Make pizza like the Italians do with this authentic no-cook pizza sauce. It uses just 5 simple ingredients and has a bright tomato flavor. The perfect recipe for homemade pizza night.
True Italian food is simple food. They use fresh local ingredients and handle them minimally to preserve their natural taste. We know that Italians make the best pizza, and great pizza starts with a great sauce. This authentic Italian pizza sauce recipe is made with just 5 simple ingredients and requires no cooking—perfect for quick, easy, and delicious pizza nights at home. Bursting with bright tomato flavor, this no-cook sauce will be your go-to for any style of pizza.
Whether you're making Neapolitan-style pizza, Roman-style pizza, Detroit-style pizza, or your own homemade creation, this Italian pizza sauce recipe delivers big flavor. It's light, fresh, and perfectly balanced, enhancing every bite without overpowering your toppings. Plus, it comes together fast—no stove, no simmering, just simply stir the ingredients together.
Made with pantry staples like crushed tomatoes, extra virgin olive oil, basil, salt, and oregano, this easy pizza sauce recipe is the perfect accompaniment for any dough. If you're looking for the perfect sauce for your next pizza night, this authentic, no-cook version is a must-try.
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Why You Should Make Your Own Pizza Sauce
- Incredibly quick & easy—All you have to do is stir the ingredients together and it's ready to use.
- 5 ingredient recipe
- Bright & fresh tomato flavor—with no cooking required, the natural sweetness of the tomatoes really comes through.
- Tastes way better than storebought sauce.
- Perfect for homemade pizza night! This pizza sauce is easy, delicious, and also great to keep on hand in the fridge or freezer.
- Authentic Italian method—this homemade pizza sauce is closer related to a Neapolitan pizza sauce than an American style pizza sauce. It's simple and unfussy.
- No cooking required = no mess!
- Naturally gluten free, dairy free and vegan.
Want more pizza night recipes? Try these Italian Marinated Olives, Gluten Free Mozzarella Sticks, Italian Pasta Salad, Gluten Free Focaccia, Kale Crunch Salad.
Ingredient Notes
Here is everything you'll need to make this easy no cook pizza sauce:
- 796ml can of crushed san marzano tomatoes—I use Mutti Polpa, they are bright and delicious straight out of the can. If you like a really smooth sauce, you could use passata—aka strained tomatoes without the seeds. And if all you have are whole san marzano tomatoes, pulse the sauce in a blender a few times.
- Extra virgin olive oil—use the best you have.
- Fresh basil leaves—fresh is key! Basil compliments tomatoes so well.
- Salt—taste and adjust for salt when mixing.
- Dried oregano—gives that iconic pizza sauce flavor.
Ingredients Not to Use
Italians take great care of their ingredients and use them simply to highlight their natural taste and beauty. Here are some common ingredients that should not be used in an authentic san marzano pizza sauce like this recipe:
- Garlic or garlic powder: While these are common ingredients in Italian-American recipes, they are actually not used in Italian pizza sauce since the garlic flavor can be quite harsh.
- Sugar: Absolutely no sugar in authentic Italian sauces! High-quality tomatoes like Mutti have a natural sweetness that does not require processed sugar.
- Tomato paste: This concentrated flavor is intended to be cooked in pasta sauces or soups. It does not belong in pizza sauce.
Equipment
All you need is a bowl and a spoon to stir the ingredients together! If you're using whole tomatoes or simply like a smoother sauce, you can add everything to a blender or food processor and pulse it a few times.
How to Make Authentic Italian Pizza Sauce
Be sure to read the recipe card below for the full ingredient list and instructions.
(1) Add all ingredients to a large bowl and stir to combine. Taste and adjust for salt if needed.
If your tomatoes are not already crushed, you can add the ingredients to a blender or food processor and pulse until crushed.
(2) Spread straight onto your store-bought or homemade pizza dough recipe, add toppings, and cook pizza as directed. This amount of sauce will cover 4-6 12" pizzas.
Storage & Freezing
Store pizza sauce in a container in the fridge for up to 10 days. Or freeze it in a ziploc bag for up to 3 months and thaw in the fridge before using.
Expert Tips
Here are some of my top tips for the best easy homemade pizza sauce:
- Use high quality canned San Marzano tomatoes. Authentic flavor starts with great tomatoes. My preference is to use Mutti Polpa—which are crushed Italian tomatoes. You could also opt for whole peeled San Marzano tomatoes (preferably DOP certified) for their natural sweetness, low acidity, and rich flavor. If unavailable, use the best quality Italian canned tomatoes you can find.
- Don't over-blend. If you're starting with whole tomatoes, just pulse the ingredients together a few times, don't blend for 3 minutes. Italian pizza sauces are naturally a little chunky. Too much blending and it will be watery.
- Use a nice extra virgin olive oil for best flavor.
- Fresh basil adds a bright summer taste. It's worth it to get fresh basil. The oregano can be fresh or dried.
- Make a large batch of pizza sauce and can it for use all year!
- Be sure to taste the sauce and adjust for salt. It is perfectly safe to eat raw.
Frequently Asked Questions
Italian pizza sauce is typically not cooked. It has a fresh flavor, slightly chunky texture, and contains simple seasonings like olive oil, basil, oregano, and salt. Tomato sauces for pasta are nearly always cooked or simmered to develop deeper flavor. They may contain fresh tomatoes, but also tomato paste. Seasoning can vary but typically onion, garlic, basil, and wine are common ingredients.
San Marzano tomatoes are grown in the Campania region of Italy, near Naples. Due to the mineral-rich volcanic soil, abundant water sources and constant humidity, the tomatoes have fewer seeds, more flesh, lower water content, and a naturally sweet flavor. You know they are real Italian tomatoes when you see D.O.P. San Marzano tomatoes (Denominazione d’Origine Protetta or Protected Designation of Origin). My favorite brand is Mutti Tomatoes.
This authentic no-cook pizza sauce is as easy as it gets—just stir a few simple ingredients together and you're done. No cooking, no fuss, just fresh Italian flavor in minutes. It’s a recipe you’ll turn to again and again for effortless, delicious pizza nights.
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Have you made this easy no-cook Italian pizza sauce? I'd very much appreciate it if you leave a 5-star rating ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ and review below, and tag me on instagram @fromoliviaskitchen!
Recipe
Authentic Pizza Sauce Recipe (No Cook)
Ingredients
- 1 can (796ml) crushed san marzano tomatoes I use Mutti Polpa
- 3 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- A few torn basil leaves
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon dried oregano
Instructions
- Add all ingredients to a large bowl and stir to combine. Taste and adjust for salt if needed.
- If your tomatoes are not already crushed, you can add the ingredients to a blender or food processor and pulse until crushed.
- Spread straight onto your pizza dough, add toppings, and cook as directed.
Notes
- Mutti is my favorite brand of tomato products, and the Polpa is delicious in this sauce.
- This amount of sauce will cover 4-6 12" pizzas.
- Store pizza sauce in a container in the fridge for up to 10 days. Or freeze it in a ziploc bag for up to 3 months and thaw in the fridge before using.
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