Homemade Pizza Sauce Recipe – Budget Bytes

I’ve made Homemade Pizza Sauce before, but I wanted one that was even thicker and richer because I had some BIG plans to dip things in it. Dipping sauces have to be really thick, or else they won’t hang on to whatever is being dunked in them. But I also love a good, thick sauce on my pizzas. A thick sauce gives all the flavor without making the dough soggy. And that’s exactly what this recipe achieves.😉

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“Absolutely delicious!!! I have made this a few times now. I freeze this in 1/2 cup portions for Friday night pizza, love it!! I always have these ingredients on hand and it is so simple to make. Thank you for this recipe!!”

Kathy R

Super Easy Pizza Sauce Recipe

More often than not, store-bought pizza sauces can be watery, overly sweet, or just…meh. But when you make it yourself? You can control EVERYTHING. The richness, the seasoning, the texture. And let me tell you, this sauce recipe is next-level. It’s bold, thick, perfectly balanced, and honestly, so easy to make. Oh, and did I mention it makes a HUGE batch? You’ll have plenty to slather on pizzas, use as a dipping sauce, or even stash in the freezer. Because trust me, once you taste this, you’ll want to use it all the time.

Homemade Pizza Sauce

Use this Homemade Pizza Sauce Recipe to make your own sauce at home in minutes with just a few pantry staples. Use now, or freeze for later!

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• 2 Tbsp olive oil ($0.44)
• 1 clove garlic, minced ($0.04)
• 1 28 oz. can crushed tomatoes ($1.67)
• 1 6 oz. can tomato paste ($0.94)
• 1/2 Tbsp sugar ($0.01)
• 3/4 tsp salt ($0.03)
• 1 tsp dried basil ($0.10)
• 1/2 tsp dried oregano ($0.05)
• Freshly cracked black pepper ($0.08)
• 1 pinch crushed red pepper (optional) ($0.05)

• Add the olive oil and garlic to a sauce pot and cook over medium heat for 1-2 minutes, or just until the garlic is soft and fragrant.

• Add the crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, sugar, salt, basil, oregano, some freshly cracked pepper (10-15 cranks of a pepper mill), and a pinch of red pepper flakes. Stir to combine.

• Cover the pot, allow the pot to come to a simmer, then reduce the heat to low, and let simmer for 15 minutes minimum, or up to 30 minutes (I often let it simmer as I prepare my pizza dough).

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• To freeze this sauce, first cool it completely in the refrigerator, then transfer to quart-sized freezer bags or freezer-safe resealable containers and freeze until solid. Simply reheat over low heat in a sauce pot, with a lid to minimize evaporation, and stir often, until heated through.

Serving: 3CupsCalories: 157.17kcalCarbohydrates: 33.13gProtein: 7.03gFat: 2.6gSodium: 1200.1mgFiber: 7.83g

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How to Make Pizza Sauce Step-by-Step Photos

Sauté the garlic: Sauté one clove of minced garlic (or two if you like things garlicky!) in 2 Tbsp olive oil over medium heat for one to two minutes, or until the garlic is soft and fragrant.

Add ingredients: Add one 28 oz. can crushed tomatoes, one 6 oz. can tomato paste, 1/2 Tbsp sugar, 3/4 tsp salt, 1 tsp dried basil, 1/2 tsp dried oregano, some freshly cracked pepper, and a pinch of red pepper flakes to the sauce pot.

Stir and simmer: Stir the ingredients together, place a lid on top, then allow it to come up to a simmer. Once simmering, turn the heat down to low and let it simmer for 15 minutes minimum (I sometimes let it simmer longer while I’m preparing whatever I’m serving it with and the flavor just gets sweeter and deeper).

How to Use Homemade Pizza Sauce

This recipe makes three cups, which is enough for about 3 large pizzas or 12 dipping portions (and it freezes great!). Other than pizzas, one of my favorite ways to use it is for pizzadillas—I add cheese and toppings to a tortilla, warm it up, and use the sauce for dipping! It’s also perfect with stromboli, giving that extra layer of flavor when paired with crispy dough. You can even use it to make our zucchini boats recipe! However, one of my absolute favorite dinners at the moment is my baked pizza chicken. It’s gooey, cheesy, saucy, and always a win when made with this sauce recipe!

How to Store and Reheat

If this recipe makes more sauce than you need for one meal, go ahead and freeze the remainder of the sauce. I suggest using a quart-sized freezer bag. To reheat, just tear away the freezer bag and empty the frozen sauce into a small sauce pot. Reheat over low, stirring often, until it is heated through. You can also store it in an airtight container in the fridge for about 4-5 days. As for canning, I haven’t personally tried to can this sauce, so I can’t vouch for the results.