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!
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.”
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Cook’s Tools:
- high powered blender
- fine mesh strainer
More pizza recipes:
- Pizza Rolls recipe
- Perfect Homemade Pepperoni Pizza Recipe
- New York Style Thin Crust Pizza
- Perfect Homemade Pizza Dough
- Pizza Dough Garlic Knots
- Supreme Pizza Pull-Apart
- French Bread Pizza
- Lunch Box Pizza
- Strawberry Pizza
- BBQ Chicken Pizza
Best Pizza Sauce Recipe
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
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Our pizza night is usually on Fridays too! Great pizza sauce recipe! LOVE that it only takes 5 minutes to make. No need to buy the pre-made stuff anymore.
Exactly, plus it’s freezer-friendly so you make a ton in advance!
This sauce looks delicious and so easy to make! Can’t wait to try it.
It really is super easy!
Homemade is the best, and I love the ingredients in this! Absolutely perfect. Yum. pizza night is due!
Thank you!
That sauce looks delicious. I’ll definitely be giving your sauce a try next time we have homemade pizzas
Thank you!
I love making pizzas from scratch, but I normally forget all about the sauce! Definitely going to use your recipe next time.
I hope you enjoy!
I love Pizza! This sauce looks so yummy! I can’t wait to try it 🙂
Thank you! 🙂
Do you think you can us this sauce as a spaghetti sauce too?
You could but it would be a little thin. I would mix this sauce with a 4oz can of tomato paste and double the herbs and garlic in the recipe above.
Thank you for your quick responds, I love a thin sauce for spaghetti
No problem. Enjoy! 🙂
How many pizza’s will this sauce cover? Thanks
This sauce will cover 2 14-inch pizzas.
My daughter wanted to make homemade pizza with he daddy. This is when I came across this recipe and tried it with minor adjustments. I left out the wine and I used garlic powder instead of a clove. Why? Because this is what I had. This was so easy and VERY delicious. This will be our only pizza sauce for now on. Thanks for sharing.
Jeff, I am SO glad you enjoyed the sauce. It’s so simple and literally tastes like it came from a pizzeria! Thanks for stopping by. 🙂
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.
Ted, Thanks SO much for stopping by. Your comment truly made my day! I’m so glad you loved this pizza recipe! 🙂
Made this tonite and it was great. I’ll have to admit that I added an extra clove of garlic as I love it. Thanks for sharing.
I’m so glad you liked the recipe. In all honesty if I was just making this pizza sauce for just myself then I’d load it up with garlic, too! 🙂
Turned out great! My only addition was a few chopped leaves of fresh basil. Used the sauce fresh, and after being frozen for a few weeks. I honestly think that it was better after being frozen. My grandmother always said that her spaghetti sauce was better after being frozen for a while, and I guess the same is true here! Thank you for the recipe. Also, use San Marzano tomatoes people!! It sounds so cliche, but it really does make the difference.
Yum, basil would be delicious! And I agree, I like the sauce more after it’s been frozen–the flavors really get a chance to meld together!
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.
I’m so glad you love it! I make it almost weekly at my house!
I do not like olive oil. Could I use vegetable oil instead?
Yes, you can use vegetable oil.
Hi I’ve been so excited to try this recipe and finally got a chance today. The taste was superb! But mine looked very different. After blending, it looked like soup…how did you get yours to look chunky like that? I used a ninja auto iq blender. Thanks!
Hi! By chance did you dump the entire can of tomatoes into the blender instead of draining them?
No I drained for about 5 minutes, should I have drained for longer? And when you drain, do you let it passively drain or are you pushing down gently with a spoon to accelerate? I did the latter.
I don’t let them passively drain. I use a spoon or give them a good shake while in the strainer so all that goes into the blender are the tomatoes.
I tried this pizza sauce recipe today and my family loved it!! The perfect tasting,fast,very flavorful sauce,can’t wait to make the next pizza
I’m so glad you and your family love it! 🙂
I found it better to double everything except the tin of tomato’s and the olive oil.
Pizza sauce needs a super strong flavour for the taste to come through when combined with the pizza base and toppings.
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!
Kim, I’m so glad you loved the pizza sauce! I completely understand the high pizza standards of the northeast from living back east myself!
My Parents came from Italy back in the sixties and opened 3 pizzerias. Sadly after they sold the business, at the time I was in my teens I went to work for a few upper westside joints. Of course, the recipes vary from place to place, however, the main integrant was never, ever cook the sauce. Yours has a little more than most but the flavor is there. I am gonna share a little secret with ya, shhh don’t tell anyone. When we made the Sicilian pizza on the pre-bake (cause the dough is too thick) we added small diced onions on top of the sauce, took it out the oven let it rest and then when an order came we added the motz, whatever toppings then baked till cheese melted.
Oh YUMMMM! I’m so going to try your tip the next time I make Sicilian pizza! Thank you!
I love this pizza sauce! Great for all pizzas!