When it comes to pizza, the sauce totally makes it! Follow this easy recipe with step by step instructions for how to make the best pizza sauce.
In my personal opinion, the sauce can make or break a pizza. What about you?
Sure toppings are great but if the sauce isn’t good, no amount of cheese can save it. The crust is important too but we’ll get to that another day.
I’ve tried pizza places and decided never to go back because the sauce just didn’t stack up. The same goes for the jarred stuff. It just does not hold a candle to making your own. With some tomato sauce, tomato paste and 20 minutes and you’ll be on your way to the best pizza sauce. Ever.
This Easy Homemade Pizza Sauce starts with canned tomato sauce. Not pizza sauce or pasta sauce, simply regular tomato sauce. To enhance the tomato flavor even more, a couple of tablespoons of tomato paste are added.
Next you’ll need the seasonings. It took me several tries to get it just right. For this recipe, you’ll need: oregano, basil, garlic, fennel, crushed red pepper, salt, pepper and sugar. I also add a little cayenne and allspice but those too are optional. The cayenne adds more head and the allspice adds a deep peppery flavor.
One of the reasons that I am not a huge fan of store bought sauce is that they tend to be a little too sweet for me. With that said, I still add a little bit of sugar to most of my tomato sauce recipes. Adding sugar to tomato sauce helps create a more balanced flavor but cutting the acidity and bringing out the natural sweetness of the tomatoes.
Yes. Cooking the tomato sauce, instead of simply mixing all of the ingredients together, helps give the flavors a chance to develop. It doesn’t need a long time, only about 15 – 20 minutes but believe me, it is totally worth it.
I use this recipe when I make all different kinds of pizza. One of my favorite ways is to slather it on the top of my grilled pizza.
It is also great to spread on sandwiches or to dunk your pizza crust in.
Looking for more pizza recipes? Check these out:
Grilled Kale and Sausage Pizza
Making your own sauces, dips and dressings is so easy! Here are some more of my favorites:
Note: This post was originally written in 2009. It was updated with tips, photos and nutrition facts in 2019.
Erin | Dinners,Dishes and Dessert
July 13, 2019 at 7:07 amI need to try this immediately, it looks so good!
Michelle Goth
July 13, 2019 at 6:00 amI really don’t like any of the jarred pizza sauce options! I always end up doctoring them. This homemade pizza sauce is perfect!
Katerina @ diethood .com
July 12, 2019 at 6:23 amHomemade is the BEST!! This sounds incredibly delicious!!
Krista
July 11, 2019 at 7:43 amSauce makes the pizza! This one looks like a winner!
Taylor
July 11, 2019 at 5:32 amLove making homemade pizza sauce! So easy, fresh and delicious!
Beth Pierce
July 10, 2019 at 9:11 pmWhat a great recipe to have on hand! I an use this with so many things; looking forward to trying it out!
Sara Welch
July 10, 2019 at 5:42 pmWhat a robust sauce! So easy and packed with flavor; can’t wait to try this out!
April
July 6, 2011 at 6:25 pmI made this pizza sauce once and now it’s all I want to use! Our pizza was great with it! I had half a can of leftover tomato puree, so that’s what I used instead of the sauce and paste, but it still turned out fabulous! Thanks!
Deseree
July 6, 2011 at 8:45 pmYou’re welcome!
Jess
January 8, 2010 at 7:17 amThis sounds like a great mix. It’s make-your-own-pizza Friday night in my house and this recipe is getting put to good use shortly. Thanks for the post.
Leah
January 7, 2010 at 3:25 pmThis should be good. I’m having a small little party and making the same thing for my sisters 16th birthday. The party is for whatever reason though. Thank you. I know this recipe won’t let me down.
Chris
June 10, 2009 at 9:44 amI’ve finally perfected pizza crust (sheesh, that only took 10 years!). Now I need to work on the sauce! Your recipe looks great. I love the addition of the allspice – I wouldn’t have thought to add that!
Mrs. L
June 9, 2009 at 11:24 amOne of these days I need to try to make my own pizzas…something I haven’t done yet.
peachkins
June 8, 2009 at 6:01 pmI agree with you.A great pizza sauce makes great pizza..