This post may include affiliate links; for details, see our disclosure policy.
This homemade pizza sauce recipe is full of zingy, garlicky flavor and gets rave reviews! It uses only 5 ingredients and takes only 5 minutes: there’s no cooking required.
Making a pizza? Here’s the go-to recipe you need: this homemade pizza sauce recipe! All you need are 5 ingredients and 5 minutes. Dip your spoon in, and you’ll be amazed at the flavor: it’s garlicky, rich, tangy and bright.
Why we love this recipe: This pizza sauce is one of our most-used on this website: we’ve made it more times than we can count. The garlicky, tangy flavor can’t be beat, and it’s beyond simple to make. Once you try it, you’ll never go back. Come, experience the magic!
Featured reader comment
“Absolutely delicious and totally easy. I’ve been making it for years now, so it’s time to show my love with a 5 star rating. Had a pizza party with friends and they loved the sauce so much we put it on the table to drizzle on our slices!” -Leila
Ingredients in this pizza sauce recipe
There are just 5 ingredients in this pizza sauce recipe. Even better: it requires no cooking at all! The flavor depends on the quality of your ingredients, so choose wisely. Here are a few things to know about the ingredients:
- Canned fire roasted tomatoes: Try to find this type of canned tomato if at all possible! Roasting tomatoes over an open flame adds a mellow, sweet flavor. Several brands carry this special type of tomato. If you can’t find them, use the highest quality crushed tomatoes you can find: San Marzano tomatoes are a good substitute. Double check that the can says crushed before purchasing.
- Small garlic clove: Garlic cloves widely vary in size. This recipe calls for a small clove. If you don’t have one, use half a medium or a quarter of a large clove. This is important so that the sauce doesn’t end up too garlicky.
- Dried oregano: Make sure to use dried oregano that’s fairly new so that the flavor is strong enough. If it’s been in your cabinet over 1 year, it’s time for a refresh!
- Olive oil and salt: Use extra virgin olive oil, and no recipe is complete without a pop of kosher salt.
Pro tip
Keep one thing in mind about this pizza sauce: it has a loose texture that’s similar to what’s use in a traditional Neapolitan pizza. Don’t expect it to be like canned American pizza sauce, which can have extra ingredients like sugar and thickeners like cornstarch. Use a very thin layer of it on top of the pizza dough.
How to make homemade pizza sauce
How to make homemade pizza sauce? Many methods simmer the sauce on the stovetop. But after loads of testing, we found that fire roasted tomatoes make it possible to mix right up without cooking. Every time we make it, when I dip my spoon into that beautiful red sauce, it’s beyond my wildest dreams. We used to make it in a blender, but it works simply mixed by hand too! Here are the steps:
Step 1: Peel and finely mince the garlic. Or if you’re using the blender method, peel the garlic clove and slice it into a few rough pieces.
Step 2: Mix the garlic with crushed fire roasted tomatoes, olive oil, oregano, and salt until the olive oil incorporates. Or, throw them in a blender and then blend until fully combined.
Step 3: Spread a very thin layer of the pizza sauce onto your favorite pizza dough recipe.
It’s as simple as that. Take a taste, and you’ll be amazed by the flavor! We’ve had countless people tell us that it’s the best pizza sauce they’ve ever had.
Top pizza dough recipes
We’ve made this pizza sauce recipe so many times, we’ve lost count! To make your own homemade pizza, try one of these pizza dough recipes for the crust:
- Try this pizza dough recipe, our tried and true favorite that works every time!
- Experiment with thin crust pizza dough for a slightly simpler method.
- Go for KitchenAid pizza dough if you have a stand mixer.
Ways to use this pizza sauce
Use this easy pizza sauce recipe on any of your favorite pizza recipes! You can also use it as a dipping sauce for grilled cheese or breadsticks, in baked pasta, or for a pizza quesadilla. Here are some of our favorite ways to use it:
- Pizza like classic Margherita pizza, goat cheese pizza, homemade cheese pizza, or any of these popular pizza toppings.
- Sheet-style pizza like sheet pan pizza that makes two pizzas at once, or fluffy focaccia pizza.
- Deep dish pizza like cast iron pizza or pan pizza.
- Dipping sauce for this easy calzone recipe or grilled cheese dippers.
- Quick pizzas like tortilla pizza, pita pizza, naan pizza, or French bread pizza.
- Alternative pizzas like portobello mushroom pizza or eggplant pizzas.
Dietary notes
This pizza sauce recipe is vegetarian, gluten free, vegan, plant based, dairy-free, and refined sugar free.
Frequently asked questions
There are several advantages! It’s quicker and easier than cooked sauces, requires minimal ingredients, and allows the fresh flavors of the tomatoes to shine through. Additionally, cooking pizza sauce can make it lose its vibrant color and acidity.
Fire-roasted tomatoes have a thicker consistency and more concentrated flavor than regular canned tomatoes. They offer the perfect base for a no-cook sauce that won’t leave your pizza soggy.
Crushed fire-roasted tomatoes work well. Don’t substitute diced unless you run the sauce through a blender first.
You can, but the flavor won’t be as rich and flavorful. Opt for high-quality canned tomatoes like San Marzano tomatoes, and consider adding a pinch of smoked paprika to mimic the fire-roasted flavor.
Finely minced fresh basil is a classic addition, but oregano, thyme, or a pinch of red pepper flakes are also delicious options.
Garlic preference is subjective, but 1 small clove should be enough for a flavorful yet balanced sauce.
Store leftover sauce in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 week. You can also freeze it for up to 3 months.
Pizza Sauce Recipe (5 Minutes!)
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 5 minutes
- Yield: 1 ½ cups 1x
Description
This homemade pizza sauce recipe gets rave reviews! It uses only 5 ingredients and takes only 5 minutes: no cooking required.
Ingredients
- 15 ounces crushed fire roasted tomatoes*
- 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- 1 small clove garlic (1/2 medium clove)
- ½ teaspoon dried oregano
- Scant ½ teaspoon kosher salt
Instructions
- Finely mince the garlic (or if using the blender method, simply chop it into a few rough pieces).
- Stir together all ingredients in a bowl until the oil incorporates. Or, place all ingredients in a blender and blend until fully combined (this makes a slightly runnier textured sauce).
- To serve, spread a very thin layer of sauce on top of pizza dough, keeping in mind that this sauce has a loose texture that’s similar to what’s used in a traditional Neapolitan pizza or Margherita pizza. (Don’t expect it to be like canned American pizza sauce, which can have extra ingredients like sugar and thickeners like cornstarch.) Store refrigerated for 1 week or frozen up to 3 months.
Notes
Recipe inspired by Flour Water Salt Yeast
*Fire roasted tomatoes are key to the flavor! They’re available at many mainstream groceries these days and have a mellow, sweet flavor. If you absolutely cannot find them, use a high quality brand of crushed tomatoes: San Marzano tomatoes are a good substitute. Do not use diced tomatoes, unless you use the blender method for the sauce.
- Category: Sauce
- Method: No Cook
- Cuisine: Italian
- Diet: Vegan
Love pizzas. Going to do my own for first time today.the Margharetti 1.hope it will b good.using canned tomato.Thank u for all the tips. Saving them.
So glad! Let us know what you think. Hope you love the pizza sauce!
We absolutely love your pizza sauce recipe. So easy and so delicious. It just wouldn’t be pizza night without it!
I have been making homemade pizza all my life. I went out and bought a pizza stone just to make this. I think I found my new pizza recipe! Delicious!
So glad you enjoyed! Thank you.
Absolutely delicious and totally easy. I see this hasn’t been rated lately, and since I’ve been making it for years now, it’s time to show my love. Had a pizza party with friends the other evening and they loved the sauce so much we put it on the table to drizzle on our slices. The only caveat is that unless you have a pizza oven (I preheat a cast iron skillet in our home oven to 500F skillet), too much of this sauce could result in a soggy pizza. For the record, I use Muir Glen organic fire roasted diced tomatoes.
Thank you for the comment! So kind :) Glad you are loving it!