This is the easiest last-minute pizza sauce. I often forget to pick it up at the store, so I make this from pantry staples I always have on hand. No cooking required. I’ve used this recipe for years and it never fails. Originally published September 1, 2016.
Table of Contents
- You will love this Quick and Easy Pizza Sauce Recipe
- No Cook Pizza Sauce ingredients
- How to make Pizza Sauce (No Cook!)
- How to use this Quick Pizza Sauce recipe
- How to store No Cook Pizza Sauce
- Easy Pizza Sauce FAQs
- Recipes to use this sauce for!
- Easy No Cook Pizza Sauce Recipe
My oldest daughter, Charlotte, starts kindergarten tomorrow and I’m feeling all the emotions — she, of course, is excited and calm. We spent part of the day at Target trying on outfits. Kids grow fast and keeping up with their clothes feels like an endless chore; drawers are full of items that don’t fit anymore and it’s always a task to sort through them.
We recently attended an ice cream social at the school and met Charlotte’s teacher — small world, she goes to the same church we do. The class is a combined kindergarten and first-grade class, which was new to me: seven kindergarteners and the rest first-graders. I’m excited to see how much Charlotte learns this year.
There’s always something tempting on the calendar — a nearby store opening and a grand opening sale have a funny way of competing with school drop-off plans — but back to what matters here: pizza night. This no-cook sauce is my go-to when pizza is a last-minute plan and I don’t have store-bought sauce on hand.
Use this sauce for homemade pizza, as a dip for mozzarella sticks or garlic bread, or to add a pizza flavor to casseroles and quick snacks. It’s simple, flavorful, and ready in minutes.
You will love this Quick and Easy Pizza Sauce Recipe
This is truly the easiest pizza sauce: no cooking, pantry-friendly, and ready in about five minutes. I keep canned tomato sauce and tomato paste in the pantry, along with basic dried herbs and spices. When pizza night sneaks up on me, I mix these ingredients in a bowl and stir. The result has classic pizza flavor without fuss.
The sauce works well on pizza and also makes a great dip. If you are looking for a different pasta sauce, you might prefer a longer-simmered spaghetti sauce, but for quick homemade pizza this is ideal.
No Cook Pizza Sauce ingredients
Pantry ingredients you’ll need:
- Tomato sauce
- Tomato paste
- Dried oregano
- Dried basil
- Paprika
- Onion powder
- Sugar
- Garlic (fresh, jarred, or powdered)
How to make Pizza Sauce (No Cook!)
Quick overview:
- Combine all ingredients in a medium bowl and stir until smooth. A food processor can be used but isn’t necessary.
- Spread the sauce over your pizza dough with a ladle.
- That’s it — it’s ready to bake.
Optional additions: red pepper flakes for heat, fresh basil if you have it, a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil, or a pinch of salt to taste. The base recipe is well balanced, but it’s easy to customize.
How to use this Quick Pizza Sauce recipe
This sauce is versatile. A few uses:
- Spread on pizza dough for homemade pizza.
- Top French bread for a quick French bread pizza.
- Use as a dip for mozzarella sticks, garlic bread, or stromboli.
- Make a pizzadilla by adding pepperoni to a quesadilla, then dipping it in the sauce.
- Use with pepperoni cream cheese crescent rolls or zucchini pizza bites for snacks or lunches.
- Stir into a pizza casserole or use as a topping for pizza-style burgers and bagels.
How to store No Cook Pizza Sauce
Store the sauce in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to one week. For longer storage, freeze in zip-top bags for 3–4 months. Frozen portions are convenient for quick pizza nights.
Easy Pizza Sauce FAQs
Pizza sauce should be thick enough that it doesn’t run off the pizza but thin enough to spread easily. Tomato sauce combined with tomato paste creates the right texture.
No. This is a no-cook sauce; it will bake on the pizza in the oven.
Not exactly. Plain tomato sauce is too thin and often under-seasoned for pizza. This recipe uses tomato paste to thicken and intensify the flavor, plus herbs, spices, garlic, and a touch of sugar to balance acidity.
Watch for my next post with back-to-school lunch ideas that pair well with this sauce — the first is perfect for dipping and inspired by pizza.
Recipes to use this sauce for!
Try this sauce with French bread pizza, homemade pizza, pizza casserole, cast iron pan pizza, stromboli, zucchini pizza bites, hot pizza dip, or cauliflower pizza crust. It’s also great on pizza bagels or pizza-style burgers.
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Easy No Cook Pizza Sauce
Ingredients
- 1 15-oz can tomato sauce
- 1 6-oz can tomato paste
- 1 tablespoon dried oregano
- 1 & 1/2 teaspoons basil
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon sugar
- 1 & 1/2 teaspoons minced garlic
Instructions
- Stir together all the ingredients in a medium bowl. Add a little water, a tablespoon at a time, if the sauce is thicker than you like.
- Use a ladle to spread the sauce over your pizza dough.
- Makes about 2 and 2/3 cups — enough to cover 3–5 small (12-inch) pizzas depending on how saucy you like them.
Notes
*Or use two 8-oz cans of tomato sauce.
Leftovers freeze well in a zip-top bag for future pizza nights.
This sauce also makes a great dip.
A version of this recipe was adapted from Allrecipes.