Making a quick, flavorful pizza sauce at home is easier than you might think. With tomato paste, a little water, olive oil, and a handful of seasonings you can mix a red sauce ready to spread on dough, brush on pre-baked crusts, or use as a dip for breadsticks—no simmering required.
This simple sauce is perfect for busy weeknights or feeding a crowd. It pairs especially well with thin crust pizzas and also works as a base for savory breads or as a quick marinara substitute.
Ingredients for Easy Pizza Sauce from Tomato Paste
Many traditional pizza sauces start with canned or fresh tomatoes and are simmered to develop flavor. This recipe skips the long simmer and leans on the concentrated flavor of tomato paste. By adding water and a few seasonings you get a bright, well-balanced sauce in minutes—no stove required.
- Tomato paste. Any tomato paste will work. Double- or triple-concentrated pastes are more intense and may need more water to reach your preferred consistency.
- Olive oil. A small amount adds richness and helps the herbs bloom.
- Dried herbs and seasonings. A blend of basil, oregano, rosemary, salt, and pepper is a great starting point. Garlic or onion powder can be added for extra depth.
Tomato paste is commonly found in the canned vegetable aisle. Choose regular, double-, or triple-concentrated varieties based on how stretched or intense you want the flavor to be.
What Spices and Herbs Go in Homemade Pizza Sauce?
Customize the sauce to your taste. You can keep it simple with salt and pepper, or build layers of flavor with dried herbs and aromatics. Below are suggested spices and starting quantities for one batch; adjust items and amounts to suit your family.
- Dried basil: ¼ teaspoon
- Garlic powder: ½ teaspoon
- Dried marjoram: ¼ teaspoon
- Dried oregano: ¼ teaspoon
- Onion powder: ½ teaspoon
- Dried parsley: ½ teaspoon
- Dried rosemary: ¼ teaspoon
Quick Tips for Making Pizza Sauce from Tomato Paste
Even a simple no-cook sauce benefits from a couple of small techniques. Start by combining the paste and oil with the dried herbs so the oil can loosen and distribute flavor. Add water gradually—especially if you’re using a concentrated paste—to reach the texture you want. Taste and adjust salt, pepper, or garlic powder before using.
Tomato Paste to Water Ratio for Pizza Sauce
The ideal water-to-paste ratio depends on the type of tomato paste you use. A 1:1 ratio of water to double-concentrated paste can produce a very smooth, saucy consistency. For canned regular paste, you may only need about half as much water. Add water one tablespoon at a time until the sauce is spreadable but not watery.
Quick Tips for Storing Leftover Pizza Sauce Made from Tomato Paste
Store leftover sauce in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to one week. If you want to keep it longer, freeze the sauce for up to six months using single-serving portions so you can thaw only what you need.
To Freeze in Single Servings
Drop about ¼ cup portions onto parchment, freeze until solid (about 1–2 hours), then transfer the frozen lumps to a freezer bag. Thaw a frozen portion in the fridge a few hours before you plan to use it.
Recipes You May Also Enjoy
This sauce is versatile: use it on homemade thin crust pizza, as a dipping sauce for breadsticks, or offer it alongside a creamy pesto as a second sauce option for pizza night. It’s a quick way to add reliable tomato flavor to many dishes.
Dish Cleanup: Piece of Cake
The cleanup for this recipe is minimal. You only need one bowl, a spatula, and a couple of measuring spoons. Rating the cleanup effort on a scale from one (very easy) to five (very messy), this sauce earns a 1.
Pizza Sauce from Tomato Paste Recipe
Thanks for stopping by! If you try this pizza sauce, please leave a review to let others know how it turned out.
Pizza Sauce from Tomato Paste
Ingredients
- ¾ cup (196.5 g) tomato paste
- ½ cup (120 ml) water, more as needed
- 1 teaspoon olive oil
- ¼ teaspoon dried basil
- ¼ teaspoon dried oregano
- ¼ teaspoon dried rosemary
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Instructions
- In a small bowl, mix the tomato paste with the olive oil and dried herbs until smooth.
- Add half of the water and stir to combine. Then add more water, one tablespoon at a time, until the sauce reaches the consistency you prefer.
- Use immediately on up to four homemade pizzas, or store leftovers in the fridge for up to a week.
Notes
Adjust spices to taste and experiment with additions like garlic or onion powder. This sauce also warms nicely as a dip for breadsticks.
Nutrition (per serving)
Calories: 51 kcal | Carbohydrates: 9 g | Protein: 2 g | Fat: 1 g | Sodium: 104 mg | Fiber: 2 g | Sugar: 6 g
Video
I’d love to see how your pizza turns out—take a photo and share it online if you like. Tag @floralapronblog or use the hashtag #floralapronbakes to share your results.