An incredibly simple, no-cook, homemade pizza sauce recipe! It literally takes less than five minutes to make this easy, flavorful sauce for your homemade pizza!
A Simple, Flavorful Sauce (In 5 Minutes!)
Today’s recipe is all about keeping things simple.
Five minutes needed, simple ingredients with only the bare minimum prep-work required, no chopping or dicing or simmering or cooking… literally all I’m asking you to do is toss some ingredients together and hit a button (or flip a switch). I’m sharing a robustly flavored, easy homemade pizza sauce recipe and I think you’ll really like this one.
On my pizza dough recipe (have you made that yet?? If not, you need to!) I get a lot of requests for a homemade pizza sauce, so I thought it was about time that I share one.
What You Need:
Please note, this is just an overview of the ingredients used and why. For the full recipe/amounts of ingredients, please scroll down to the recipe card.
- Canned, diced tomatoes. Yes, canned! And yes, I’m a bit defensive about this. A bit more on that below.
- Tomato paste. This thickens the sauce and is responsible for much of the tomato flavor.
- Olive oil. This gives the sauce the proper mellow mouthfeel and adds flavor. Use extra virgin olive oil.
- Basil. I use dried basil. While fresh herbs could be use instead, remember, this is meant to be a quick & easy pizza sauce recipe!
- Garlic. I do use fresh here. Easy enough, just toss in a whole clove. If you’re using pre-minced garlic, I recommend a heaping teaspoon.
- Dried oregano. I know I’ve rallied against oregano in the past, but I can’t deny that it’s essential for a classic, robust-tasting pizza sauce.
- Sugar. A pinch deepens the flavor of the sauce and cuts the acidity from the tomatoes without making the sauce sweet.
- Sea salt. Finely ground, or you can substitute a bit less table salt.
- Ground black pepper. Again I recommend grinding your own for best flavor.
- Crushed red pepper. This is completely optional but I like the slight heat it adds.
You’ll also need a food processor or a blender to combine everything. I’ve linked to the one that I own and love in the recipe. I got it as a wedding gift and use it for everything (like my scones!).
Canned Tomatoes
Now, about those tomatoes… If I seem a little salty or defensive in the video (below, in the recipe card) about the fact that I’m using canned tomatoes, I am 😂
However, I use them for the same reasons that I use canned tomatoes in my marinara sauce (and prefer to use them in my salsa recipe). Not only is it easier, but the taste of canned tomatoes is actually typically better and less watery than fresh tomatoes.
Look, if there’s anyone who’s going to tell you to go the extra mile or put in the extra effort when making something at home, it’s going to be me. You’re going to have to just trust me when I tell you that canned tomatoes are just fine here. And let me remind you, this is specifically meant to be a fast, easy, no-cook pizza sauce. We’re not sacrificing flavor, we’re just saving time.
Note: you can substitute whole canned tomatoes for the diced that I use.
A Few Quick Tips…
- Don’t try substituting the canned tomatoes for fresh. You’ll lose a lot of flavor and the sauce will be quite watery. I know we just talked about this above, but it’s worth reiterating here.
- Classic diced tomatoes are great, but try using fire roasted for even more flavor!
- Always do a quick taste test before using your sauce. Different brands of tomatoes may contain different ingredients, you may find you need to add a pinch more salt, or a bit more sugar if the acidic taste is particularly strong.
- Pizza sauce is meant to be a bit thick, but if the sauce is too thick for your liking add a drizzle more olive oil.
How to Use:
Use your pizza sauce right away or store in your fridge until ready to use. I like to use mine for dipping my garlic knots or over my popular pizza dough, simply spread it evenly over the rolled out dough, cover with cheese (and whatever other toppings you like) and then bake until the cheese is melty.
I find that I typically use about ½ cup of sauce for a 10-12″ pizza. This recipe makes about two cups, and you can save any extra in the fridge or freezer.
Storing
Store leftover sauce in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a week. Homemade pizza sauce may also be frozen (in an airtight container, of course), for up to three months. To thaw, I recommend just moving the container to the refrigerator the day before you intend to use it and allowing it to thaw overnight. Stir before using.
More Recipes You Might Like:
Enjoy!
Homemade Pizza Sauce (Easy, No-Cook!)
Ingredients
- 14.5 oz (411 g) canned diced tomatoes or fire roasted tomatoes undrained
- 6 oz (170 g) canned tomato paste
- 1 Tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- 2 teaspoons granulated sugar
- 2 teaspoons dried basil
- 1 clove garlic
- 1 teaspoon finely ground sea salt
- ¾ teaspoon dried oregano
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper freshly ground
- ¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes optional
Recommended Equipment
Instructions
- Combine all ingredients in food processor or blender.14.5 oz (411 g) canned diced tomatoes or fire roasted tomatoes, 6 oz (170 g) canned tomato paste, 1 Tablespoon extra virgin olive oil, 2 teaspoons granulated sugar, 2 teaspoons dried basil, 1 clove garlic, 1 teaspoon finely ground sea salt, ¾ teaspoon dried oregano, ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper, ¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
- Pulse 15 times or until mixture is smooth.
- Use immediately or store in an airtight container to use later.
Notes
Storing
Store leftover sauce in an airtight container. Will keep in the refrigerator for up to a week or the freezer for up to 3 months.Nutrition
Nutritional information is based on third-party calculations and should be considered an estimate only. Actual nutritional content will vary based upon brands used, measuring methods, cooking method, portion sizes, and more.
Faith Juma-Tembo
The best pizza sauce i have ever tried to make, i love that it stores well in the fridge too
Ashley
Hello! I realized I don’t ha e tomato paste, only tomato sauce….will that still work or will it end up too watery? Thank you!
Sam
Hi Ashley! You could get away with leaving it out, but the sauce will definitely be thinner and the flavor won’t be quite as robust.
Abagail Ennist
Simple and delicious! We’ll definitely be making again!
Sam
I’m so glad you enjoyed it so much, Abagail! 🙂
Dee Gangabissoon
For any Canadians wanting to make this recipe, I used 1 can 28oz Unico diced tomatoes with herb and spices, plus 2 – 5.5 oz Unico tomato paste. I doubled all the other ingredients Sam has suggested. After my taste test… I must say… It turned out perfect …. it’s so delicious. I am never looking back. This will definitely be my staple pizza sauce. Thank you Sam. I am about to try and make your pizza dough now😁.
Howard Bernstein
I don’t know why anyone would criticize the use of canned tomatoes. Tomato season is short. Outof season tomatoes, about ¾ of the year, have almost no taste. Canned tomatoes are harvested and processed at the peak of the tomatoes season and are delicious. I would recommend tasting several brands to pick one you like the most. I prefer certified San Marzano tomatoes imported from a Italy.
Sam
Yes! Thank you! 🙂
Jen
This is SO EASY to make and all the ingredients are standard pantry things! I put it in my Vitamix for an ultra-smooth sauce and it was a huge hit! The flavor is awesome with the fire-roasted tomatoes. There was enough to even freeze some so I’m ready to go next time I have a hankering for homemade pizza…with Sam’s dough OBVIOUSLY.
Sam
I’m so glad you enjoyed it, Jen! 🙂
Kenina
I usually hate pizza sauce and prefer it very light on my pizzas but from now on I will be SMOTHERING my pizzas in this sauce! It is better than any sauce I’ve had at a restaurant. Thank you so much 😄
Sam
I am so glad you enjoyed it so much! 🙂
Chelsie
First time making pizza sauce and this is so fresh tasting and delicious! This is the only sauce I will ever use, it’s a keeper for sure! This is the 4th recipe I’ve tried of yours and they are all fantastic!
Sam
I’m so glad you enjoyed the sauce, Chelsie! I hope you love everything you try. 🙂
Steve Z-A
I have made my own crust for years, but for some reason have used bought sauce. This is such an easy and good recipe for sauce that I will only do homemade from now own. (This is also good because we have an onion and garlic sensitivity in our household, so I can choose to leave those ingredients out, which I can’t do with a bought sauce) Thanks!
Sam
I’m so glad you enjoyed it so much! Homemade is always better if you ask me. 🙂
Mary Ealy
I am making your pizza crust for dinner tonight. I would like to make your sauce but don’t have diced tomatoes can I use whole canned tomatoes instead of diced?
Sam
Hi Mary! That should work fine. 🙂
emme
If you drain the tomatoes and then blenderize them with the other ingredients the sauce will be thicker and you don’t need tomato paste.
Sam
Hi Emme! Just reducing the liquid by draining the tomatoes wouldn’t give the sauce quite the same consistency and the paste isn’t solely a thickener, it also adds a more robust flavor that wouldn’t be the same if you were to just drain the tomatoes. I talk about this a bit in the post 🙂
Ginnie
I am excited about this recipe. I have never made pizza sauce before. This is easy enough to do and feel it will turn out well. I am caring for two teenagers who wanted home-made pizza. Their mother has made pizza before this is my first time. I appreciate the tips and hints. I like your spunk too regarding using canned tomatoes.
Sam
I am so glad everyone enjoyed it so much, Ginnie! Sounds like you have your hands full at home. 🙂
Mary Denise Grunza
I didn’t try it yet but I bet chopped onoin would be good in the pizza sauce!!
Sam
Sounds delicious! 🙂
Raymond
I like fresh herbs to be used
Gabriel Martin
Hello Sam, this is a great and simple recipe! I did make one alteration that you might like to try…
I used Perfect Pinch Italian Seasoning (McCormick) instead of the basil and oregano.
Thanks!!
Gabriel
Sam
I am so glad you enjoyed it so much, Gabriel! I will have to check that seasoning out. Thanks for the tip. 🙂
Randy McQuay
I look forward to trying this recipe, but am very surprised you did not include fennel seeds. Why were fennel seeds not included? If finely ground/chopped they need not be pre-cooked.
Sam
Hi Randy! I’m not particularly fond of fennel seeds and didn’t prefer the pizza sauce to use them. If you like them you can certainly add them, though! 🙂
Lynn Davis
I use Italian sausage that has fennel so the composition includes fennel but it is compartmentalized rather than throughout.