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This pizza sauce recipe is so easy to make and gives you a great and flavorful homemade pizza sauce you can make in less than 5 minutes, without the additives. It’s easy to scale up too. If you’re looking for other pizza sauce recipe inspirations, try our white pizza sauce or even our chimichurri.
Every Friday is pizza night in my house, which means we are grilling pizzas a lot. And when it comes to ingredients, we like to make our own homemade pizza dough and sauces. It’s just easier that way and we can control the ingredients. This homemade pizza sauce recipe comes together in less than 5 minutes, from beginning to end, and can easily be modified based on your flavor preference.
Table of Contents
Pizza Sauce Ingredients
When it comes to making great homemade pizza, the sauce is almost as important as the dough. And a pizza sauce recipe isn’t as simple as throwing some canned marinara sauce on. It needs to be a certain consistency, so that the moisture doesn’t make the dough soggy, and has some sweetness to it.
- Canned Tomatoes – We prefer canned whole or diced tomatoes, but be sure you drain out the excess liquid before putting into the food processor. You don’t want the extra moisture. Drain them well.
- Tomato Paste – Helps thicken the sauce and adds some sweetness.
- Herbs and Spices – Dried oregano, dried basil, dried garlic powder, dried fennel, and dried red chili pepper flakes bring flavor and a touch of heat.
- Olive Oil – Helps with the viscosity of the sauce rather than using water.
- Kosher Salt – Helps bring together a savory flavor to sauce.
- Honey – Honey adds a natural sweetness and thickener.
See recipe card for quantities.
How To Make Pizza Sauce
The first step is to grind down the fennel with the other dried ingredients in a food processor. This breaks up the fennel so you don’t get big chunks. If you don’t mind the fennel pieces then you can skip this step.
After that you combine the remainder of the ingredients and pulse in a food processor until combined.
If it’s too thin, thicken with 1 tablespoon of tomato paste until it reaches your desired consistency.
Variations
- Spicy – add more chili pepper flakes
- Sweet – add sugar, but as you add sugar, balance with some acid or other flavor
- Herbal – Double the portions on the oregano
This pizza sauce makes for a great dip as well, like with our homemade arancini recipe, garlic knots in a pizza oven, or any mozzarella sticks.
Equipment
It is easiest to use a good food processor to break down the spices and the sauce. Alternatively, you can use a good blender.
And if you are really into making pizza, check out our article on essential pizza tools.
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Storage And Make Ahead
Store the no bake pizza sauce recipe in a 16-ounce mason jar and store in the refrigerator. It will keep 5 to 7 days in case you want to make ahead.
Frequently Asked Questions
For a New York Style pizza sauce, the secret ingredient is tomato paste. it adds a thicker texture, as well as a natural sweetness without the use of sugar. From there, the flavors are based on your preference.
We plan 1/4 to 1/3 cup of pizza sauce per 12-inch pizza to get a good flavor, but not overload the dough and make it soggy. Then the dough won’t cook easily.
If you want the classic sauce from Italy, it’s two ingredients: San Marzano tomatoes and salt. Any excess liquid or water is drained to keep it a thicker texture. It’s delicious, but we like a little more herbal flavor to ours.
More Recipes for Pizza Night
We have a ton of pizza recipes you can explore or pick from some of our favorites.
- Classic Margherita Pizza Recipe
- Pellet Grill Pizza
- Grilled Pear and Prosciutto Flat Bread
- Smoked Brisket Pizza
- BBQ Chicken Pizza
- Smoked Buffalo Chicken Pizza
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Elevate your backyard pizza game in your grill or pizza oven with techniques and recipes for perfect outdoor pizza. The book also includes wine pairing inspirations for each recipes.
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Homemade Pizza Sauce Recipe
Equipment
Ingredients
- 15 ounce can diced or whole tomatoes, drained of excess liquid, (1 can)
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste
- ½ teaspoon extra virgin olive oil
- ½ teaspoon honey
- ½ teaspoon dried oregano
- ½ teaspoon dried basil
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon fennel seed
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon red chili pepper flakes
Instructions
- Pulse: Grind down the fennel with the other dried ingredients in a food processor. This breaks up the fennel so you don't get big chunks. Then add the remainder of the ingredients and pulse to combine.
- Season: Taste and adjust flavors as desired.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
