Homemade Pizza Sauce
This Homemade Pizza Sauce is so flavorful and is ready in under 20 minutes. Use it to make your favorite pizza or as a dipping sauce!
A DELICIOUSLY THICK PIZZA SAUCE RECIPE
One staple recipe that I encourage everyone to have is a good Homemade Pizza Sauce recipe! We use this recipe all the time and not just for pizza. It makes a great dipping sauce for Garlic Bread, Breadsticks, mozzarella sticks and Toasted Ravioli too! We enjoy Friday night pizza nights where we go all out. I make a Homemade Pizza Dough and this pizza sauce and everyone has fun topping it just the way they like. So if you want a good, dependable sauce, then you have to make my Homemade Pizza Sauce recipe!

TIPS FOR MAKING HOMEMADE PIZZA SAUCE:
- This is a quick and easy sauce. I think it is the perfect thickness for a sauce but if you want it even thicker, leave the pan uncovered as it cooks and the excess moisture will evaporate. Just cook it low and slow for a longer period of time and stir often.
- If you don’t want to use fresh basil, you can substitute 1 tsp dried basil in this recipe. The fresh basil really adds amazing flavor through so try it at least once with the fresh stuff!
- This makes about 4 cups, but you can easily double that to have more to use. You can also cut this recipe in half to have less.
- Parmesan cheese is optional, but I highly recommend it as it gives a great flavor to the sauce itself!
- If you are able to find canned San Marzano tomatoes, use those! They aren’t always easy to find in my area but they are such a flavorful canned tomato – so use it if you got it!

INGREDIENTS NEEDED: (FULL RECIPE AT THE BOTTOM OF THE POST)
- olive oil
- fresh garlic
- crushed tomatoes
- tomato paste
- sugar
- oregano
- salt and pepper
- basil leaves
- parmesan cheese

HOW TO MAKE HOMEMADE PIZZA SAUCE:
In a large skillet over medium-low heat, add the olive oil. Once hot add the garlic and cook for 30 seconds, until fragrant, stirring constantly.

To the skillet add the crushed tomatoes and tomato paste and stir.

Add sugar, oregano, salt, and pepper to pan. Stir together to fully combine. Bring to a simmer. Simmer covered for about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. You can simmer the sauce longer but at a minimum of 5 minutes.

Take off the heat and tear the basil leaves into the sauce along with the parmesan cheese.

Stir until combined.

Now the pizza sauce is ready to use!

Use it on your favorite pizza dough or as a dipping sauce for so many things!

HOW TO STORE:
- This Homemade Pizza Sauce Recipe can be stored in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to 1 week. I like to store it in covered mason jars.
- You can also freeze this sauce. To do so, pour into a freezer container or freezer bag and place in freezer where it will be good for up to 2 months.
- To defrost: you can place it in your refrigerator overnight or reheat on the stovetop in a pot or use the defrost setting on your microwave.
- If you don’t use sauce that often, you might want to consider canning the pizza sauce. Follow proper canning methods to safely can the sauce and store.
CRAVING MORE RECIPES? GIVE THESE A TRY!

Homemade Pizza Sauce
Ingredients
- 2 Tablespoons olive oil
- 4 cloves fresh garlic minced
- 28 ounce can crushed tomatoes
- 3 Tablespoons tomato paste
- 2 teaspoons granulated sugar
- 2 teaspoons dried oregano
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- 5 fresh basil leaves
- 2 Tablespoons grated parmesan cheese
Instructions
- In a large skillet over medium-low heat, add the olive oil. Once the oil is hot add the garlic and cook for 30 seconds, until fragrant, stirring constantly.
- To the skillet add the crushed tomatoes, tomato paste. Stir.
- Add sugar, oregano, salt, and pepper to pan. Stir together to fully combine.
- Bring sauce to a simmer. Simmer covered for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. You can simmer the sauce longer but at a minimum of 5 minutes.
- Take off the heat and tear the basil leaves into the sauce along with the parmesan cheese and stir.
- Now the pizza sauce is ready to use! Use it on your favorite pizza dough or as a dipping sauce.
Notes
- This is a quick and easy sauce. I think it is the perfect thickness for a sauce but if you want it even thicker, leave the pan uncovered as it cooks and the excess moisture will evaporate. Just cook it low and slow for a longer period of time and stir often.
- If you don’t want to use fresh basil, you can substitute 1 tsp dried basil in this recipe. The fresh basil really adds amazing flavor through so try it at least once with the fresh stuff!
- This makes about 4 cups, but you can easily double that to have more to use. You can also cut this recipe in half to have less.
- Parmesan cheese is optional, but I highly recommend it as it gives a great flavor to the sauce itself!
- If you are able to find canned San Marzano tomatoes, use those! They aren’t always easy to find in my area but they are such a flavorful canned tomato – so use it if you got it!
Nutrition
Nutritional Disclaimer
“The Country Cook” is not a dietician or nutritionist, and any nutritional information shared is an estimate. If calorie count and other nutritional values are important to you, we recommend running the ingredients through whichever online nutritional calculator you prefer. Calories and other nutritional values can vary quite a bit depending on which brands were used.