May 24, 2024

Easy Homemade Pizza Sauce

pizza sauce

Have you ever heard your friends rave about the homemade pizzas that they make?  And you struggle to even know where to begin?  Honestly, making your own pizza sauce is so easy to do!   Well in this blog post, you will learn how to make your own pizza sauce and just how easy it can be!  With this pizza sauce recipe, you will be having a delicious pizza tonight.

In this post, you will learn how to make an easy, homemade pizza sauce.

How to Make Pizza Sauce

Start by pouring the can of chopped tomatoes into a medium-sized bowl or deep dish.  Using a hand blender, blend the tomatoes until the sauce reaches your desired consistency.  You can keep it slightly chunky for a more rustic homemade texture or blend it completely smooth for a classic easy homemade pizza sauce.  Blending the tomatoes helps create a rich, spreadable base that cooks beautifully on homemade pizza dough.

Once the tomatoes are blended, stir in the tomato purée until fully combined.  The tomato purée adds deeper tomato flavor and is used because it helps thicken the sauce slightly, giving it that rich, concentrated pizza sauce consistency.  This simple combination creates the perfect base for a flavorful homemade pizza sauce recipe using pantry staple ingredients.

Next, add the oregano and mix well.  Oregano gives the sauce its classic Italian-style pizza flavor and adds that familiar savory herb taste that pairs perfectly with melted cheese and pizza toppings.  Stir in the onion powder and garlic powder to also build extra depth and richness throughout the sauce.

To finish the sauce, mix in the BBQ sauce.  The BBQ sauce adds a subtle smoky sweetness that makes this pizza sauce slightly unique while still keeping that classic pizza flavor.  Once everything is fully mixed together, your easy homemade pizza sauce is ready to spread over pizza dough and top with your favorite cheeses, meats, and vegetables.  This quick pizza sauce is perfect for homemade pizza nights, pizza breads, calzones, or dipping sauces.

How to Make Your Sauce from Fresh Tomatoes

Below I will go through the steps on how to make your homemade sauce from fresh tomatoes.

Select and Prepare the Tomatoes:  pick out your ripe tomatoes.  Roma and plum tomatoes are often preferred for their meatiness and lower water content.  You will want to blanch the tomatoes to remove the skins.  Bring a pot of water to a boil and prepare an ice bath.  Score a small “X” onto all of your tomatoes.  Place them into the boiling water for 30-60 seconds, until you notice the skins starting to peel back.  Transfer the tomatoes to the ice water bath to cool, then begin to peel off the skins.

Remove Seeds (optional):  Cut the tomatoes in half and use either a spoon or your fingers to scoop out the seeds.  This step can be skipped if you do not mind the seeds in your sauce.

Cook the Tomatoes:  roughly chop the tomatoes up.  In a large pot add some olive oil and heat it up over medium heat.  Add some chopped onion (1 small) and minced garlic (2-3 cloves), and sauté it.  Add the chopped tomatoes to the pot and combine with the onions and garlic.

Simmer the Sauce:  Allow the sauce to simmer on low heat for 30-45 minutes.  Season with salt and a pinch of sugar.  Stir occasionally until it begins to resemble a thick sauce.  Also make sure to break up the larger pieces of tomato.

Blend (optional):  For a smooth sauce, use either a hand blender or a food processor to blend the sauce.

Final Adjustments:  Now that the tomatoes are chopped and ready to use, continue with step 2 in the recipe below.

Ingredients

Chopped Tomatoes:  chopped tomatoes form the base of the sauce and are also the main ingredient.

Tomato Puree:  tomato puree is a thick liquid made from cooked and strained tomatoes.  It is used because it helps to thicken your sauce and gives it a more concentrated flavour.

Oregano:  oregano a classic herb in Italian cooking, adding a warm, slightly pungent taste that complements tomatoes well.  Fresh or dried oregano can be used.

Paprika:  paprika is a ground spice made from dried red peppers.  This recipe uses sweet paprika, but smoky can also be used interchangeably for this specific recipe.

Onion Powder:  onion powder is a seasoning made from dried ground onions.  It gives a nice onion taste without the need for chopped-up pieces of onion.

Garlic Powder: garlic powder is a seasoning made from dehydrated garlic cloves that have been ground into a fine powder.  It is perfect for seasoning your sauces, soups, dressings, marinades, and dry rubs, without the texture of fresh garlic pieces.

BBQ Sauce (optional):  BBQ sauce is a condiment with a base of tomatoes, vinegar, sweeteners, and various spices.  I like my pizza to have a BBQ taste to it so I add this to the base of the pizza sauce.

Tips

pizza sauce recipe

Best Pizza Sauce Recipe

This delicious pizza sauce is guaranteed to spruce up your homemade pizzas. No more buying pizza sauce from the store with this easy pizza sauce recipe!
Prep Time 5 minutes
Course Sauce
Cuisine Italian
Calories 173 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 1 can of chopped tomatoes blended (400g full weight)
  • 1 can of tomato puree or tomato paste 140g
  • 2 tbsp. oregano
  • ½ tsp. paprika
  • ½ tsp. onion powder
  • 1 tsp. garlic powder
  • 2 tbsp. BBQ sauce Optional

Instructions
 

  • Place your can of chopped tomatoes into a bowl and blend it with a hand blender.
  • Mix in the tomato puree.
  • Once fully blended, add oregano and mix.
  • Add in onion powder, garlic powder, and BBQ sauce.
  • Your pizza sauce is now ready to go onto your pizza!

Notes

Nutritional Information                                                                                                   Servings 8 
Calories 173                           Carbs 37g                               Fat 4g                         Protein 7g
 
Note:  this pizza sauce recipe makes 2 cups of sauce.  The serving size is based on ¼ c. of pizza sauce used per pizza.
Nutritional Information is automatically calculated and should only be used as a guide.
Keyword Easy Pizza Sauce, Homemade Pizza Sauce, Pizza Sauce

Author:  Sarah Young

Homemade Pizza Sauce FAQ 

What is homemade pizza sauce made of?

Homemade pizza sauce is typically made with tomatoes, garlic, olive oil, herbs, and seasonings like oregano, basil, salt, and pepper.

Do I need to cook pizza sauce before using it?

Not always. Many homemade pizza sauces like this recipe can be used uncooked because they cook directly on the pizza while baking.

What tomatoes work best for pizza sauce?

Crushed tomatoes, tomato sauce, or San Marzano tomatoes are popular choices for rich flavor and smooth texture.

How do I thicken homemade pizza sauce?

Simmer the sauce longer to reduce excess liquid or add a small amount of tomato paste.

Can I freeze pizza sauce?

Yes, homemade pizza sauce also freezes very well for up to 3 months.

How long does homemade pizza sauce last in the fridge?

Store pizza sauce in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.

Can I make pizza sauce spicy?

Yes, add chili flakes, cayenne pepper, or hot sauce for extra heat.

What herbs go best in pizza sauce?

Oregano, basil, parsley, garlic, and Italian seasoning are classic choices.

Is pizza sauce the same as pasta sauce?

No, pizza sauce is usually thicker and more concentrated with less liquid than pasta sauce.

Can I use fresh tomatoes?

Yes, fresh tomatoes can be cooked down into a flavorful homemade pizza sauce.

How much pizza sauce should I use?

Use enough to lightly coat the dough without making the pizza soggy.

What else can I use pizza sauce for?

Pizza sauce is also great for dipping breadsticks, calzones, pasta bakes, or mozzarella sticks.

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