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    Home » Recipes » Sides

    No Cook Pizza Sauce (with Crushed Tomatoes)

    Jul 30, 2021(updated Dec 27, 2022)

    By Michelle Weiner

    Whip up this simple No Cook Pizza Sauce in seconds using 5 pantry staple ingredients. Savory, herby, and sweet, this is the best sauce to layer on any type of pizza!
    5 from 1 vote
    Prep Time 5 minutes
    Jump to Recipe Leave a Comment
    A glass jar filled with a red tomato sauce and a spoon with sauce on it next to the jar.

    This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Jump to:
    • Pasta sauce vs. pizza sauce
    • Crushed tomato pizza sauce ingredients
    • How to make crushed tomato pizza sauce
    • Tips and tricks
    • Make ahead and freezing tips
    • Recipe
    • 💬 Reviews

    A basic pizza sauce that’s almost too good to be true

    You’re going to want to skip the takeout after trying this easy and delicious No Cook Pizza Sauce. Made with pantry staple ingredients like crushed canned tomatoes, garlic, oil, salt, and oregano, this no-nonsense tomato sauce comes together in seconds while still packing in the flavor.

    A glass jar filled with a red tomato sauce and a spoon with sauce on it next to the jar.

    There are a lot of things I love about this easy pizza sauce recipe: it’s ready in seconds, the flavors are fresh and light, it’s flexible, and the flavors are better than any bottled pizza sauce I’ve ever tried! The secret is to use high-quality ingredients. Some nice canned crushed tomatoes and a quality extra virgin olive oil will make all the difference.

    Whether you’re making pizza right away or preparing a batch of sauce along with your homemade pizza dough or gluten free pizza crust, this easy no cook pizza sauce can be stored away and even freezes so well!

    Close up of a spoon with tomato sauce in it.

    Pasta sauce vs. pizza sauce

    They’re both made with tomatoes and Italian seasonings, so why aren’t they the same? Because pasta sauce is cooked and pizza sauce isn’t! 

    According to The Kitchn, pizza sauce (made with pureed tomatoes, salt, and maybe some seasonings) is left uncooked because the more basic the flavors, the more balanced your pizza will taste.

    Slowly cooking tomatoes with herbs creates a deeper, more intricate flavored sauce, which is great for pasta since the tomato sauce is the star of the show. On pizza, however, a too-rich or sweet sauce can take away from the other toppings.

    Crushed tomato pizza sauce ingredients

    The 5 ingredients in this quick pizza sauce recipe are super simple, but that doesn’t mean you can skip out on the quality. Don’t fret: you can find quality versions of all of these ingredients while still sticking to a budget. 

    A bottle of olive oil, a head of garlic, a small bowl of salt and a small bowl of oregano, and a can of crushed tomatoes on a blue surface.

    Canned crushed tomatoes

    Crushed tomatoes still have a bit of texture to them so you can enjoy a bit of fresh tomato flavor in your pizza. You can use any kind of quality canned tomatoes, but my favorites are DeLallo, Cento, and Bianco Di Napoli.

    Extra virgin olive oil

    This traditional unrefined Meditterenean oil will emulsify the sauce while helping it taste rich and smooth. I don’t recommend swapping it with any other type of oil because the flavors are so special.

    The quality of the oil will make a huge difference in this sauce as well! A good extra virgin olive oil will have a golden-green color and a peppery, rich flavor.

    Close up overhead of half of a cheese pizza.

    Garlic

    Whether it’s used in dips, quiche, or appetizers, fresh garlic always infuses rich and savory flavors! It’s a huge part of almost all Italian cooking and gives this sauce its signature savoriness.

    You should grate the garlic using a Microplane so the flavors can distribute evenly and you don’t get any big, strong-tasting chunks. If you don’t have a Microplane/rasp grater, a garlic press should work well.

    Salt

    It’s necessary to round out all of the flavors and keep everything in balance. Feel free to add a pinch of cracked pepper too!

    Dried oregano

    There’s some flexibility here because basic homemade pizza sauce doesn’t always need herbs. I like dried oregano for the classic Italian flavors but you can always leave it out or replace it with fresh basil or parsley.

    How to make crushed tomato pizza sauce

    Trust me when I say that this easy pizza sauce is going to replace the jarred stuff in your cupboards. It’s so easy to make and ready in seconds:

    Crushed tomatoes, olive oil, crushed garlic, oregano and salt in a white bowl.

    Step 1: Combine all of the ingredients into a large bowl.

    Overhead of a white bowl filled with a pizza sauce and a whisk next to it.

    Step 2: Whisk it all up!

    Overhead of a pizza dough topped with pizza sauce on a piece of parchment paper with a bowl of cheese next to it.

    Step 3: Then put it on your favorite pizza dough and make some pizza!

    Tips and tricks

    Create the homemade pizza sauce of your dreams with these helpful recipe tips:

    Play with the flavors

    • Savory: Grate 1 or 2 extra garlic cloves into the sauce or replace the fresh garlic with roasted garlic instead. A little onion powder will help it taste more pronounced as well.
    • Herby: Stir some chopped fresh basil and/or parsley along with the oregano.
    • Spicy: Red pepper flakes or Calabrian chili paste will give it a nice kick.
    • Cheesy: Some grated hard cheese, like Parmigiano Reggiano, Asiago, or Peccorini, will take this sauce from good to great!
    Close up of a white bowl filled with a red tomato sauce with a spoon handle coming out of it.

    How do you thicken pizza sauce without tomato paste?

    I don’t recommend thickening pizza sauce with tomato paste because it will only intensify the sweetness and tomato flavor. If it’s too thin for your liking, try cooking the sauce over medium heat until it reduces slightly.

    Use a blender

    The only equipment you really need to make pizza sauce is a medium bowl and whisk. However, if you want to really have a smooth sauce, throw everything (except the oregano) in a blender and blend until smooth. Stir in the oregano after it’s done.

    Let it chill

    Uncooked pizza sauce is good to go as soon as it’s all stirred together. To intensify the flavors, leave the sauce to chill in the fridge for about 3 hours so all of the ingredients can mingle together.

    Make ahead and freezing tips

    If you aren’t making homemade pizza right away, the sauce will last for up to 5 days when kept in a sealed container in the fridge.

    A blue silicone container (Souper Cube), with six individual slots filled with pizza sauce and a white bowl with some pizza sauce still in it on a blue surface.

    To freeze, divide the sauce into ice cube trays (these Souper Cubes were made for this!) and freeze for up to 6 months. When ready to use, defrost the amount you need in the fridge overnight or in the microwave using defrost settings.

    🎉 It's time to cook! 🎉

    Alright, friend! It's your turn to make this delish recipe for your next get-together.

    ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ When you do, please leave a comment and star rating below so we can hear what you think! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

    Recipe

    A glass jar filled with a red tomato sauce and a spoon with sauce on it next to the jar.

    No Cook Pizza Sauce

    Whip up this simple No Cook Pizza Sauce in seconds using 5 pantry staple ingredients. Savory, herby, and sweet, this is the best sauce to layer on any type of pizza!
    Prevent your screen from going dark
    Print Rate Pin
    Author: Michelle Weiner
    Course: Sauce
    Cuisine: Italian
    Keyword: pizza, pizza party
    Prep Time: 5 minutes
    Makes: 3.5 cups

    Equipment

    bowls
    small whisk
    souper cubes

    Ingredients

    • 1 28-ounce can crushed tomatoes
    • 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
    • 1 garlic clove grated or crushed
    • ¾ teaspoon salt
    • ½ teaspoon dried oregano

    Instructions

    • Combine everything in a medium bowl and whisk to combine.
    • Then use it to make your favorite pizza!
    Did you make this recipe?Share a pic and tag @cupofzest and use #cupofzest so I can see it!

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    Comments

    1. Carm says

      January 12, 2023 at 9:54 am

      5 stars
      This was the perfect pizza sauce. I'm Sicilian and grew up eating my mom's uncooked pureed fresh tomatoes seasoned lightly, as you've done and this took me back. Thank you. It was perfect, even though I was too lazy to use fresh garlic...the garlic powder worked well.

      Reply
      • Michelle Weiner says

        January 22, 2023 at 1:42 pm

        Carm! OMG, that you so much for your kind review! Hearing how much you enjoyed it really made my day! Thank you!

        Reply

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