Homemade Pizza Sauce

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Take your pizza night to the next level with the best Homemade Pizza Sauce recipe. Made with just a handful of ingredients, this easy recipe comes together in just moments and doesn't even need to be cooked! The flavor is so much better than the jarred stuff from the store, too. You'll never go back!

Take pizza night to the next level with the best Homemade Pizza Sauce, made with a handful of ingredients in just moments and doesn't need to be cooked! | aheadofthyme.com

We love pizza nights around here. It's such a nice time to connect while stretching the homemade pizza dough, slathering on some sauce, and decorating each one with your favorite toppings. If you've never made homemade pizza sauce before, you're about to be shocked by just how easy it is to make from scratch. This no cook pizza sauce is ready in just moments and makes any homemade pizza taste amazing!

Why You'll Love This Homemade Pizza Sauce

No cooking needed. Instead of processing a bunch of fresh tomatoes and cooking them down for hours, this easy homemade pizza sauce recipe uses canned tomato sauce and tomato paste for a rich tomato flavor without the fuss. It's seriously easy!
Common ingredients. There's a good chance you already have all the basic ingredients you need for this sauce in your pantry right now! Since it is so easy to make, you can even upgrade to all organic ingredients without blowing your budget.
Freeze for later. If you don't have homemade pizza often, freeze the leftover sauce in a freezer bag or jar and thaw it the night before. You can even make a double batch for later!

Ingredient Notes

To make this delicious homemade pizza sauce, you will need the following ingredients (full measurements in recipe card below):

tomato sauce - use canned tomato sauce, not regular marinara or spaghetti sauce.
tomato paste - canned tomato paste is very thick and has a rich, concentrated tomato flavor.
extra virgin olive oil - this oil adds a smooth texture and the perfect flavor.
sugar - the sweetness of sugar mellows out the pizza sauce. Adjust to taste.
seasonings - season with a mixture of Italian seasoning, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper. You can also substitute the Italian seasoning with dried oregano.

You will also need measuring cups and spoons, a medium mixing bowl, and a spoon.

How to Make the Best Homemade Pizza Sauce

Combine ingredients. In a medium mixing bowl, combine tomato sauce, tomato paste and olive oil. Mix well with a spoon until smooth.

Season. Stir in sugar, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, salt and pepper.

Use. Spread on pizza dough or serve as a dipping sauce. You can store the pizza in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 5 days or in a freezer for 3 months.

Recipe Variations

Make it organic. Use organic canned tomatoes, sugar, olive oil, and spices for a completely organic pizza sauce!
Adjust the seasonings. Prefer a spicy sauce? Add red pepper flakes. You can also add fennel seed, dried basil, onion powder, or other spices for extra flavor.
Cook down fresh garlic. If you have a little extra time, saute a freshly minced garlic clove in olive oil and heat the sauce on the stove. You can also use fresh herbs, if you'd like.
Use Italian tomatoes. For a more authentic flavor, use canned San Marzano tomatoes or Roma tomatoes in your sauce.

How to Serve

This homemade pizza sauce is delicious served on its own as a dip with chips on the side, or used with some of my favorite pizza recipes including:

Recipe Tips and Tricks

Use the right canned tomatoes. There are so many different types of canned tomatoes; it gets overwhelming sometimes! This recipe keeps it simple with tomato sauce and tomato paste. This is different from canned tomatoes, diced tomatoes, or tomato puree. so double-check your cans.
Let the sauce rest. Although you can use this easy pizza sauce recipe right away, it will taste even better if you let it rest in the fridge for a few hours. This lets all the herbs and spices mingle together.
Add salt. The salt helps to neutralize the acidity of the tomatoes to make this sauce even more delicious.

Storing and Freezing Instructions

How to Store

Store leftover pizza sauce in a glass jar in the fridge for 4-5 days.

How to Freeze

To save this great pizza sauce for later, fill a small freezer container like a glass mason jar. If freezing glass, leave an inch of headspace to allow for expansion. Store any jars of pizza sauce in the freezer for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge before adding to your favorite pizza dough recipe.

FAQ

What can I use if I don't have pizza sauce?

If you're in the middle of pizza night and don't have any store-bought pizza sauce in your pantry, try making your own sauce with tomato sauce, tomato paste, sugar, olive oil, and a handful of spices. You don't even have to heat the mixture before using it! If you prefer a tomato-y sauce and don't have those ingredients on hand, cook down marinara sauce until it's really thick and use that instead. You can also try substituting different sauces, like BBQ sauce, alfredo, or pesto, or skip the sauce completely and brush on olive oil with garlic salt and your favorite toppings.

Is pizza sauce necessary?

You absolutely do not have to use pizza sauce on your pizza, but for many people, it isn't pizza unless it has sauce! The tangy tomato flavor is a great contrast to the cheese, and this uncooked pizza sauce is so easy to make you can have it ready to go in no time at all.

Can I eat uncooked pizza sauce?

Yes! This homemade pizza sauce is safe to eat, even as an uncooked sauce. However, it tastes even better heated up! Try warming it up in the microwave for a delicious dip for garlic breadsticks or cheesy garlic bread.

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