Easy No Sugar Pizza Sauce Recipe – State of Dinner (2024)

Published: · Modified: by Erin · This post may contain affiliate links · 2 Comments

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This quick and easy, no sugar added pizza sauce recipe comes together in less than 5 minutes and tastes as if it came from the local pizzeria. Whether you are eating Keto, or you just want to feed your kids nutritious meals, this no-cook pizza sauce recipe is the perfect solution for Friday nights!

Easy No Sugar Pizza Sauce Recipe – State of Dinner (1)

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Jump to:
  • Why You Will Love This Recipe
  • Ingredients
  • Instructions
  • Topping the Pizza
  • Make-Ahead and Storage Tips
  • What If My Sauce Tastes Too Acidic?
  • Other Uses for Pizza Sauce
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • More Pizza Recipes
  • Recipe
  • Reviews

Why You Will Love This Recipe

Friday night pizza night is a tradition we started when my kids were barely old enough to even eat pizza. We would throw a frozen pizza in the oven, turn on a movie, and finally relax after a long week.

But to be honest, I have never really thought that frozen pizzas were all that tasty. Making a simple sauce is nearly as quick as opening a pizza box, and the taste is so much better!

This is an easy pizza sauce recipe and it uses simple ingredients and no sugar to make a really flavorful sauce. The combination of tomato sauce and tomato paste gives it a bright tomato flavor. Then you just stir in a handful of ingredients and you have an incredible pizza sauce that is ready to top your dough.

For a robust pizza sauce that uses fresh basil and whole tomatoes, check out this New York-Style pizza sauce recipe.

Ingredients

Easy No Sugar Pizza Sauce Recipe – State of Dinner (2)

Tomato Sauce - Use a high-quality tomato sauce for the best flavor. Lower quality sauces may have more of an acidic taste, leading you to miss the sugar that balances that flavor.

Tomato Paste - This adds concentrated tomato flavor, allowing us to get a tomato-forward sauce without having to simmer the sauce on the stove.

Herbs - To keep it easy, this recipe uses dried herbs. The proportions in the recipe are designed to give the sauce the best flavor. In a pinch, you can substitute 4 teaspoons of Italian seasoning in place of oregano, basil, garlic powder, and onion powder.

Instructions

  • Add all of the ingredients to a medium bowl.
  • Stir well.

That's it! The sauce is ready to be spread onto your pizza dough!

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Topping the Pizza

This sauce is an easy topping for your favorite store-bought pizza crust. For a delicious homemade crust recipe, I recommend this crust that rises slowly in the refrigerator to develop great flavor and texture. Or this easy recipe, flavored with garlic and herbs, can be ready to bake in an hour.

For 12-inch pizzas, spread about ¼ to ½ cup of sauce over the surface of the dough. Sprinkle with some freshly shredded mozzarella cheese and a little parmesan cheese, and it is ready to bake!

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Make-Ahead and Storage Tips

I love to make a double batch of this quick pizza sauce recipe so that I have it on hand for our next pizza night!

Store refrigerated in an airtight container for 7 days.

Freezer tips: The sauce can be frozen for up to 3 months.

  • Pour sauce into a plastic ice cube tray to freeze. Once solid, remove from the tray and place the sauce cubes into a zip-top freezer bag. When ready to use, remove a few cubes and thaw in the refrigerator, or microwave for faster thawing.
  • If you have determined the amount that you like to use on a pizza, you can portion that exact amount into individual bags. Pull one bag from the freezer the day before pizza night and thaw in the refrigerator.
  • You could also store this sauce in mason jars. Leave about an inch of space at the top of the jar to allow room for the sauce to expand as it freezes.

What If My Sauce Tastes Too Acidic?

Sugar is often added to pizza sauce to balance the acidic taste of the tomatoes. The herbs added to this sauce are designed to help balance the flavor, but depending on the tomato sauce you use, you may find it still tastes too acidic.

There are a few different ingredients you can add that will balance the acidity while still keeping this sauce sugar-free:

  • ⅛-1/4 teaspoon of baking soda
  • A tablespoon of melted butter
  • ¼ cup of shredded carrots
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Other Uses for Pizza Sauce

  • Use as a dipping sauce for your breadsticks, cheese sticks, or anything where you would typically use a marinara sauce.
  • Mix with pasta and cheese for a pizza casserole.
  • Make an easy Eggs in Purgatory by pouring the sauce into a skillet, cracking a few eggs into the sauce, and allowing them to poach in the sauce over medium heat until the whites are set. Sprinkle with some Parmesan cheese after the eggs have cooked.

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the difference between pizza sauce and pasta sauce?

Pizza sauce is generally thicker than a tomato-based pasta sauce. The seasoning is also a little bit different, with pizza sauce typically having more zest than a pasta sauce.

How do I make a low-carb pizza?

This sauce recipe has just a few carbs per serving, so it is a wonderful place to start if you are looking to make your own homemade low-carb pizza. Simply pair it with your favorite low-carb pizza crust!

More Pizza Recipes

  • Cold Ferment Pizza Crust Recipe
  • The Best New York-Style Pizza Sauce Recipe
  • Chicago-Style Deep Dish Pizza Recipe
  • Homemade Garlic and Herb Pizza Dough Recipe
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Let me know how you like this recipe by leaving a review! And follow along on Instagram @stateofdinner for behind-the-scenes and to be among the first to know when new recipes post!

Recipe

Easy No Sugar Pizza Sauce Recipe – State of Dinner (11)

Easy No Sugar Pizza Sauce

Recipe by: Erin

Get the great flavor of pizzeria sauce without any added sugar with this easy no sugar pizza sauce recipe. It just takes minutes to whip together!

5 from 2 votes

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 3 minutes mins

Total Time 3 minutes mins

Course Condiments

Cuisine American, Italian

Servings 8

Calories 34 kcal

Ingredients

  • 16 ounces tomato sauce
  • 6 ounces tomato paste
  • 2 teaspoons dried oregano
  • 1 teaspoon dried basil
  • ¾ teaspoon kosher salt
  • ¾ teaspoon garlic powder
  • ½ teaspoon onion powder
  • teaspoon crushed red pepper

Instructions

  • Mix all of the ingredients together in a medium bowl, stirring until well-combined.

  • Spread ¼ to ½ cup over your favorite pizza crust, add your favorite toppings and bake according to your pizza crust directions.

Notes

Storage Instructions: Refrigerate in an air-tight container for up to 7 days or freeze for up to 3 months.

Nutrition

Calories: 34kcal | Carbohydrates: 8g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 684mg | Potassium: 418mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 588IU | Vitamin C: 9mg | Calcium: 27mg | Iron: 2mg

The nutritional facts provided are only estimates. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.

Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

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Easy No Sugar Pizza Sauce Recipe – State of Dinner (2024)

FAQs

Does pizza sauce need sugar? ›

Granulated sugar.

This can be omitted, or you can substitute honey. However the sugar enhances the flavor of the tomatoes and cuts the “bite” of the sauce.

How to sweeten tomato sauce without sugar? ›

Use a light hand, as a little baking soda goes a long way. For a batch of tomato sauce, start slowly with a mere 1/8 teaspoon. Give it a stir, taste, and see if you need more. You will notice the tartness start to fade, giving way to a sweetness.

What is the best substitute for pizza sauce? ›

Some popular pizza sauce alternatives include the following:
  • Pesto.
  • Ricotta Cheese.
  • Barbecue Sauce.
  • Ranch Dressing.
  • Tapenade.
  • Olive Oil and Garlic.
  • Sweet Chili Sauce.
  • Chimichurri Sauce.

How to cut acidity in tomato sauce without sugar? ›

Add Some Baking Soda

If your tomato sauce is too acidic and verging on bitter, turn to baking soda, not sugar. Yes, sugar might make the sauce taste better, but good old baking soda is an alkaline that will help balance the excess acid. A little pinch should do the trick.

Do real Italians put sugar in their sauce? ›

It is widely held that Italian immigrants began adding sugar to their sauce to make up for the overly acidic tomatoes they were forced to work with in their new home. But the history of sugar in pasta sauce actually goes back to Italy itself.

What happens if you don't put sugar in pizza dough? ›

Sugar is an oft-misunderstood ingredient in dough. Some people believe that it's necessary to include sugar to feed the yeast. In truth, yeast is perfectly happy munching on flour. If you don't want to add sugar, you don't have to, and there are plenty of breads where sugar is completely unnecessary.

What is the best way to sweeten without sugar? ›

Adding spices can enhance the taste of food. Cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, cloves, allspice, mace, cardamom and star anise are commonly associated with sweetness. These spices are often used in baked goods and pair especially well with fruit dishes. Vanilla extract can also make food seem sweeter, perhaps due to its aroma.

How to sweeten homemade tomato sauce? ›

Think of cooking as simulating a ripening process - when you cook a fresh tomato it intensifies it and sweetens it. Canned tomatoes are already cooked so that process is halfway there. Fruit and carrots are a very natural way to add mild sweetness, and carrots are my personal favorite for this.

What other sauces can you use for pizza? ›

A Quick Guide to Different Types of Pizza Sauces
  • Marinara Sauce. Marinara is one of the more versatile pizza sauces that you have to choose from. ...
  • Spicy Red Sauce. ...
  • BBQ Sauce. ...
  • Buffalo Sauce. ...
  • Alfredo Sauce. ...
  • Pesto Sauce. ...
  • Chocolate Sauce. ...
  • Become a Wood-fired Pizza Expert Overnight.

What can I use on a pizza instead of tomato sauce? ›

Some popular options include garlic, lemon juice, lemon zest and fennel. Pepper adds some kick to the mildness of a white sauce and if you're fond of heat, red pepper flakes are a good option as well. BBQ sauce – Barbeque lovers are likely to enjoy a pizza sauce alternative with a smokier flavor.

How do Italians remove acidity from tomato sauce? ›

Add a little milk to tomato sauce for a sweeter taste to offset the acidity of the tomatoes. This is a well-kept secret amongst Italian grandmothers. In northern Italy, Bolognese sauce is never made without milk! It can be added at the beginning or end of cooking.

What pasta sauce doesn't have sugar? ›

Be the hero at dinner with Prego® Traditional No Sugar Added Pasta Sauce. Versatile and delicious, this classic red sauce features the rich, sweet taste of vine-ripened tomatoes balanced with flavorful herbs and seasonings, perfect for any recipe.

Does adding baking soda to tomato sauce help acid reflux? ›

Add small pinches of baking soda to your tomato sauces, but be careful not to salt the food beforehand. Adding baking soda to the sauce will cause a chemical acid base reaction that results in a salt being formed. Salt your dish after adding baking soda to neutralize the acidity to your liking.

Why do they put sugar in pizza sauce? ›

Michael Chiarello, chef and owner of Bottega Restaurant in Yountville, California, explains: “A pinch of sugar is a Southern Italian trick that was used when the sauce was made with end-of-season tomatoes that did not get ripe, or the tomatoes were so tart they needed to be balanced." In Chiarello's cookbook At Home ...

Should I add sugar to my sauce? ›

If tomato season is over and you resort to canned tomatoes, a minute amount of sugar can enhance the sauce. However, you may not need it if you make sauce from in-season homegrown San Marzano or another sweet variety of tomatoes.

Does tomato sauce need sugar? ›

The natural sugars in tomatoes themselves, such as fructose and glucose, contribute to the sauce's overall sweetness. Even in traditional home-made tomato sauce made from scratch, a little sugar is often added to balance the flavours.

Do you need to add sugar to pasta sauce? ›

Usually no. But putting (a very small bit) of sugar or even a tiny pinch of baking soda in the tomato sauce can help if it is too acidic, but this is only done if the person cooking it is really in a rush.

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