This Copycat Pizzeria Pizza Sauce Recipe tastes as if it came from your favorite pizzeria. It’s SO easy to make; you only need 5 minutes and a blender!

The finished pizza sauce with text overlay for Pinterest.

This is the Best Pizza Sauce Recipe!

I don’t know about you, but my family has a designated pizza night every week. For us, it’s Fridays.

We either order takeout from our favorite pizzeria, or I make pizza from scratch. Over the years, I’ve been playing around with this Pizza Sauce Recipe, and I finally nailed it!

This pizza sauce tastes fresh, has a great texture, and tastes like it came from your favorite pizzeria! The secret to my sauce is that I use canned whole tomatoes, and I DON’T cook it! I blend it up and spoon it onto my favorite pizza!

Homemade Pizza Sauce Recipe reader testimonials

Folks are LOVING this recipe. Here are some comments I have gotten from readers:

Stephanie said: “Hands down the best pizza sauce I’ve ever had! I made this sauce a couple of weeks ago but I forgot to print the recipe. I just spent an hour looking for it…..saving to favorites so I don’t lose it again. This recipe is a keeper. Thank you so much for sharing it.”

Kim said: “I don’t often take the time to review recipes but this sauce is THE BEST. Simple, fresh-tasting, and EASY to make. I don’t think I’ll ever make any other sauce. This lives up to my NJ pizza standards!”

Noelle said: “We had a make your own pizza night last night and I used this recipe and everyone loved it! Added so much flavor to the pizza.”

Nellie said: “When you become the hero at your house over a recipe you know it is a good one! Will be hanging on to this one!” 

Ted said: “Jillian, I have never tried homemade pizza before. I saw your recipe and it looked so good I had to give it a try. I was amazed at the results, they were delicious. The crust and sauce had the best taste you could ask for. Thanks for posting it.”

A spoon picking up some of the finished pizza sauce recipe.

Things I love about this recipe for Italian Pizza Sauce

  • It’s made completely in the blender.
  • It takes 5 minutes or less to make.
  • It’s a no-cook recipe.
  • It costs just $1.95 to make. 
  • It tastes like the pizza sauce from your favorite pizzeria!

Best Pizza Sauce ingredients

RECIPE COST: $1.95

PER SERVING COST: $0.16

NOTE: The recipe prices are used calculating name-brand products from Walmart’s website. The recipe’s actual cost will vary depending on what your pantry is already stocked with and current grocery prices. 

  • 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil. I prefer a robust EVOO – $0.14
  • 1 teaspoon red wine vinegar – $0.02
  • 28-ounce can whole peeled tomatoes – $1.66
  • 1 large garlic clove minced – $0.05
  • 1 teaspoon table salt – $0.01
  • ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper – $0.01
  • 1 teaspoon granulated sugar – $0.01
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano – $0.05

How to make this Italian Pizza Sauce Recipe

STEP ONE: First, drain the tomatoes in a fine-mesh strainer. Place the drained tomatoes into a blender.

STEP TWO: Add the remaining ingredients and blend on high until combined.

STEP THREE: Finally, place the sauce in an airtight container in the fridge. 

An overhead picture of the finished pizza sauce recipe.
Look at that delicious tomato texture!

How to store this Italian Pizza Sauce Recipe

To store Italian pizza sauce, follow these steps:

Store: Place the airtight container in the refrigerator. Pizza sauce can be stored in the fridge for 3 to 5 days.

Freeze: If you have a large batch of pizza sauce and don’t plan to use it all within a few days, you can freeze it for more extended storage. Use freezer-safe containers or freezer bags to prevent freezer burn. Leave some room at the top for expansion as the sauce freezes. Freeze for up to 6 months.

Thawing: When ready to use the frozen sauce, transfer it to the refrigerator to thaw overnight. You can also thaw it in the microwave on a low setting or reheat it directly on the stovetop.

Best Pizza Sauce Recipe Notes

  • I like to make a double batch and freeze the rest when I make this recipe. I divide the pizza sauce among small freezer-safe containers. This way, I pull what I need from the freezer when I need it.
  • This sauce will keep for up to 6 months in the freezer. Just defrost it in the refrigerator overnight and give it a good stir before using.
  • This sauce will keep for up to 1 week in the refrigerator when kept in an airtight container. Just give it a quick stir before using it!
  • If you love garlic, add an extra clove to the recipe below!
  • This pizza sauce is also great for my Pizza Rolls recipe!
  • Make this sauce for my Perfect Homemade Pepperoni Pizza Recipe!

Best Pizza Sauce FAQs

Is pizza sauce and marinara sauce the same?

While the ingredients for pizza sauce and spaghetti sauce are similar, there is one main difference. Pizza sauce is uncooked, while pasta sauce is cooked. 

Can I use pasta sauce on pizza?

Yes, you can, but it would be a little thin. I would mix this sauce with a 4-ounce can of tomato paste and double the herbs and garlic in the recipe below. 

What cheese is best for pizza?

My favorites are whole milk mozzarella (MUST be whole milk and not part-skim) and Parmesan. But you can get super fancy and add other cheeses such as gouda, goat, and ricotta. 

Can you use pizza sauce for spaghetti?

Yes, you can use pizza sauce for spaghetti! Pizza sauce and spaghetti sauce share many essential ingredients like tomatoes, garlic, herbs, and spices, so they are similar in flavor. While pizza sauce is typically thicker and chunkier to hold up to the toppings on a pizza, it can still work as a tasty sauce for spaghetti.

What’s the difference between pizza sauce and Italian sauce?

Pizza sauce and Italian sauce differ in their ingredients and consistency. Pizza sauce is generally made from tomatoes, garlic, herbs (like oregano and basil), and sometimes a touch of olive oil. Pizza sauce tends to be thicker and more concentrated, allowing it to hold up well on the pizza crust and not make the dough soggy.

Italian sauce typically consists of tomatoes, garlic, onions, olive oil, and a mix of herbs (such as basil, oregano, and thyme). It is cooked to develop deeper flavors and is usually smoother in texture compared to pizza sauce.

Is marinara the same as pizza sauce?

Marinara sauce and pizza sauce are similar in some ways, using the same basic ingredients. However, they are not the same, and the two have some key differences.

Pizza sauce may have a more concentrated flavor profile, while marinara sauce often includes additional ingredients like onions, olive oil, and sometimes even carrots and celery.

Marinara sauce is usually smoother and thinner in consistency compared to pizza sauce. It is designed to coat pasta dishes evenly, while pizza sauce is thicker and chunkier to avoid making the pizza dough soggy during baking.

No-Cook Pizza Sauce in a glass jar.

Cook’s Tools:

  • high powered blender
  • fine mesh strainer                           

More pizza recipes:

Homemade pizza sauce recipe!
4.80 from 59 votes

Best Pizza Sauce Recipe

Recipe Cost $ 1.95
Serving Cost $ 0.16
Prep Time 5 minutes
Total Time 5 minutes
12 servings
This Copycat Pizzeria Pizza Sauce Recipe tastes like it came from your favorite pizzeria. It’s SO easy to make, all you need is 5 minutes and a blender!

Equipment

  • blender
  • fine mesh strainer

Ingredients
 
 

  • 28- ounce can whole peeled tomatoes
  • 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
  • 1 teaspoon red wine vinegar
  • 1 large garlic clove minced
  • 1 teaspoon table salt
  • 1 teaspoon granulated sugar
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Instructions

  • Drain tomatoes in a fine mesh strainer and place drained tomatoes into a blender, discarding drained liquid.
  • Add the remaining ingredients and blend on high until completely combined about 30 seconds.
  • Use the sauce in your favorite pizza recipe or place in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

Video

Notes

  • This makes enough sauce for (3) 14-inch pizzas. 
  • Makes about 1.5 cups of homemade sauce.

Nutrition

Serving: 2Tablespoons | Calories: 23kcal | Carbohydrates: 3g | Fat: 1g | Sodium: 288mg | Potassium: 124mg | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 75IU | Vitamin C: 6.3mg | Calcium: 23mg | Iron: 0.7mg

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Recipe Rating




72 Comments

  1. Easy enough and delicious, love that you added garlic, I always do to! A must try recipe, will do on our next pizza night!

  2. Amy | The Cook Report says:

    The sauce really makes the pizza and I bet this one tastes amazing!

  3. Annie @ Annie's Noms says:

    Friday is pizza night in my house too! You can’t beat ending a busy week with homemade pizza and this sauce looks wonderful! I do love making everything from scratch, but I have to admit, what I make from scratch and what I buy depends on just how crazy the week has been haha!

  4. Danielle Wolter says:

    i can’t believe how easy this is! loving all the ingredients and it is so convenient to have pizza sauce ready for your next pizza 🙂

  5. We had a make your own pizza night last night and I used this recipe and everyone loved it! Added so much flavor to the pizza

  6. Perfection, tastes just like a restaurant!

  7. Nellie Tracy says:

    When you become the hero at your house over a recipe you know it is a good one! Will be hanging on to this one!

  8. Are you able to make a huge batch and can it? If so, water bath or pressure canning?

    1. You can definitely can the pizza sauce. Just ladle the sauce into hot pint-size jars, clean the rims of the jars, and seal.
      Process for 25 minutes in a water bath.

      I hope this helps!

  9. A great sauce makes a huge difference! This was delicious!

  10. wilhelmina says:

    This sauce is just right! It has the perfect mix of flavors and that “something” that jarred sauce lacks. Delicious!

  11. Debbie Welchert says:

    Oh my gosh what a wonderful quick recipe. I love how simple it is to make. The sauce sounds so refreshing. I can’t wait to try it.

  12. Nice base for pizza sauce. It’s very close to America’s Test Kitchen sauce recipe.
    But always always cook the garlic in the oil for a bit and cook some of the sauce, too, or you’re cheating yourself! Raw garlic has too much of a bite and don’t kid yourself that it will all cook when the pizza is baking. Sauteing it first releases the garlic flavor with a softening of the tomatoes, too. I cook about 3/4 of the mixed sauce then when it’s cooled, I add the remaining raw sauce. I also like a lot more oregano, maybe 1 Tbls.
    But cook that garlic and notice the better difference!

    1. That sounds like a great tip of pre-cooking garlic a bit, as well as par cooking a portion of sauce. Thanks!

    2. I’ve made this recipe many times and we love it—it’s perfect! The only change I make is that I use 1/8 tsp garlic powder instead of 1 clove of fresh garlic. I almost never use garlic powder, but my family doesn’t like raw garlic and I don’t want to cook the garlic or this sauce. Thank you!

      1. So glad you love this recipe! Thanks for stopping by to let me know. 🙂

  13. Mary Ann McDuffee says:

    Awesomely delicious and easy! My husband has digedtive difficulty with many tomato based sauces but not this one. He actually asked me to make pizza again for the grandkids sleepover. Thank you so much!

  14. What cheeses mix is best for a pizza. Every pizza place has their own; my local one is more Sicilian (I believe) and their cheese mix tastes smooth, not sharp — but just right.

    1. I personally like an ounce of Parmesan followed by 2 cups of whole milk mozzarella.

  15. I don’t get the hate towards part skim mozzarella, I don’t like all the grease from whole milk mozzarella when its used by its self and I think that blending the 2 makes the best pizzas which is what most of the top pizza places do.

    1. Hi Brian,

      It’s just my personal preference. I feel the whole milk mozzarella makes the pizza taste more like the pizza I had growing up back East.

  16. You can’t beat homemade pizza sauce. This one looks delicious, and simple too.

  17. Shashi at SavorySpin says:

    YUM – this sauce sounds so fantastic! I usually by pizza sauce premade but this recipe is a game changer!

  18. Jessica Formicola says:

    We were planning a pizza night for this weekend, so I will definitely be trying this pizza sauce!

  19. Perfect timing! I was just about to try making cauliflower pizza crust for the first time and this sauce should be great on it.

  20. Once you make your own pizza sauce at home you can’t go back to the jarred stuff! This sauce turned out delicious and it’s so easy to make. Thanks for the recipe!

    1. Ana, I am thrilled that you enjoyed the recipe; thanks for stopping by to let me know!

      1. Trisha Lou says:

        I made this to dip my homemade calzones in and the whole family loved it! My husband use to work at a pizza place and said, “oh my gosh you made this???” Very happy with the results!

        1. Dayna Jankowski says:

          I’m so glad! Thanks for sharing!