Homemade Pizza Sauce (5 Ingredients)

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Hi Bold Bakers!

WHY YOU’LL LOVE THIS RECIPE: This easy Homemade Pizza Sauce is a game-changer and the best pizza sauce recipe for any pizza night! With its effortless preparation and unbeatable freshness. 

• Quick & Easy: Ready in just 5 minutes with 5 simple ingredients—no cooking required.
• Fresh Flavor: Enjoy a vibrant, homemade taste that’s superior to store-bought sauces.
• Versatile: It’s vegan and gluten-free, perfect for all types of pizzas, such as  Best-Ever Pizza, to Pizza Cupcakes, Pizza Scones, Mug Pizza,  and more, making it an essential ingredient for any pizza lover.
• Cost-Effective: Save money and enjoy a more flavorful sauce than what you’d get from delivery or store brands.

Not only do we have this effortless pizza sauce, but we also proudly create homemade pizza dough and even Mozzarella and Ricotta cheese from scratch! The Best Pizza Dough requires no kneading for a bubbly crust. The Simplest Sourdough Pizza is profound in flavor and incredible in texture. We also have the 15-Minute Pizza Dough to save your busy days and the keto-friendly and gluten-free Cauliflower Pizza Crust for everyone!

Table of Contents

• What is Homemade Pizza Sauce With 5 Ingredients?
• Tools You Need
• Key Ingredients and Substitutions
• How to Make Homemade Pizza Sauce With 5 Ingredients
• Gemma’s Pro Chef Tips
• Make Ahead and Storage Instructions
• FAQs
• Enjoy This Sauce in Favorite Pizzas Recipes

What is Homemade Pizza Sauce With 5 Ingredients?

This easy Homemade Pizza Sauce Recipe with 5 Ingredients is a quick and simple recipe for a fresh, flavorful pizza sauce made in just minutes, making it a convenient and cost-effective alternative to store-bought options.

• Quick Preparation: Ready in just 5 minutes, ideal for busy weeknights or spontaneous pizza cravings.
• Simple Ingredients: Uses only five pantry staples and common ingredients, which are typically available in most kitchens.
• No Cooking Required: The ingredients are blended together raw, preserving their fresh flavors.
• Flavorful and Versatile: Adding a superior taste and homemade touch to all types of pizzas.

Tools You Need

• Food processor or blender
• Measuring spoons
• A resealable container or ice cube tray for storing

Key Ingredients and Substitutes

Canned Tomatoes

• Canned whole tomatoes provide the base of the sauce, adding a rich and tangy tomato flavor.
• Fresh tomatoes (blanch and peel), tomato puree, crushed tomatoes, or diced tomatoes will all work.
• San Marzano tomatoes are Italians’ pride, known for their sweet flavor and low acidity. They have a thick, meaty flesh with fewer seeds and less juice compared to other types of tomatoes. Their low moisture content helps create a more concentrated tomato flavor in dishes.

Tomato Paste

• Tomato paste adds depth and richness and thickens this easy pizza sauce recipe.
• Substitutions: Extra canned tomatoes if you don’t have the paste, or use a thicker tomato sauce.

Onion

• Onion adds sweetness and complexity.
• Substitutions: Use onion powder or shallots if you don’t have fresh onion.

Garlic

• Garlic infuses the sauce with a robust, aromatic flavor.
• Substitutions: Use garlic powder or shallots if you don’t have fresh onion.

Dried Italian Herbs

• Dried herbs contribute to a blend of stronger flavors than fresh herbs typical in Italian cuisine, such as basil, oregano, and thyme.
• Substitutions: Use individual herbs like dried basil, oregano, thyme, or a pre-mixed Italian seasoning.

Granulated Sugar

• Sugar balances the acidity of the tomatoes and adds a hint of sweetness.
• Substitutions: Check out our Sugar Substitute Chart for alternatives such as honey, maple syrup, or a sweetener of your choice. You can also skip it if you prefer a more acidic sauce.

Salt

• Salt enhances and balances the flavors.
• Use sea salt, kosher salt, or even a low-sodium option if you’re watching your salt intake.

How to Make Pizza Sauce With 5 Ingredients

1. In a food processor or blender, combine all ingredients and pulse until smooth.
2. Use immediately or refrigerate in an airtight container for up to 5 days.
3. For longer storage freeze the sauce in ice cube trays, then pop out cubes and transfer to an airtight container. Defrost only what you need in the microwave or in a small saucepan over low heat, just until melted. Use within 2 months.

Gemma’s Pro Chef Tips

• If you use fresh tomatoes, drop fresh tomatoes in boiling water for a few seconds then transfer to an ice bath to loosen the skin and remove it. Cut the tomatoes in half and discard the watery seeds and surrounding pulp. Add the remaining flesh to the food processor and proceed as directed below.
• Add red peppers or red pepper flakes for a little kick.
• Use a ladle to spread the sauce on your dough, ensuring that you don’t press down on the dough itself.
• For an added boost of umami flavor, add a filet of anchovy! It will be blended throughout the sauce and those who think they don’t like anchovies (they’re secretly in a lot of delicious dishes!) will be none the wiser.
• Make this sauce along with our 15-Minute Pizza Dough for the fastest pizza that is miles ahead of anything in the freezer section!
• This is not only a recipe for the best pizza sauce but also a fantastic project to do with kids who are interested in cooking and baking. Take a look at our Kids Recipe Coloring Pages for this and other ideas!
• Add a ¼ cup (2 floz/60 ml) of water to this sauce and cook in a small saucepan for 5 minutes over medium heat to make a quick dipping sauce for 3-Ingredient Breadsticks or Garlic Breadsticks.

Make Ahead and Storage Instructions

This 5-Minute Pizza Sauce is perfect for quick meal prep and can be easily stored for future use.

• Refrigeration instructions:

  • Use immediately or store in an airtight container.
  • Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days.

• Freezing instructions:

  • Freeze the sauce in ice cube trays.
  • Once frozen, transfer the cubes to an airtight container or freezer-safe bag.
  • Defrost the desired number of cubes in the microwave or in a small saucepan over low heat until melted.
  • Use within 2 months for best quality.

What’s the Difference Between Pizza Sauce and Pasta Sauce

Despite using tomatoes and common seasonings, pizza sauce and pasta sauce differ mainly in their ingredients, preparation, flavor profile, textures, and uses.

• Ingredients:

  • Pizza Sauce: Simple, uncooked ingredients like tomatoes, tomato paste, garlic, dried herbs, sugar, and salt.
  • Pasta Sauce: Typically includes more complex ingredients such as extra-virgin olive oil, additional vegetables for fiber, spices, and sometimes cream or meat for protein.

• Preparation & Uses:

  • Pizza Sauce: Not cooked before use.
  • Pasta Sauce: Usually slow-simmered before use.

• Uses:

  • Pizza Sauce: Spread directly on pizza dough before cooking along with the pizza in the oven.
  • Pasta Sauce: Mixed with cooked pasta for a ready-to-eat meal.

• Texture:

  • Pizza Sauce: Typically smooth and spreadable, designed to be evenly distributed over pizza dough.
  • Pasta Sauce: Often thicker and chunkier, with a texture that complements pasta.

• Flavor Profile:

  • Pizza Sauce: Emphasizes a fresh tomato flavor with a balance of herbs.
  • Pasta Sauce: Can range from tangy and sweet to savory and rich, often with a deeper complexity due to simmering and additional ingredients.

• Serving Temperature:

  • Pizza Sauce: Used cold or at room temperature before baking.
  • Pasta Sauce: Generally served hot after cooking.

FAQs

What’s in Italian seasoning?

Italian seasoning typically includes a blend of dried herbs such as dried oregano, basil, thyme, rosemary, marjoram, and sage.

Sometimes, it also includes garlic powder, onion powder, fennel seed, or parsley.

How much pizza sauce does it yield?

The recipe yields approximately 2 cups of pizza sauce.

How much pizza sauce does one pizza need?

On average, one pizza typically requires about ½ cup to 1 cup of pizza sauce, depending on how saucy you like your pizza. For a standard-sized pizza (about 12 inches in diameter), ¾ cup of sauce is usually a good amount.

Use This Pizza Sauce in All Pizzas:

• 15-Minute Pizza (No Yeast)
• Crazy Dough Pizza
• Potato & Mint Pizza
• Best-Ever Pizza Dough
• Cauliflower Pizza in 5 Steps
• Focaccia Pizza
• Deep Dish Pizza
• Sourdough Pizza

Full (and printable) recipe below!

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