Thick & Rich Pizza Sauce Recipe

I’ve made pizza sauce before but I wanted one that was even thicker and richer because I had some big plans to dip things in it (and by “things” I mean pizzadillas). Dipping sauces have to be really thick or else they won’t hang on to whatever is being dunked in them. No watery pizza sauce here, folks!

Originally posted 8-3-11, updated 6-21-17

Homemade Pizza Sauce From Scratch

Pizza Sauce Uses

Pizza sauce is great for a lot more than just pizzas! This super thick and rich sauce is my new go-to red sauce. Use it for meatball subs, eggplant or chicken parmesan, or just for dipping breadsticks. it’s a quick, easy, all-purpose red sauce. Here are a few other great things to use your Thick and Rich Pizza Sauce for:

• Pizzadillas
• Pizza Roll Ups
• Pesto Pizza Rolls
• Baked Pizza Chicken
• Homemade Cheesy Garlic Bread
• Stromboli
• Zucchini Pizza Boats

How Much Thick & Rich Pizza Sauce Does This Make?

This recipe makes three cups, which is about 3 large pizzas or 12 dipping portions (or like, six pizza sandwiches). The sauce freezes great so go ahead and freeze some of it and then you won’t have to make a batch the next time you want a pizza!

Print Recipe

4.86 from 34 votes

Thick & Rich Homemade Pizza Sauce

Use this Thick and Rich Pizza Sauce Recipe to make your own sauce at home in minutes with just a few pantry staples. Use now, or freeze for later!

Total Cost: $2.70 recipe / $0.90 serving

Prep Time: 5 mins

Cook Time: 20 mins

Total Time: 25 mins

Servings: 3 cups

Ingredients

• 2 Tbsp olive oil ($0.26)
• 1 clove garlic, minced ($0.08)
• 28 oz. can crushed tomatoes ($1.47)
• 6 oz. can tomato paste ($0.59)
• 1/2 Tbsp sugar ($0.05)
• 3/4 tsp salt ($0.05)
• 1 tsp basil ($0.10)
• 1/2 tsp dried oregano ($0.05)
• Freshly cracked pepper ($0.05)
• Pinch crushed red pepper, optional ($0.02)

Instructions

• Add the olive oil and garlic to a sauce pot and cook over medium heat for 1-2 minutes, or just until the garlic is soft and fragrant.
• Add the crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, sugar, salt, basil, oregano, some freshly cracked pepper (10-15 cranks of a pepper mill), and a pinch of red pepper flakes. Stir to combine.
• Cover the pot, allow the pot to come to a simmer, then reduce the heat to low, and let simmer for 15 minutes minimum, or up to 30 minutes (I often let it simmer as I prepare my pizza dough).

Notes

To freeze this sauce, first cool it completely in the refrigerator, then transfer to quart-sized freezer bags or freezer-safe resealable containers and freeze until solid. Simply reheat over low heat in a sauce pot, with a lid to minimize evaporation, and stirring often, until heated through.

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Nutritional values are estimates only. See our full nutrition disclosure here.

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Scroll down for the step by step photos!

How to Make Homemade Pizza Sauce – Step By Step Photos

Sauté one clove minced garlic (or two if you like things garlicky!) in 2 Tbsp olive oil over medium heat for one to two minutes, or until the garlic is soft and fragrant.

Add one 28oz. can crushed tomatoes, one 6oz. can tomato paste, 1/2 Tbsp sugar, 3/4 tsp salt, 1 tsp dried basil, 1/2 tsp dried oregano, some freshly cracked pepper, and a pinch of red pepper flakes to the sauce pot.

Stir the ingredients together, place a lid on top, then allow it to come up to a simmer. Once simmering, turn the heat down to low and let it simmer for 15 minutes minimum (I sometimes let it simmer longer while I’m preparing the pizza dough and the flavor just gets sweeter and more deep).

And when you’re done, you’ll have a nice, hearty pizza sauce!

Perfect for dippin’!