Learn how to make the easiest Pizza Sauce ever! This delicious sauce is ready in minutes, full flavor, and best of all, there's no cooking required!
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Are you wondering how to make pizza sauce at home ... without a lot of hassle? Then let me introduce you to one of my favorite recipes!
While I love a rich, thick, long-simmered sauce as much as the next person, sometimes I just want pizza FAST ... you know what I mean?
And that's where this no cook Pizza Sauce comes in! This simple sauce is perfect for last minute meals and weeknight dinners. It has all those classic flavors you crave, but it's ready in just five minutes.
If you can stir a few ingredients together, you can make this quick sauce. It really is that easy, so keep reading for all the delicious details!
Ingredients
The best thing about this recipe (apart from the wonderful taste) is that it uses flavorful, yet basic ingredients you probably have in your pantry! Here's what you'll need:
- Tomato Sauce - Basic tomato sauce (not paste) provides the base for this simple recipe. Since you'll be adding your own seasoning, make sure to use plain tomato sauce for this recipe. A few brands I like are Hunt's, Muir Glen, Contadina, and 365 (Whole Foods).
- Spices - This recipe uses a combination of classic pizza spices: dried basil and oregano, garlic, and crushed red pepper flakes (which you can skip for a milder sauce). You can use fresh garlic for this recipe or garlic powder ... either works great, so try it both ways to see which you prefer.
- Cheese - While not traditional, I like to add a little Parmesan to my sauce. It adds a layer of rich umami flavor that's so delicious. Make sure to use freshly shredded cheese! The packaged stuff is too dry, and it won't melt into the sauce. Out of Parm? You can always leave out the cheese in a pinch (or to make the sauce vegan), and it will still work great.
- Salt - I recommend using kosher salt for this recipe (and for almost everything else you cook). It has a clean flavor that's so much better than standard table salt!
Tip: Keep a few cans of tomato sauce in your cupboard at all times (it's one of my favorite pantry staples). That way, you can make homemade pizza whenever a craving strikes!
How to Make Pizza Sauce
This easy Pizza Sauce recipe only takes five minutes to make! You'll find a detailed recipe card below, but here's an overview of the steps:
- Combine tomato sauce, spices, and parmesan cheese in a small bowl. Mix well.
- Season to taste. The amount of salt you need will depend on your personal preference, as well as the amount of salt in your tomato sauce. Sauce provides a lot of flavor to pizza, so I'd recommend erring on the generous side!
You'll be happy to know that's all there is to it ... yes, it really is that quick and easy!
Tip: When preparing pizza toppings, make this sauce first. That way, the dried herbs will have softened up by the time you top the crust.
How to Use
Because it isn't cooked and there is no tomato paste in it, this homemade Pizza Sauce is fairly thin. Don't slather it on pizzas like you might a thicker sauce. Instead, add a thin layer to your crust. That way your pizza won't end up soggy.
This sauce is super versatile and works with many different of pizza toppings. Try it on this Broccoli Pizza, Summer Veggie Pizza, Grilled Pizza, or substitute it for the sauce in any of my pizza recipes.
You can also use it as a dipping sauce! Warm it gently in your microwave, then serve it with breadsticks, Garlic Bread (or even better, Cheesy Garlic Bread), these Four Cheese Calzones, or even this Broccoli Rabe Sandwich.
Tip: This recipe makes enough sauce for one large pizza or two smaller pizzas. Like I mentioned above, you want to use a thin layer of sauce. If you have a little left over, use it to make an english muffin pizza or a Tortilla Pizza the next day!
Variations
Once you've tried this basic Pizza Sauce recipe, you can have fun experimenting a bit! Here are some easy ideas to try:
- Different Herbs - This recipe uses classic pizza spices, however other Italian herbs would also be delish. Try rosemary, thyme, marjoram, sage, or ground fennel, too.
- Thicker Sauce - If you prefer a thicker sauce, mix in tomato paste (one tablespoon at a time) until you reach the desired consistency. Keep in mind that you may need to adjust the other seasonings, too.
- Garlic - I typically make this sauce with fresh garlic, however garlic powder also works well. For a more unusual flavor, Roasted Garlic would also be delicious!
- Vegan - You can leave out the Parmesan cheese to make this sauce vegan. I've made it without cheese many times, and it still tastes great!
Storage
This sauce can be prepared ahead of time. Store in the refrigerator until ready to use. If you have leftovers, transfer to a small airtight container, then refrigerate for up to four days. The sauce can also be frozen for one to two months.
Pizza Recipes
Have I made you hungry with all this pizza talk? You'll love these recipes, too:
- Roasted Vegetable Pizza
- Gorgonzola Pear Pizza
- Kale Pizza
- Deep Dish Pizza with Broccoli, Spinach, and Feta
- Caprese Pizza
- Green Pizza with Pesto, Feta, Artichokes, and Broccoli
- Pesto, Feta, and Veggie Pizza
- White Pizza
- Pumpkin Pizza
- Grape, Feta, and Pesto Pizza
- Plum and Gouda Pizza
- Butternut and Gorgonzola Pizza
- How to Throw a Pizza Party
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Pizza sauce does not need to be cooked. To make a no cook version, simply stir together tomato sauce and spices (basil, oregano, garlic), then season with salt.
To thicken pizza sauce without cooking it, stir in a little tomato paste, one tablespoon at a time, until you reach the desired consistency.
No, you do not need to heat sauce before putting it on pizza. It should be put on pizza cold or at room temperature.
Instead of pizza sauce, try using pesto, olive oil, ricotta cheese, barbecue sauce, romesco sauce, bechamel, tapenade, caramelized onions, or even hummus on your pizza instead. Basically, anything saucy works!
Compared to pasta sauce, pizza sauce may be uncooked (but not always), and it often has a more concentrated flavor than marinara sauce. It might be thicker than pasta sauce. Different tomatoes may also be used. For example, pizza sauce is often made with tomato sauce, while pasta sauce may be made with whole or crushed tomatoes.
You can freeze leftover pizza sauce in an airtight container for one to two months.
Easy Pizza Sauce
Ingredients
- 1 (8-ounce) can tomato sauce
- ⅛ cup shredded parmesan cheese
- 1 clove garlic, minced (or ¼ teaspoon garlic powder)
- ½ teaspoon dried basil
- ½ teaspoon dried oregano
- ¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
- kosher salt
Instructions
- Combine tomato sauce, cheese, garlic, basil, oregano, and red pepper flakes in a small bowl.
- Season sauce generously with salt to taste.
- Use immediately or refrigerate until ready to use. Enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
