Thick & Rich Pizza Sauce Recipe

$2.70 recipe / $0.90 per cup
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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

A pot of Thick and Rich Pizza Sauce with a wooden spoon sitting in the pot, the lid with splattered sauce on the side.

One Sauce, Many 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:

How Much 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!

Can Pizza Sauce be Frozen?

Yes! If this batch is more sauce than you need to make your pizza for one meal, go ahead and freeze the remainder. I suggest using a quart-sized freezer bag. To reheat, just tear away the freezer bag and empty the frozen sauce into a small sauce pot. Reheat over low, stirring often, until it is heated through.

Close up of Thick and Rich Pizza Sauce on a wooden spoon, with the pot and lid in the background.

Make your own Thick and Rich Pizza Sauce at home in minutes using pantry staples. Use the sauce fresh or freeze for later! BudgetBytes.com
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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)
  • 1 28oz. can crushed tomatoes ($1.47)
  • 1 6oz. can tomato paste ($0.59)
  • 1/2 Tbsp sugar ($0.05)
  • 3/4 tsp salt ($0.05)
  • 1 tsp dried basil ($0.10)
  • 1/2 tsp dried oregano ($0.05)
  • Freshly cracked black pepper ($0.05)
  • 1 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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Nutrition

Serving: 3Cups ・ Calories: 157.17kcal ・ Carbohydrates: 33.13g ・ Protein: 7.03g ・ Fat: 2.6g ・ Sodium: 1200.1mg ・ Fiber: 7.83g
Nutritional values are estimates only. See our full nutrition disclaimer here.

Equipment

stainless steel pots and pans
Stainless Steel Pots and Pans
garlic press
Garlic Press
The equipment section above contains affiliate links to products we use and love. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Want More Homemade Pizza Recipes? Try These:

How to Make Homemade Pizza Sauce – Step By Step Photos

Garlic and Olive Oil in the sauce pot
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.

Tomatoes, spices, and herbs in the sauce pot
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.

Finished Thick and Rich Pizza Sauce with a wooden spoon in the 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).

Front view of a pot of Thick and Rich Pizza Sauce with a wooden spoon in the pot.
And when you’re done, you’ll have a nice, hearty pizza sauce!

Close up of a spoon full of the Thick and Rich Pizza Sauce with the pot and lid in the background.
Perfect for dippin’!