Homemade Pizza Sauce
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Once you’ve made homemade pizza sauce, you’ll never go back. Once you’ve realized you can make LOTS of pizza sauce and learn how to freeze it, you’ll for SURE never go back!
Why You’ll Love this Recipe
- As a rule of thumb, ingredients like pizza sauce, pesto, marinara sauce, and salad dressings are just better when made from scratch.
- The ingredients are less processed, there are less additives and preservatives.
- You can modify the taste depending on what you like!
- Pizza sauce is freezer friendly. Double the recipe and freeze it in small portions for future pizza nights or dipping sauce for recipes like our High Protein Pizza Muffins.
Whenever possible, we try to make things from scratch. You’d be surprised at how easy it is to make your own things like hot chocolate, croutons, BBQ sauce, and even breadcrumbs.
Ingredients Needed
The ingredients are super simple. Here is what you need:
- Avocado or olive oil
- Yellow onion
- Fresh garlic
- Chicken broth
- Crushed tomatoes
- Oregano
- Fresh basil leaves – As a general rule, use one-third the amount of dried basil as you would fresh.
How to Make Pizza Sauce
- Saute onions and garlic.
- Whisk in the chicken broth, picking up any brown bits off the bottom of the pan.
- Add in the crushed tomatoes, dried oregano, fresh basil, salt and pepper.
- Reduce the heat to low and simmer for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Taste and season with more salt and pepper to your preference.
Ways to Use Homemade Pizza Sauce
What’s the best way to freeze pizza sauce?
Have some leftover pizza sauce? Don’t let it go to waste! Just like marinara sauce, pizza sauce freezes beautifully and can be used months and months down the road!
Freeze For Later: Cook sauce as directed. Let cool completely. Once cooled, pour into mason jars (leave 1 inch of head space at the top) or Souper Cubes. Store for up to 3 months in the freezer.
Prepare From Frozen: Thaw sauce in refrigerator overnight or using the defrost setting on the microwave. Warm over low heat on the stovetop or in the microwave.
FAQs
Absolutely! Fresh tomatoes can give your sauce an even fresher taste. Just be sure to use ripe, juicy tomatoes like Roma or San Marzano for the best flavor. You’ll need to blanch and peel them before using, which adds a bit more prep time, but the result is well worth it.
Stored in an airtight container, homemade pizza sauce can last in the refrigerator for up to a week. Just give it a good stir before using it, as the ingredients may separate a little over time.
If you prefer a thicker pizza sauce, you can simmer it longer to reduce the liquid. Another option is to add a small amount of tomato paste during cooking, which will thicken the sauce and intensify the tomato flavor.
Yes, you can freeze pizza sauce, and it’s a great way to have homemade sauce on hand for future meals. Just cool the sauce completely, then portion it into freezer-safe containers or bags, leaving some room for expansion. It can be stored in the freezer for up to 3 months and thawed overnight in the refrigerator or gently on the stove when needed.
More Homemade Sauces You’ll Love
Pizza Sauce
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 tablespoons avocado or olive oil
- 1 medium onion (chopped finely)
- 3 cloves garlic (minced)
- 1/2 cup low sodium chicken broth
- 3 (15-ounce) cans crushed tomatoes
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 8 fresh basil leaves (chopped)
- Salt and pepper
Instructions
- Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium high heat. Once it’s shimmery, add in the onions and cook until they are soft, about 4 to 5 minutes. Stir in the garlic and cook another 30-60 seconds.
- Whisk in the chicken broth, picking up any brown bits off the bottom of the pan. Cook until the liquid reduces by half, about 1-2 minutes.
- Add in the crushed tomatoes, dried oregano, fresh basil, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper.
- Reduce the heat to low and simmer for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally. You may want to put on the lid and open it a crack to prevent splatters.
- Taste and season with more salt and pepper to your preference. You can also use an immersion blender at this point, if you want a smoother sauce.
Freezer Instructions
Notes/Tips
- Want a smoother texture? Use an immersion blender once the sauce is fully cooked.
- There are many ways to freeze pizza sauce. Just keep this in mind: air is the enemy of freezer food. The less air exposure your sauce gets, the longer it will last.
Nutrition
My go-to recipe for homemade pizza sauce. Thanks!
This sauce presents as being too runny to use as a pizza sauce. I have followed your recipe as stated but fear adding it to the pizza crust. Do you have this problem?
I’m glad you said something because I have been meaning to update the recipe. I found it to be a bit runny too. The last few times I have used it I decreased the amount of water and olive oil I used. Hope this helps!
You can also use a can of tomato paste to thicken the pizza sauce
Great tip! Thank you!