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Rich and Delicious 30-Second Pizza Sauce For Dipping, Spreading & More (With Fresh Herbs!) Using A Blender
This homemade pizza sauce is simple, fresh, and full of flavour. It comes together with just a few ingredients—no mystery additives, just real food. And the taste? Night and day compared to the jarred stuff. Don’t ruin your homemade pizza with store bought sauce… make this instead.
Let’s talk pizza… the ultimate comfort food that somehow brings everyone to the table with zero complaints (rare, right?), the ultimate family get together or moving day meal. But did you know that even if you make your own dough (check out my super easy no-rise pizza dough recipe here!) most store-bought pizza sauces are loaded with added sugars, preservatives, and ingredients you can’t pronounce? As easy as buying canned might be, I promise you once you make this and see how easy it is (with a blender or immersion blender), you’ll never go back.
Why Homemade Pizza Sauce Wins Every Time
1. Preservative-Free and Naturally Sweet
Skip the hidden sugar and weird shelf-stabilizers in canned pizza sauces. When you make your own, you control everything that goes in—no junk, just goodness.
2. Fresh or Canned Tomatoes = Bright, Rich Flavour
I use canned tomatoes most of the year, but in the summer blending fresh tomatoes from the garden gives your sauce a brightness and depth that canned tomatoes or sauces just can’t replicate. You get real tomato flavour, not just… flavoured sugar paste. Yes, you can buy fresh tomatoes from the store, but I just don’t find it cost effective when you pay $1 per tomato these days… so canned it is until it’s garden season. This year I plan on freezing as much as I can from my garden to try and get that fresh taste all year round!
Perfect Pairing: Homemade Pizza Dough
This sauce pairs perfectly with my homemade pizza dough recipe that also works for breadsticks (plus homemade ranch for dipping!)—soft, chewy, and made for Friday night pizza night (or any night, honestly). The combo of fresh dough and this vibrant sauce is chef’s kiss. Even my almost two year old devours it.
Better with Fresh Herbs from the Garden
Nothing levels up a sauce like fresh herbs, and if you’ve never tried cooking with herbs straight from your own garden, get ready. The smell alone is worth it. Fresh oregano and basil add an earthy, fragrant layer to your sauce that dried herbs just can’t match. Dried herbs have a fraction of the aroma and flavour.. and let’s be real, your dried basil in your cupboard has probably gone stale (like… last year).
Here’s how you can make that magic happen right outside your back door:
Oregano: Set It & Forget It
Oregano is one of the easiest herbs to grow—it’s perennial, which means you plant it once and it comes back every single year. It’s hardy, low-maintenance, and loves sun, and it’s perfect for small garden beds or pots.
Even if you’re not a “plant person,” oregano is practically foolproof. I planted mine last year and have done hardly anything to it and it has doubled in size! Plus I love smelling it as I walk by.
Basil: The Queen of Summer Herbs
You have definitely walked through the garden centre or produce area of any grocery store and smelled the sweet and fragrant aroma of basil. I can’t help but smell up close every time I pass one, it just smells soo good. So just imagine what fresh basil will do in your recipes!
Basil is the queen of summer herbs, not just because of its irresistible smell, but because it is fast-growing and perfect for beginners. Unfortunately, unlike oregano, it’s an annual, which means you’ll need to replant it each year… but trust me, it’s worth it. Especially if you buy an already potted plant, then you can start harvesting as soon as you bring it home.
Parsley: An Underrated Hero
Parsley is one of my favourite herbs to grow because it is so easy and grows so fast. It seeds and spreads itself, so even though its a biennial (only grows for two seasons), you can usually plant once and forget about it (just like oregano). It is also very forgiving so if you aren’t into watering every day, it will still grow fine. I love growing parsley because I use it in so many recipes like my rich and creamy homemade ranch dressing, and as a garnish for sauces and salads. We also have rabbits in the back yard and parsley is their favourite treat!
Tomatoes: One Plant, So Many Possibilities
Fresh tomatoes are incredibly easy and budget-friendly to grow, especially in the summer. One healthy tomato plant can give you dozens of tomatoes, perfect for blending into sauces, slicing for sandwiches, or popping into salads. I use mine for all three! My goal is to grow several tomato plants and learn to can (or just freeze them) so that I can have flavourful (and cost effective) tomatoes all year round.
Immersion Blender, Blender or Food Processor?
I have all, but I prefer to use my immersion blender for this recipe (I’ll link one here!) because it is just so smooth and easy, I don’t need the full power of a food processor. If I feel like using my blender, I love my Ninja, it is so powerful and takes up so little counter space! Besides, the blades on my immersion blender are way easier to clean.
Wait, Pizza Can Actually Be Healthy?
Yep, you read that right. Pizza can be a nutrient-dense, balanced meal when you build it from scratch using fresh ingredients and lighter toppings:
- Whole ingredients = actual nutrition
- Homemade dough and sauce = no refined oils, no preservatives
- Fresh veggie toppings and lean proteins = fiber, vitamins, and healthy fats
No more greasy, overly processed takeout that leaves you feeling sluggish. This version is clean, satisfying, and easy to make part of your regular meal rotation. Trust me, your body and your budget will thank you.
Top It Off: Fresh, Fun Toppings to Try
Once you’ve got your sauce and dough ready, it’s all about the toppings! A few fresh favorites that pair beautifully with this homemade sauce:
- Creamy mozzarella cheese
- Fresh basil (another super easy herb to grow!)
- Sliced cherry tomatoes
- Mushrooms (sautéed or fresh)
- Ham & pineapple—for the kids, or the kid at heart
Whether you’re going classic Margherita or full-on “everything but the kitchen sink,” starting with a fresh, homemade base makes the final pizza so much better.
Upgrade Your Pizza Or Appetizer Night With Homemade Pizza Sauce
This homemade pizza sauce isn’t just a recipe—it’s an upgrade.
- Made from real ingredients
- Bursting with garden-fresh flavor
- Free from preservatives
- Family-approved and kid-friendly
- And yes, actually good for you
Pair it with my homemade dough, toss on your favorite toppings, and you’ve got pizza or appie night done right. Don’t forget to add the ranch for dipping!
Let me know what toppings your family loves most or tag me in your next homemade pizza night!
Homemade Pizza Sauce
Equipment
- 1 Immersion blender or food processor
Ingredients
- 1 can tomato paste 156mL
- 400 mL diced tomatoes, fresh or canned (half a 796mL can)
- 1 tsp maple syrup or granulated sugar
- 1 tsp fresh oregano as desired
- 1 tsp fresh basil as desired
- 1 tsp fresh parsley as desired
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder as desired
- Pinch fine sea salt as desired
Instructions
- Combine in tall jar and blend until desired consistency (or blend in food processor if using food processor).
- Sperad on fresh homemade pizza dough until desired amount or serve as a dip.
Pair it with these recipes!
