Here’s a homemade pizza sauce recipe that’s just as it should be: rich, thick, and perfectly seasoned. It’s tastier than store-bought, easy to make, and it’s ready in just 15 minutes!
When a pizza craving hits, this easy homemade pizza sauce saves me a trip to the store. It tastes fresh, has a classic pizzeria-style texture, and comes together quickly using ingredients I usually have on hand.
I make this sauce without olive oil or tomato paste—just a jar of tomato sauce, garlic, a pinch of sugar, balsamic vinegar, Italian seasoning, sea salt, and a few chili flakes for gentle heat. Letting it simmer thickens the sauce and concentrates the flavors, so it spreads beautifully without turning watery.
It stores well, so I’ll often double or triple the batch and keep some in the fridge or freezer for busy nights. I love pairing it with homemade pizza dough for a made-from-scratch meal that always hits the spot.
How long does pizza sauce last in the fridge?
It will keep in the fridge in a sealed jar or container for up to 5 days.
Can I freeze pizza sauce?
Absolutely! Portion it out and store it in freezer-friendly containers or silicone bags. If freezing in a jar or container, leave a ½-inch headspace to allow for expansion. When ready to use, remove it from the freezer the morning of to thaw, or add it to a small pot to warm on the stove.
How to use homemade pizza sauce
This is my go-to pizza sauce that I use on our spicy chorizo pizza , but it’s great on all pizza. Sometimes we like to keep it simple with a good sauce, cheese, and fresh herbs. Other times we layer on toppings like mushrooms, olives, fresh basil, or pepperoni.
Check out all of my pizza recipes for more ideas!
Homemade Pizza Sauce Recipe
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Ingredients
- ▢ 1 15-ounce can tomato sauce
- ▢ 1 clove garlic (finely minced)
- ▢ 2 teaspoons sugar (can use honey)
- ▢ 2 teaspoons balsamic vinegar
- ▢ 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- ▢ ¼ teaspoon sea salt
- ▢ 1 pinch chili flakes (optional)
Instructions
- Add the tomato sauce, garlic, sugar, balsamic, Italian seasoning, sea salt, and chili flakes to a small pot with high sides. 1 15-ounce can tomato sauce, 1 clove garlic, 2 teaspoons sugar, 2 teaspoons balsamic vinegar, 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning, ¼ teaspoon sea salt, 1 pinch chili flakes
- Bring the pot to a boil over medium-high heat then reduce the heat to medium. Let it simmer with the lid off for 10-15 minutes, stirring every few minutes. When it starts to splatter a lot, partially cover the pot with a lid – DO NOT cover the pot completely or the pizza sauce won’t thicken.
- Use the pizza sauce right away or store it in your fridge for up to 5 days. It also freezes very well!
Nutrition
We have thoroughly tested this recipe for accuracy. However, individual results may vary. See our full recipe disclosure here .
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Favorite pizza sauce recipes
- Pesto Pizza Sauce (on our green goddess pizza)
- Gochujang Pizza Sauce (on our gochujang pulled pork Korean pizza)
- Romesco Recipe – this is a Spanish sauce that we’ve used on pizza before and it works surprisingly well!
- Sweet and Spicy Pizza Sauce
- White Garlic Pizza Sauce
Homemade Pizza Sauce Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 15-ounce can tomato sauce
- 1 clove garlic , finely minced
- 2 teaspoons sugar , can use honey
- 2 teaspoons balsamic vinegar
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- ¼ teaspoon sea salt
- 1 pinch chili flakes , optional
Instructions
- Add the tomato sauce, garlic, sugar, balsamic, Italian seasoning, sea salt, and chili flakes to a small pot with high sides. 1 15-ounce can tomato sauce, 1 clove garlic, 2 teaspoons sugar, 2 teaspoons balsamic vinegar, 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning, ¼ teaspoon sea salt, 1 pinch chili flakes
- Bring the pot to a boil over medium-high heat then reduce the heat to medium. Let it simmer with the lid off for 10-15 minutes, stirring every few minutes. When it starts to splatter a lot, partially cover the pot with a lid - DO NOT cover the pot completely or the pizza sauce won’t thicken.
- Use the pizza sauce right away or store it in your fridge for up to 5 days. It also freezes very well!
