Zesty, rich, and full of herbs and garlic, this Easy Homemade Pizza Sauce is super simple to make with ingredients already in your kitchen!
Who doesn’t love pizza for dinner? Homemade pizza is a fun and easy family meal and having a great pizza sauce is the key to delicious results.
This Easy Homemade Pizza Sauce is simple and can be made ahead of time and kept in the fridge for up to a week so it’s ready whenever you are!
What you’ll need to make Easy Homemade Pizza Sauce
- Olive Oil – any type of olive oil can be used. Extra virgin olive oil has a stronger flavor than regular but it is not really noticeable in this sauce. If you don’t have olive oil at all you can substitute canola oil instead!
- Chopped Onion – we like to use red onion or shallots in this recipe for a milder onion flavor but feel free to use white or yellow onion instead.
- Minced Garlic – fresh garlic is always the best but chopped garlic or even canned minced garlic can be used. In a pinch you can substitute one teaspoon of garlic powder. Just stir it in when you add in the herbs.
- Herbs –
- 1/4 cup fresh basil = 1/2 tablespoons of dried
- 2 teaspoons of dried oregano = 2 tablespoons of fresh
- 1/2 teaspoon of dried rosemary = 1/2 tablespoon fresh rosemary
- salt & pepper – regular, kosher or sea salt and fresh ground or regular black pepper
- red pepper flakes – this is optional but adds a nice flavor in the background without making the pizza sauce spicy. Add more if spicy is what you are looking for!
- Tomato Sauce & Tomato Paste – these form the base of the sauce and are a blank slate. Buy the least expensive versions!
- Brown Sugar – don’t skip this! It cuts the acidity of the tomatoes and balances out the sauce.
How to make Easy Homemade Pizza Sauce
Easy Homemade Pizza Sauce is simple to make at home using common pantry staples like tomato sauce, tomato paste and dried herbs.
Make this delicious sauce ahead of time and keep in the fridge for up to a week!
Heat olive oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat until the oil is hot and shimmering.
Add onion and garlic and cook for 3 minutes until onion is softened.
Add the basil, oregano, rosemary, salt, pepper and red pepper flakes (if using) and stir.
Reduce the heat to low and add tomato sauce, tomato paste, and brown sugar.
Stir until completely combined.
Stir in 1/2 cup of water and cover the saucepan with a lid.
Cook for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally, to let the flavors develop.
Remove from heat and allow pizza sauce to cool.
Use immediately or store in a covered container in the refrigerator for up to a week. Enjoy!
How to use Easy Homemade Pizza Sauce
To use the pizza sauce, just spread in an even layer on top of any unbaked pizza crust. Spread the sauce as thick or as thin as you want it to be!
Add shredded cheese and whatever toppings you love.
And then bake and enjoy. So easy and so delicious!
Other Easy Weeknight Recipes You might like
Easy One Pan Egg Roll Bowl – all the delicious flavors of an egg roll at home. Family friendly, quick and easy!
Weeknight Lasagna with Meat Sauce – made with available on hand pantry ingredients. Simple, satisfying and delicious!
Simple Weeknight Meatloaf – Simple and easy comfort food that is a throwback to childhood and a piece of cake to throw together on a weeknight. You can make it the night before and just pop it in the oven too!
Easy Lemon Chicken Skillet Dinner – Tender strips of chicken breast, baby potatoes and mushrooms smothered in a tangy lemon pan sauce.
Sausage and Spinach Spaghetti Pie – With Italian sausage and spinach hidden inside this is an unexpectedly good (and super easy!) weeknight creation that the entire family will love.
Easy Homemade Pizza Sauce
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 1/4 cup onion finely chopped
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 1/4 cup fresh basil 1/2 tbsp dried
- 2 tsp oregano dried
- 1/2 tsp dried rosemary chopped or crushed
- 1/4 tsp each salt & pepper
- 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes optional
- 1 can tomato sauce 10 oz
- 1 can tomato paste 6 oz
- 1 tbsp brown sugar
- 1/2 cup water
Instructions
- Heat olive oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat until the oil is hot and shimmering. Add onion and garlic and cook for 3 minutes until onion is softened.
- Add the basil, oregano, rosemary, salt, pepper and red pepper flakes (if using) and stir.
- Reduce the heat to low and add tomato sauce, tomato paste, and brown sugar. Stir until completely combined.
- Stir in 1/2 cup of water and cover the saucepan with a lid.
- Cook for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally, to let the flavors develop.
- Remove from heat and allow pizza sauce to cool.
- Use immediately or store in a covered container in the refrigerator for up to a week. Enjoy!
Nutrition *
* The information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator.
Kathy says
This looks really good. I don’t like rosemary can I use fennel instead?
Michelle Mundy says
Of course you can use whatever you like and take out whatever you don’t like. Fennel would be great! <3