San Marzano Pizza Sauce

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Homemade San Marzano Pizza Sauce is a quick recipe that requires little effort but comes with a big payoff in it’s versatility and flavor. The fresh taste will make this sauce your new obsession.

San Marzano Pizza Sauce in a clear bowl.

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This San Marzano Pizza Sauce is so fresh and flavorful with no unnecessary additives and made with the best quality ingredients. You can make this recipe so easily, for less money and customize it to your own families taste.

We love this sauce on all of our pizza recipes and these Air Fryer Pizza Bagels. Taste of Home has 30 different uses here for pizza sauce.


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What We Love About This San Marzano Tomato Sauce Recipe

The best part of this easy Pizza Sauce is that it is a jump point for you to create something unique that your family will love.  By adding your own unique spin on this sauce.  If you like it hotter add a little more red pepper flakes or whatever spices that you like.

  • Easy Ingredients: This only takes a few easy ingredients most from the pantry.
  • Family Friendly: Great for dip, your favorite pizza, calzones or pasta.
  • Adaptable: Can make this delicious pizza sauce it your own by adding your favorite spices.
  • Makes Ahead: You can use a canner for this sauce, freeze this sauce or store in the fridge.
A side view of the sauce with a spoon and herbs.

Ingredient Notes

  • Extra Virgin Olive Oil: A good quality oil for the best sauce.
  • Garlic Cloves: finely minced fresh garlic or a jar of garlic.
  • Seasoning: Onion Powder, Dried Oregano, Dried Basil, Crushed Red Pepper, Fresh Basil leaves and Fresh Oregano.
  • San Marzano Tomatoes: These Italian tomatoes are the best tomatoes to make the best pizza sauce from the Naples area.
All the Ingredients for the pizza sauce.

Variations and Substitutions

Making homemade pizza? Try this quick pizza dough.

How to Make Neapolitan Pizza Sauce

These are the basic steps for making easy pizza sauce. Please refer to the recipe card below for more detailed instructions and total time.

Two shots of making the sauce.

STEP 1: HEAT

First, in a large saucepan over medium-high heat, add olive oil and butter; heat until butter is melted. Stir in garlic and stir for 30 seconds or until fragrant.

STEP 2: BLEND

Then add onion powder, dried oregano, dried basil and crushed red pepper; stir for 30 seconds. Add brown sugar, San Marzano tomato sauce, water, parmesan cheese, tomato paste and salt; Stir to combine.

STEP 3: SIMMER

Finally, bring to slight boil, reduce heat and simmer for 1 hour. Lastly, at the very end, stir in fresh basic and fresh oregano in small pieces.

Prep and Storage Tips

HOW TO MAKE THIS RECIPE AHEAD OF TIME

This recipe is best to make ahead of time. Allows all the flavors to blend together and meld into the best sauce.

HOW TO STORE THIS RECIPE

Store this authentic Italian pizza sauce in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

HOW TO FREEZE THIS RECIPE

Freeze sauce in silicone Muffin tins and then place the frozen sauce in freezer bags so that you can take out as needed.

HOW TO REHEAT THIS RECIPE

Thaw in the microwave and then place a dallop on your pizza dough and top with your favorite toppings.

Frequently Asked Questions

HOW TO MAKE THIS RECIPE DAIRY FREE?

Do not use the cheese or the butter or use a dairy free alternative for this pizza dipping sauce. Easy to make gluten free.

CAN I SUBSTITUTE THIS SAUCE FOR PASTA SAUCE?

Of course, you can substitute this pizza sauce for pasta sauce or dipping sauce or other dishes.

CAN THIS RECIPE BE DOUBLED OR HALVED?

Indeed it is easy to adjust the recipe card below to make the quantity that you wish.

CAN I MAKE THIS RECIPE THICKER?

Absolutely, you can use dop whole tomatoes and have a chunky sauce.

A spoon of the finished ingredient.

Expert Tips for Making This Homemade Pizza Sauce Recipe

  • Fresh is Best: Use the fresh herbs and freshly ground cheese, the end result is worth the effort.
  • Blender:  For a smoother sauce use a blender or food processor.
  • Go Cheesy: I love different cheese blends so I like to experiment by adding different ones to the sauce.
  • Try Meat or Veggies: I love to add some cooked crumbled sausage or some sautéed vegetables to the sauce to change up the flavor.
  • Roast: Roast the tomatoes in the oven for rich, deep flavor.

What to Serve with San Marzano Pizza Sauce

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San Marzano Pizza Sauce in a clear bowl.
5 from 25 votes

San Marzano Pizza Sauce

Yield: 2 cups
Prep: 5 minutes
Cook: 1 hour 2 minutes
Total: 1 hour 7 minutes
San Marzano Pizza Sauce is quick and requires little effort but ends up being super flavorful. This sauce will become your new favorite!
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⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️Did you try this recipe? Please leave a star rating and review below!

Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 tablespoon butter
  • 4 cloves garlic, finely minced
  • 2 teaspoons onion powder
  • 2 teaspoons dried oregano
  • 1 teaspoon dried basil
  • ¼ teaspoon red pepper, crushed
  • 1 tablespoon brown sugar
  • 30 ounces San Marzano tomato sauce, 2 (15 ounce) cans
  • ½ cup water
  • ¼ cup parmesan cheese
  • 3 tablespoons tomato paste, San Marazano is preferred
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 2 teaspoons fresh basil, minced
  • 1 teaspoon fresh oregano, minced

Instructions

  • In a large saucepan over medium-high heat, add olive oil and butter; heat until butter is melted.
  • Stir in garlic and stir for 30 seconds or until fragrant.
  • Add onion powder, dried oregano, dried basil and crushed red pepper; stir for 30 seconds.
  • Add brown sugar, tomato sauce, water, parmesan cheese, tomato paste and salt; Stir to combine.
  • Bring to slight boil, reduce heat and simmer for 1 hour.
  • At the very end, stir in fresh basic and fresh oregano.

Expert Tips

    • Fresh is Best: Use the fresh herbs and freshly ground cheese, the end result is worth the effort.
    • Blender: Smooth Marzano pizza sauce is made using an immersion blender, regular blender or food processor.
    • Go Cheesy: I love different cheese blends so I like to experiment by adding different ones to the sauce.
    • Try Meat or Veggies: I love to add some cooked crumbled sausage or some sautéed vegetables to the sauce to change up the flavor.
    • Roast: Roast the tomatoes in the oven for a rich, deep tomato flavor.
    • Homemade Pizza Dough: Find a great pizza dough recipe, spiced up with your favorite spices and herbs.

    Estimated Nutritional Information

    Calories: 331kcal | Carbohydrates: 39g | Protein: 12g | Fat: 17g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 8g | Trans Fat: 0.2g | Cholesterol: 24mg | Sodium: 3622mg | Potassium: 1624mg | Fiber: 9g | Sugar: 24g | Vitamin A: 2560IU | Vitamin C: 38mg | Calcium: 303mg | Iron: 7mg
    The nutritional information provided are estimates. To learn more about how I calculate this information go to www.itisakeeper.com/about-its-a-keeper/privacy-disclosure-policies/
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    Course: Sauces, Seasonings, Dressings
    Cuisine: Italian

    This recipe is my personal adaption of an ethnic inspired recipe. It is not intended to be an authentic recipe.  I’ve recreated this recipe because I enjoy the flavors and I want to encourage my readers to expand their tastes and try new flavor combinations. The recipe, ingredients and processes may have been adapted to make the recipe accessible for the average American. I have provided links to authentic versions of the recipe in the post above. I encourage you to visit these pages and learn more about the traditional version(s) of this recipe.

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