Our Easy Pizza Sauce Recipe is versatile and forgiving — you can cook it briefly for a richer flavor or use it uncooked for a bright, fresh tomato taste. It’s perfect for homemade pizza, calzones, or as a dipping sauce for breadsticks and fried appetizers.
Easy Pizza Sauce Recipe
I love homemade pizza — it’s comfort food for me and something my family enjoys often. While takeout shows up sometimes, making pizza at home is easy when you plan ahead. This sauce comes together quickly while the dough is rising and uses pantry staples you probably already have.
Homemade Pizza Sauce Shopping List
This sauce relies on a short list of ingredients, most of which are common in a well-stocked kitchen. Here’s what you’ll need:
- Olive oil
- Fresh garlic (minced)
- 28-ounce can San Marzano tomatoes (or other high-quality canned tomatoes)
- Garlic powder
- Onion powder
- Salt
- Black pepper
- Dried basil
- Dried oregano
- Crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
- Dried parsley
- Sugar (a little, to balance acidity)
If you want to simplify further, a quality pizza seasoning blend can substitute for several dried herbs and spices at once.
PIZZA
A great seasoning blend makes this recipe even faster — use it in the sauce, on top of the pizza, or in salad dressings and pasta salads.
How To Make Incredible Pizza Sauce At Home
Here’s a concise overview of how to make this sauce. Full ingredient amounts and step-by-step instructions are provided in the recipe card below.
- Puree
Place the canned tomatoes in a blender or food processor and blend until smooth. - Sauté
Warm olive oil in a saucepan over medium-low heat and sauté minced garlic for about 30 seconds until fragrant. - Combine & Simmer
Add the tomato puree and the dried herbs, spices, salt, and sugar. Let the sauce simmer briefly — about 10 minutes — to allow flavors to meld.
Homemade Pizza Sauce FAQ
How Many Pizzas Does This Recipe Make?
Using a 28-ounce can of San Marzano tomatoes yields enough sauce for about 2–3 large pizzas, depending on how much sauce you prefer per pie. If you like a generous layer of sauce or plan to dip the crust, expect enough for two large pizzas. Conservatively, you might stretch it to three. Leftover sauce freezes well, so making a double batch is practical.
This sauce also makes a great dipping sauce for garlic breadsticks, calzones, or breaded appetizers.
Can this recipe be made ahead of time?
Yes. Store the sauce in the refrigerator for up to one week, or freeze portions for several months. Freezing in single-use containers or ice cube trays makes it easy to thaw small amounts for quick meals.
Reader Review Highlight
“I used the spices in this recipe but added it to my fresh roasted tomatoes instead of the canned ones — TO. DIE. FOR! Yum!!!”
Anita — from Pinterest
More Homemade Sauces To Try
- Teriyaki Sauce Recipe
- Bang Bang Sauce
- Vinegar BBQ Sauce
- Homemade Enchilada Sauce
- Roasted Garlic Cream Sauce
- Alabama White Sauce
- Old Bay Buffalo Sauce
- Homemade Sweet Chili Sauce
- Potsticker Sauce
- Mignonette Sauce for Oysters
- Spicy Chili Garlic Stir Fry Sauce
Pizza Sauce
This quick and easy pizza sauce takes about 15 minutes to prepare, uses simple ingredients, and tastes far better than most store-bought options. Make it while your dough rises.
2 minutes
15 minutes
17 minutes
Ingredients
- ¼ cup olive oil
- 1 tablespoon garlic, minced
- 28-ounce can San Marzano tomatoes
- 2 teaspoons sugar
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon dried parsley
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Place the tomatoes in a food processor or blender and pulse until smooth.
- Heat the olive oil in a saucepan over medium-low heat.
- Add the minced garlic and sauté for about 30 seconds, until fragrant.
- Stir in the pureed tomatoes and add the sugar, salt, pepper, and dried herbs.
- Reduce heat and simmer gently for 10 minutes to allow the flavors to combine.
- Remove from heat and use immediately on pizza, calzones, or as a dipping sauce. Store leftovers in the refrigerator or freezer.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 12
Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving:
Calories: 58
Total Fat: 5g
Saturated Fat: 1g
Trans Fat: 0g
Unsaturated Fat: 4g
Cholesterol: 0mg
Sodium: 180mg
Carbohydrates: 4g
Fiber: 1g
Sugar: 2g
Protein: 1g
Nutrition data is an estimate. If you need precise values for medical reasons, consult a trusted nutrition resource.
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