Pizza sauce using tomato paste is thick, rich, and perfect for homemade pizza. Ready in 5 minutes and full of bold, customizable flavor-no cooking required.
This sauce isn't watery at all, because the tomato paste acts as a thickener and packs in that lovely tomato flavor. It's my go-to pizza sauce because I like to be able to control how thick it is. Too thick and it makes a dry pizza, too wet and it's soggy. Pizza sauce with tomato paste is the perfect solution!
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This sauce is great for any style of pizza - simple margherita, , deep dish, it's also pretty good with chicken bacon bbq pizza, though my sauce for that is usually easy ranch dip. I love the strong tomato flavor without the extra moisture from regular tomato sauce.
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Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Taste: Classic pizza sauce seasonings, the sauce tastes a little more robust since there is less excess moisture like in tomato sauce. It uses pantry staples, and it's super easy to customize!
- Ease: No cooking required, just mixing together ingredients into a bowl.
- Time: Less than 5 minutes start to finish to make the sauce!
- Use for more than pizza:
- Quick dipping sauce for homemade soft pretzels, breadsticks, or meat ball sandwiches with soft French bread.
- Base for pasta sauce or red pesto,
- Meal prepping for breakfast pizzas, pizza quesadillas (with homemade discard tortillas), or sauce for grilled cheese.
🛒 Key Ingredients
- Tomato Paste - thickens the sauce and brings out the rich tomato flavor without being runny.
- Balsamic Vinegar - just a little bit adds depth of flavor as an acid enhancement. You could also use Worcestershire or soy sauce for more umami. I'd start with ¼ teaspoon and add more to taste.
- Seasonings - I'm sticking to basics with salt & pepper, garlic & onion powder, and a classic Italian seasoning mix. You can always add basil and organic to taste.
See the recipe card below for full information on ingredients and quantities.
✏️ Customize It
- Make it spicy - add a pinch or two of red chili flakes or chili oil.
- Italian vs American style
- Italian minimalist - use quality olive oil and San Marzano tomato paste, don't use added sweeteners.
- American - thick and herby, can add a teaspoon of honey or sugar to balance out acidity.
- Alternatives when out of tomato paste: crushed tomatoes, volume the same as the combined paste and water would have been.
🧑🍳 Instructions
- Step 1. In a bowl, combine all ingredients.
- Step 2. Whisk together until smooth, add more seasonings to taste. You can experiment with sweetness, umami boosters like Worcestershire or a little soy sauce, or spiciness.
Optional Tip: Simmer the sauce for 5 minutes to help the flavors from the spices blend with the sauce.
I like to make the pizza sauce ahead and freeze it in quart bags, or refrigerate until I need it. It's so easy to prep ahead!
📌 Troubleshooting
- Too much water - can lead to a soggy crust. If it's watery, add another Tablespoon or two of tomato paste and mix it well.
- Over-seasoning - dried spices are pretty potent, if you are sensitive to those flavors add less than you think you'll need, and then add more to adjust the flavor.
- Confusing tomato paste with tomato sauce/pureé. It happens to the best of us!
❓Frequently Asked Questions
Tomato paste is too thick and tart to use by itself, it needs to be diluted a little with water or chicken broth and other seasonings for pizza sauce.
Refrigerated: up to 5 days in an airtight container.
Frozen: up to 3 months.
Yes, just a small dash. It adds depth and balances acidity.
I use 8oz of water (240mL) to 6 oz of tomato paste.
This recipe makes enough for one 16-18 inch pizza, and can be thinned out with a little more water or olive oil to make it spread.
It can also be used for a sheet pan pizza.
More Basic Pantry Recipes
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📝 Printable Recipe
Quick Tomato Paste Pizza Sauce
Ingredients
- 6 oz tomato paste
- 2 Tablespoons olive oil
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder 4g
- 1 teaspoon onion powder 4g
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon ground pepper
- ¼ teaspoon balsamic vinegar or 1 teaspoon lemon juice
- 1½ teaspoons Italian seasoning 1.5g
- 1 cup water 240 mL
Instructions
- In a bowl, combine all ingredients.6 oz tomato paste , 2 Tablespoons olive oil, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, 1 teaspoon onion powder, ½ teaspoon salt, ¼ teaspoon ground pepper, ¼ teaspoon balsamic vinegar, 1½ teaspoons Italian seasoning , 1 cup water
- Whisk together until the sauce is smooth. You can optionally simmer the sauce for 5 minutes to help the spice flavors blend. Can use immediately or refrigerate for up to 5 days until ready to use.
Notes
Nutrition
Hi, I'm Sara!
Registered Nurse by day, food blogger by weekend. Perfect dip tester & snack quester. I love short walks on the beach and long naps. Sharing my love for food, one bite at a time.
Sara says
Stronger tomato flavor than regular pizza sauce, I like it! Some recipes I've had have made the pizza soggy but this one is thicker and it's nice.