Easy Pizza Sauce with Tomato Paste (15-Min Recipe)

You can make rich, restaurant-quality pizza sauce with tomato paste in just 15 minutes using pantry staples. This simple recipe yields 2 cups of flavorful sauce with no-cook and simmered options, perfect for thin-crust or deep-dish pizzas.

Forget expensive store-bought sauces. With just tomato paste, water, and basic seasonings, you'll create a versatile pizza sauce that's customizable to your taste. Professional chefs like those at the American Culinary Federation prefer this method for its concentrated flavor and pantry-friendly ingredients. The key is balancing acidity with natural sweetness - a technique perfected through centuries of Italian cooking tradition.

Why Tomato Paste Makes Superior Pizza Sauce

Tomato paste delivers intense umami flavor because it's cooked down to 7-24% solids concentration, creating complex Maillard reaction compounds you can't get from canned tomatoes. Unlike whole tomatoes, paste has no excess water to dilute flavors or make your pizza soggy. According to USDA food science guidelines, tomato paste retains 30% more lycopene (the antioxidant giving tomatoes their red color) than diced alternatives.

Sauce Base	Prep Time	Flavor Depth	Pizza Sogginess Risk
Tomato paste	15 minutes	★★★★★	Low
Canned crushed tomatoes	30+ minutes	★★★☆☆	High
Store-bought sauce	0 minutes	★★☆☆☆	Medium

Gather Your Pantry Staples

You need exactly 6 ingredients - all probably in your kitchen now:

• ½ cup (120g) tomato paste (low-sodium preferred)
• ½ cup water (adjust for thickness)
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1 tsp dried oregano
• ½ tsp garlic powder
• 1 tsp sugar (balances acidity)

Pro Tip: Skip fresh garlic - its raw bite overwhelms delicate pizza flavors. Cornell University's food science department confirms dried garlic powder distributes flavor more evenly in cooked sauces.

Step-by-Step Sauce Preparation

Step 1: Bloom the Base (3 minutes)
Heat olive oil in small saucepan over medium. Add tomato paste and stir constantly until it darkens slightly ("blooms"). This critical step develops nutty, caramelized notes - the foundation of great pizza sauce.

Step 2: Hydrate & Season (2 minutes)
Gradually whisk in water until smooth. Add oregano, garlic powder, and sugar. For no-cook sauce (ideal for Neapolitan style), stop here and cool.

Step 3: Simmer for Depth (10 minutes)
For richer flavor, simmer uncovered 8-10 minutes until thickened. Stir occasionally. Never boil - high heat makes sauce bitter. This slow reduction concentrates flavors while preserving bright tomato notes.

Customize Like a Pro

For spicy lovers: Add ¼ tsp red pepper flakes with seasonings
Sweet balance: Increase sugar to 1½ tsp if using highly acidic tomatoes
Herb boost: Stir in 1 tbsp fresh basil after cooking
Umami kick: Mix in 1 tsp fish sauce (trust us - it disappears!)

Important context: This sauce works best for home ovens (400-500°F). For wood-fired pizzas (800°F+), skip simmering - the intense heat develops flavor instantly. As noted in Modernist Pizza (2021), high-heat cooking requires thinner sauces to prevent burning.

Perfect Pizza Application

Cool sauce completely before using. For 12-inch pizza:
- Thin-crust: ⅓ cup sauce, spread ½ inch from edge
- Deep-dish: ½ cup, layered between cheese
- Detroit-style: ⅜ cup, dolloped over cheese

Store in airtight container: 5 days refrigerated or 3 months frozen. Always thaw overnight in fridge - never microwave, which separates the sauce.

Can I use tomato sauce instead of paste?

Tomato sauce has too much water and will make your pizza soggy. Paste's concentrated form (7-24% solids) provides ideal thickness without pre-cooking.

Why add sugar to pizza sauce?

Sugar balances natural tomato acidity. USDA research shows even 'sweet' tomatoes have pH levels around 4.3-4.9, which tastes sharp without balancing sweetness.

How do I fix too-thick sauce?

Whisk in water 1 tablespoon at a time until desired consistency. Never add water while blooming paste - this causes splattering and uneven texture.

Can I make this vegan?

Yes! This recipe is naturally vegan. Just ensure your tomato paste contains only tomatoes (some brands add dairy derivatives).