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    Home » Recipes » Pizza Recipes

    How to Make Pizza Sauce: A Complete Guide

    Author: Amy Fulwood | Published: Apr 11, 2018 | Modified: Jul 19, 2023

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    This is the complete guide to how to make pizza sauce. Pizza is nothing without the perfect sauce and I've got the recipe for how to make pizza sauce which has amazing flavour and keeps your pizza base perfectly crisp.

    We love making homemade pizza. It's one of our favourite treat dinners and it's something we cook several times a month.

    Since we started making pizza from scratch a few years ago I've worked on a pizza sauce recipe which always turns out perfectly. It's cooked down until it's nice and jammy so that the pizza base doesn't get soggy and all that tomato flavour gets so rich and intense.

    How to make pizza sauce. Blue bowl of pizza sauce on a blue background

    How do you make pizza sauce from scratch?

    It's actually loads easier than you think. You start off the way all good things start off. By frying chopped onion and garlic in olive oil. Add a little water and wait until it's all evaporated before adding the chopped tomatoes and then cook until it's getting pretty dry.

    Then add in your tomato puree and herbs and stir it all together. Cook a little longer until it's starting to look a little jam-like then tip out on to a plate and allow it to cool.

    How to make pizza sauce. Onion and garlic frying
    How to make pizza sauce. Pouring chopped tomatoes into a frying pan with onions

    Can you use spaghetti sauce for pizza sauce?

    Please don't! I promise it won't be as good and I also promise that this pizza sauce recipe is so easy that you have no need to use pasta sauce when you could throw together this recipe in less than half an hour.

    The great thing about this pizza sauce is that it's much drier than a pasta or spaghetti sauce so it won't make your pizza base soggy.

    How to make pizza sauce. Pizza sauce in a frying pan . How to make pizza sauce. Pizza sauce in a frying pan

    What are the main ingredients in pizza sauce?

    • Olive Oil
    • Onion
    • Garlic
    • Chopped Tomatoes
    • Tomato Puree

    What can you add to pizza sauce?

    If I'm making a simple pizza sauce I normally add some dried herbs when the sauce is nearly finished cooking. I like thyme or oregano for that classic Italian flavour. I often add a pinch of chilli flakes too to give a little kick.

    The great thing is that once you've got this pizza sauce base down then you can add in whatever flavourings you like to make it work with the pizza you want to make. For example, I stirred chipotle paste through the sauce when I made this stuffed crust with chipotle chicken.

    Keep scrolling to get the full recipe for how to make pizza sauce...

    How to make pizza sauce. Pizza sauce being spread on a pizza base

    Can you store this pizza sauce?

    I often make a double batch of this and keep one lot in the freezer so that we can have pizza on a whim some weeknights and I highly recommend you doing the same. It's easy to think that making pizza from scratch is not a weeknight dinner activity but in reality, once you've got a grip on the basic ingredients, it's such a simple thing to put together.

    Alternatively, this pizza sauce would keep absolutely fine in the fridge for a few days so feel free to make ahead, it would be a great one for meal prep.

    A good sauce is key to a good pizza and now you've got this pizza sauce recipe you'll have a delicious pizza for dinner every time!

    How to make pizza sauce. Homemade pizza sauce on a pizza base on a blue background

    So now you've got the perfect pizza sauce recipe how are you going to use it?

    Sriracha Chicken Bacon Ranch Pizza

    This sriracha chicken bacon ranch pizza is the perfect combination of spicy and salty with a hint of creamy ranch to finish things off!

    Stuffed Crust Pizza with Chipotle Chicken

    Stuffed Crust Pizza with Chipotle Chicken. Forget take-away! This stuffed crust pizza is surprisingly easy to make and tastes amazing! Shredded chicken, a chipotle spiked tomato sauce, yellow pepper and red onion all make perfect toppings for the ultimate pizza. #pizza #recipe #chipotle #chicken

    Get all my pizza recipes here!

    How to make pizza sauce:

    Recipe

    How to make pizza sauce. Blue bowl of pizza sauce on a blue background

    How to Make Pizza Sauce

    This is the complete guide to how to make pizza sauce. Pizza is nothing without the perfect sauce and I've got the recipe for how to make pizza sauce which has amazing flavour and keeps your pizza base perfectly crisp.
    5 from 5 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Main Course
    Cuisine: Italian
    Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 25 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 30 minutes minutes
    Servings: 2 pizzas
    Calories: 226kcal
    Author: Amy Fulwood

    Ingredients

    • 3 tablespoon Olive Oil
    • 1 Onion chopped
    • 3 Cloves Garlic crushed
    • 1 400g tin Chopped Tomatoes
    • 3 tablespoon Tomato Puree
    • ½ teaspoon Chilli Powder
    • 1 teaspoon Dried Oregano
    UK Measures - US Measures

    Instructions

    • Heat the olive oil over a medium heat. Add the onion, garlic, plenty of salt and 40ml of water. Once the water has evaporated pour in the tin of tomatoes and cook down until it's almost dry.
    • Mix in the tomato puree, chilli powder and oregano and leave to cook a little more until it has a thick consistency. Tip out onto a plate and allow to cool.
    Nutrition Facts
    How to Make Pizza Sauce
    Amount Per Serving
    Calories 226 Calories from Fat 189
    % Daily Value*
    Fat 21g32%
    Saturated Fat 2g10%
    Sodium 22mg1%
    Potassium 203mg6%
    Carbohydrates 9g3%
    Fiber 1g4%
    Sugar 3g3%
    Protein 1g2%
    Vitamin A 325IU7%
    Vitamin C 8mg10%
    Calcium 29mg3%
    Iron 1mg6%
    * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
    Did you make this recipe?Tag @amycookreport on Instagram and hashtag it #thecookreport!

    How to make pizza sauce. Blue bowl of homemade pizza sauce on a blue background next to pizza bases

    More Pizza Recipes

    • Pizza on a wooden board
      Skillet Truffle Mushroom Pizza
    • Pink plate with a roasted vegetable calzone and a fork
      Roasted Vegetable Calzone with Artichokes
    • Leftover pulled pork pizza with kale sliced on a piece of greaseproof paper on a wooden board
      Leftover Pulled Pork Pizza with Kale
    • Stuffed Crust Pizza with Chipotle Chicken. Forget take-away! This stuffed crust pizza is surprisingly easy to make and tastes amazing! Shredded chicken, a chipotle spiked tomato sauce, yellow pepper and red onion all make perfect toppings for the ultimate pizza. #pizza #recipe #chipotle #chicken
      Stuffed Crust Pizza with Chipotle Chicken

    Comments

    1. Alida | Simply Delicious says

      April 12, 2018 at 2:44 pm

      5 stars
      Making your own pizza is always great and this sauce sounds like the perfect start!

      Reply
      • Amy says

        April 15, 2018 at 4:31 pm

        Thanks Alida!

        Reply
    2. Pam says

      April 12, 2018 at 2:09 pm

      5 stars
      What a delicious looking, chunky pizza sauce! And I love all the variations. The possibilities are really endless.

      Reply
    3. cindy says

      April 12, 2018 at 2:09 pm

      5 stars
      I am so hungry now. I feel equipped to make my own sauce. I think I'll give it a try this weekend!

      Reply
    4. Marisa Moore says

      April 12, 2018 at 2:02 pm

      5 stars
      I love this rustic take on pizza sauce. The sauce is critical to the flavor for sure!

      Reply
    5. Janette | Culinary Ginger says

      April 12, 2018 at 1:06 pm

      5 stars
      I agree that for a pizza to be good, the sauce has to be great and this is a great pizza sauce.

      Reply
    5 from 5 votes

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    Photo of Amy in a red jumper wearing glasses

    Hey, I'm Amy Fulwood!

    Recipe creator and photographer here at TheCookReport.co.uk.

    Over here we’re all about delicious healthy recipes to fit around busy schedules and celebrating the joy that comes from an amazing meal.

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