/2 teaspoon dried basil
- 1 teaspoon ground oregano
- 2 cloves minced garlic , or 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
S&P, to taste
Instructions
- Whisk together the ingredients in a small bowl. Add salt and pepper to taste. I like to start with about 1/4 teaspoon salt and 1/8 teaspoon pepper.
- Add more seasonings to taste. If you like a little heat, add some crushed red pepper flakes. If you like a sweeter sauce, add 1-2 teaspoons sugar.
- Spread out on pizza dough and add desired toppings. Bake according to dough directions.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition provided is an estimate. It will vary based on specific ingredients used.
Did you make this recipe? Don’t forget to give it a star rating below!
Categorized as: Condiments, Dairy-Free, Freezer-Friendly, Gluten-Free, Italian, Sauces, Vegan, Vegetarian, Whole 30
This pizza sauce is fabulous! I like a sweeter sauce because I’m not a red sauce person. I’ve not purchased store bought sauce since I found this recipe a year or so ago. Never will again! My entire family loves it!
When the lockdowns first started, the run on anything canned or jarred cleared out our local grocery. Craving homemade pizza, I found this recipe and used what we already had in the house. Will never used premade pizza sauce again. I add a little cayenne for some heat to the sauce, and am going to try adding parmesan after reading these comments. Excited to try this for the weekend!
This makes me so happy to hear, Mike! Cayenne and parmesan sound like delicious additions. Enjoy!
Yes I did. Love it. My husband & daughter really loves it too
I’m so happy to hear that, Linda! :)
This is a good recipe base. I worked in a pizzeria for years and made their pizza sauce. It is still my favorite sauce I have ever tasted and this one calls for the basics.
A good amount of grated Parmesan cheese will also flavor sauce beautifully.
Thanks so much for the comment, Renee! I like your idea about adding parmesan cheese…I’ll have to try that!
Soooo quick and easy – perfect for an impromptu pizza night! Thanks!
I love that despite how simple this recipe is, it delivers such a rich savory sauce. I don’t think I’ll be buying pizza sauce anymore!
I have not made this pizza sauce yet, but would like to know, if you will answer a couple of questions for me. I want to can a lot of my things for Wintertime. Your sauce looks wonderful. But, during the canning process, the ingredients would more or less get cooked. I want to be able to can up a sauce that can readily fit into the quilted jelly jars. I am a widow, with nobody else living here. Any ways you can adapt your recipe so it can be canned, or should I just go ahead and do it?
Hi Beverly! I have frozen this sauce with success but I have never canned it so I’m not sure. Definitely let us know how it goes if you give it a try. :)
Love how simple this is to make from scratch. Next pizza night I will be making this instead of going to the store.
You won’t go back to store bought! Homemade is so delicious!
Simple and delicious! I’ll never buy pizza sauce again!
I’m so glad you enjoyed it! Homemade pizza sauce is the best!
nothing like homemade pizza!
This sauce was so quick and easy to make, I’m never going to use the store bought version again!
I’m so glad you enjoyed it!
We do pizza night every Friday night. The kids get involved with helping out and we all just have a good time. Can’t wait to try our sauce this week, thanks.
Hope you enjoy! Homemade pizza is the best!
This is the BEST pizza sauce EVER!!! So easy to make!!!
I’m so glad you enjoyed it! :)
We’re making pizza Friday night and I wanted to make my own sauce. I can’t believe how easy it is! I can’t wait to try this!
Hope you enjoy! Pizza night is my favorite!