Name: Recipe "Pizza Sauce"
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 15 min
Ingredients: 1 tbsp olive oil; 2 cloves garlic (minced); 1 pinch fennel seed; 28 oz crushed tomatoes; 6 oz tomato paste; 1 tsp dried basil; 1 tsp dried oregano; 1 tsp salt; 0.25 tsp crushed red pepper

Keep exploring with Slow Cooker Apple Butter, Fresh Cranberry Orange Sauce, or Baked Polenta Pie.

Why This Homemade Pizza Sauce Beats Store-Bought

This easy pizza sauce is the one you’ll want to make whenever you’re making pizza from scratch. It comes together in about 15 minutes with ingredients you probably already have in your pantry, and it tastes far more flavorful than anything from a jar. The bright tomato taste, with a subtle hint of fennel and a kick of red pepper, makes every bite feel special. Once you try it, you won’t go back to the bland, straight-tomato stuff.

3 Reasons to Make This Easy Pizza Sauce

Pantry staples only. Olive oil, canned tomatoes, dried herbs, and a pinch of fennel seed, you likely have everything on hand already.
Far better than store-bought. Fresh garlic and a careful balance of herbs give it a depth that jarred sauces just can’t match.
Freezes like a dream. Make a double batch and stash it in the freezer for up to 3 months. Pizza night is always ready.

Key Ingredients for This Pizza Sauce Recipe

Crushed tomatoes: Use good-quality canned crushed tomatoes, preferably San Marzano, for the best flavor. They provide the base of the sauce without needing to be cooked down.
Fennel seed: Just a pinch adds a subtle, almost sweet licorice note that sets this sauce apart. Toast the seeds briefly in the oil before adding garlic for extra depth.
Fresh garlic: Minced fresh garlic gives a pungent, aromatic kick that garlic powder can’t match. Sauté it just until fragrant to avoid bitterness.

Kitchen Tools for Making Pizza Sauce

Medium saucepan (2- to 3-quart)
Wooden spoon or silicone spatula
Garlic press or chef’s knife for mincing
Jar or airtight container for storage

Tips for the Best Homemade Pizza Sauce

Sauté the garlic for just 1 minute over medium heat until it’s fragrant but not browned. Burnt garlic turns bitter, and you want that fresh, pungent flavor to carry through the sauce.

Let the sauce simmer for at least 10 minutes to let the flavors meld, but you can go up to 30 minutes if you have the time. The longer simmer deepens the tomato richness and softens the fennel seed’s edge. Taste before serving and adjust the salt or crushed red pepper to your liking.

Easy Pizza Sauce Variations to Try

If you like a spicier sauce, increase the crushed red pepper to ½ teaspoon. For a smoother texture, use an immersion blender after simmering to break down any tomato chunks. You can substitute the dried basil and oregano with 1 tablespoon each of fresh herbs, stirring them in at the end to preserve their brightness. If your tomatoes taste especially acidic, add a pinch of sugar to balance the flavor.

Ways to Use This Pizza Sauce

This sauce is made for pizza, of course. Spread it over your favorite homemade or store-bought crust, then top with mozzarella and your favorite toppings. It also works beautifully in calzones, as a dipping sauce for breadsticks or garlic knots, or even stirred into a quick pasta dish.

For a simple weeknight meal, toss it with cooked spaghetti and a handful of fresh basil. Pair any of these with a crisp green salad dressed with lemon and olive oil.

How to Store Homemade Pizza Sauce

Let the sauce cool completely, then transfer it to a jar or airtight container. It will keep in the refrigerator for up to 1 week. Use a glass jar if you have one, it doesn’t absorb odors and lets you see how much sauce is left.

How to Freeze Pizza Sauce for Later

Cool the sauce completely, then pour it into freezer-safe bags or containers. Leave about an inch of headspace for expansion. Label with the date and freeze for up to 3 months. To thaw, place the container in the refrigerator overnight, or reheat directly from frozen in a saucepan over low heat, stirring occasionally. If the sauce thickens too much after thawing, stir in a tablespoon of water to loosen it.

How to Reheat Pizza Sauce

To use the sauce warm, reheat it in a small saucepan over low heat, stirring occasionally, until heated through. You can also microwave it in a bowl in 30-second bursts, stirring between each. If you’re using it straight from the fridge, you can spread it cold onto pizza dough, it will heat up in the oven just fine.

Pizza Sauce FAQs

Can I use fresh tomatoes instead of crushed?

I don’t recommend it for this recipe. Fresh tomatoes would need to be peeled, seeded, and cooked down significantly to get the right consistency, and the flavor won’t be as concentrated. Canned crushed tomatoes give you a consistent, rich base every time.

Can I omit the fennel seed?

Yes, you can leave it out. The sauce will still taste great. But that pinch of fennel adds a subtle, almost sweet anise note that makes this sauce stand out. If you have it, I’d encourage you to try it at least once.

Is this pizza sauce gluten-free?

Yes, all the ingredients in this recipe are naturally gluten-free. Just double-check that your crushed tomatoes and tomato paste are labeled gluten-free if you’re sensitive to cross-contamination.

Can I double the recipe?

Absolutely. Use a larger pot (4- to 5-quart) and increase the simmer time slightly if needed, maybe 15 minutes instead of 10. The sauce freezes well, so a double batch is a great idea for future pizza nights.

Recipe

Pizza Sauce

This easy homemade pizza sauce is made with pantry staples and tastes SO much better than store bought. Plus, it freezes well so you can always have pizza sauce ready for pizza night!

easyVegan

5 min

Prep Time

10 min

Cook Time

15 min

Total Time

Servings

Italian

Cuisine

43 kcal

Calories

Ingredients

Servings

1 tbsp olive oil
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 pinch fennel seed
28 oz crushed tomatoes
6 oz tomato paste

1 tsp dried basil
1 tsp dried oregano
1 tsp salt
0.25 tsp crushed red pepper

Instructions

1
In a medium saucepan, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the garlic and sauté for 1 minute. Add the fennel seed, crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, basil, oregano, salt, and crushed red pepper. Stir until combined and simmer over low heat for 10 minutes. You can simmer for up to 30 minutes, if you want.

2
Store the pizza sauce in a jar or airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 week or cool completely and freeze for up to 3 months.

Nutrition (per serving)

43kcal

Calorie breakdown

Protein11%5 kcal

Fat33%16 kcal

Carbohydrates56%28 kcal

How this was calculated — 9 of 9 ingredients matched

olive oilOil, corn, peanut, and olive133 kcal

garlicGarlic, raw15 kcal

fennel seedSpices, fennel seed1 kcal

crushed tomatoesTomatoes, grape, raw214 kcal

tomato pasteTomato products, canned, paste, without salt added (Includes foods for USDA's Food Distribution Program)139 kcal

dried basilBasil, fresh1 kcal

dried oreganoSpices, oregano, dried13 kcal

saltSalt, table0 kcal

crushed red pepperPeppers, sweet, red, raw0 kcal

Serving size ≈ 84 g · 12 servings

Nutrition information is automatically calculated from USDA FoodData Central, so should only be used as an approximation. Actual values may vary depending on the ingredients, brands, and preparation methods used.

Open in analyzer

Keyword: dairy-free, dairyFree, gluten-free, glutenFree, nutFree, Simmered, spicy, vegan, vegetarian

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