San Marzano Pizza Sauce

This straightforward San Marzano Pizza Sauce showcases only the best Italian ingredients in a traditional, tomato-based red sauce, including san marzano tomatoes, onions, garlic, and fresh herbs. It’s done in 20 minutes and perfect for pizza night and beyond!

overhead photo of a skillet of san marzano pizza sauce with a wood spoon

It’s not delivery …it’s homemade pizza with san marzano pizza sauce! I’ve been using this restaurant-worthy sauce on pizza for as long as I can remember because it’s nearly as easy to make from scratch as it is grabbing a jar from the store.

Not to mention, this homemade pizza sauce is much more flavorful thanks to the starring ingredient: san marzano tomatoes. These tomatoes are high-quality, incredibly tasty, and the way to go if you’re after pizza with authentic Neapolitan-style flavor. 

The best part? There’s a good chance you already have the remaining ingredients in your pantry, so you can get started on this sauce ASAP! In about 20 minutes, you’ll have a batch of the best homemade pizza sauce in the business!

Why san marzano tomatoes are the best

Chefs in Italy and all around the globe agree that san marzano tomatoes are the optimal tomato for pasta and pizza sauce, but what makes them so special? Here are the highlights of this prized tomato before we get started on the sauce:

  • “San Marzano” refers to a particular tomato cultivated in volcanic soils in a relatively small region in Italy between Naples and Salerno. 
  • Growing these tomatoes in volcanic soils is said to produce a much sweeter and more tomatoey tomato with fewer seeds and less acid. 
  • They’re a long, thin variety of plum tomatoes with thick, meaty flesh ideal for canning. 

Ingredients You’ll Need

ingredients for san marzano pizza sauce measured out on a white counter
  • San marzano tomatoes – To add to what we discussed above, these tomatoes contain less water with a sweeter, more umami-forward flavor profile than other types of plum tomatoes. I highly recommend using an authentic can of san marzano tomatoes (like Cento). 
  • Olive oil As with any good homemade Italian sauce, use only the best olive oil to sauté the aromatics. 
  • Onion You can use any type of onion to infuse the pizza sauce with fragrant, savory flavor, including shallots, red onion, and white onion. 
  • Garlic Fresh garlic cloves are non-negotiable, and adding an extra clove or two is never a bad idea. 
  • Tomato paste – A can of tomato paste builds on the sweet and tangy tomatoey flavor and helps make a smooth sauce. Again, quality is critical!
  • Basil and oregano – I used fresh herbs, but dried herbs will work in a pinch. Remember, the flavor of dried herbs is more concentrated, so you should only use about half the amount of dried herbs instead of fresh ones. 
  • Sugar – Adding a bit of sugar to a simmering pot of tomato-based sauce helps neutralize the acidity from the tomatoes, creating a more balanced, palatable flavor profile. You can also use honey here. 
  • Salt – Elevates and rounds out the dynamic flavors. 

How to make pizza sauce with san marzano tomatoes

Step 1: Purée the can of tomatoes. First, blend the tomatoes in a high-speed blender or food processor until smooth. Set aside. 

san marzano tomatoes in a blender
pureed tomatoes in a measuring cup

Step 2: Sauté the aromatics. Heat olive oil in a large pan over medium heat, then add the minced onion and garlic and cook, frequently stirring, until soft and fragrant. 

onion and garlic in a skillet

Step 3: Simmer the sauce. Add the tomato purée, tomato paste, sugar, herbs, and salt to the pan and bring to a boil. Then, reduce the heat and simmer for 15-20 minutes -that’s it!

ingredients for san marzano pizza sauce in a skillet ready to cook

Step 4: Serve or store. At this point, you can either use the pizza sauce immediately or store it in the refrigerator or freezer. See below for safe storage instructions. 

pizza sauce cooked in a skillet ready to use

Recipe tips

  • Use the right amount of tomatoes and save the rest.  San marzano tomatoes are typically sold in 28-ounce cans, but this recipe only calls for 16 ounces of puréed tomato. I find it easiest to purée the whole can, reserve 2 cups for the pizza sauce, and freeze the remaining 1½ cups for spaghetti sauce, marinara, arrabbiata sauce, or tomato basil bisque
  • Adjust the consistency to preference. This recipe results in a smooth, spreadable sauce, but feel free to make a more rustic sauce with tangible pieces of tomato. Instead of puréeing, add the tomatoes to the saucepan whole and gently crush them with a wire masher until your desired texture is reached. 

Serving suggestions

If I have yet to convince you to make this san marzano pizza sauce from scratch, perhaps the usage possibilities apart from pizza will sell you: 

We love it for making homemade pizzas on our Big Green Egg. You can buy premade pizza dough (or make your own), top with this sauce, and then add your favorite toppings. Easy and delicious!

meatball basil and mozzarella pizza cooking on a big green egg

If you have a green egg, the pizza stone is definitely worth buying!

grilled pizza on a big green egg

Storing & freezing

Storing: If you have extra pizza sauce, let it cool to room temperature and refrigerate it in an airtight glass jar or container for 4-5 days. 
Freezing: This pizza sauce recipe is good to double (or triple!) and freeze for later. Once cooled, portion the sauce in freezer-proof containers or zip-top baggies, leaving an inch of space at the top for expansion, and freeze for up to 3 months. Then, thaw it in the fridge overnight when you’re ready.

Recipe FAQs

What is the best substitute for a can of san marzano tomatoes?

When it comes to taste and texture, nothing comes close to a real san marzano tomato, but if you need a substitution, go with a can of whole, peeled roma tomatoes.

Can I make this with fresh tomatoes instead?

If you can get your hands on fresh san marzano tomatoes, by all means, use them, but you’ll need to blanch and peel them beforehand.

How much pizza sauce does this make?

This recipe makes about 3 cups or enough sauce for roughly 3-4 large 14” pizzas.

More recipes for pizza night

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overhead photo of a skillet of san marzano pizza sauce with a wood spoon

San Marzano Pizza Sauce

This San Marzano Pizza Sauce is a traditional, tomato-based sauce, including tomatoes, onions, garlic, and fresh herbs ready in 20 minutes or less.
4.60 from 5 votes
Print Pin Rate
Course: Sauce
Cuisine: Italian
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 20 minutes
Servings: 24 servings
Calories: 24kcal
Author: Amee

Equipment

  • Blender
  • Skillet

Ingredients

  • 1/2 onion minced
  • 1 clove garlic finely minced
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 28 oz can san marzano tomatoes
  • 6 oz can tomato paste
  • 2 tsp sugar
  • 1 tsp fresh basil finely chopped (can also use dried)
  • 1 tsp oregano fresh or freeze dried
  • 1/2 tsp salt or more, to taste

Instructions

  • First, blend the tomatoes in a high-speed blender or food processor until smooth. Reserve 2 cups and save the rest for another use.
  • Heat olive oil in a large pan over medium heat, then add the minced onion and garlic and cook, frequently stirring, until soft and fragrant. 
  • Add the tomato purée, tomato paste, sugar, herbs, and salt to the pan and bring to a boil. Then, reduce the heat and simmer for 15-20 minutes.
  • Makes enough sauce for 3-4 pizzas. Bon Appetit!

Notes

  • Use the right amount of tomatoes and save the rest.  San marzano tomatoes are typically sold in 28-ounce cans, but this recipe only calls for 16 ounces of puréed tomato. I find it easiest to purée the whole can, reserve 2 cups for the pizza sauce, and freeze the remaining 1½ cups for spaghetti sauce, marinara, arrabbiata sauce, or tomato basil bisque
  • Adjust the consistency to preference. This recipe results in a smooth, spreadable sauce, but feel free to make a more rustic sauce with tangible pieces of tomato. Instead of puréeing, add the tomatoes to the saucepan whole and gently crush them with a wire masher until your desired texture is reached. 

Nutrition

Serving: 1tbsp | Calories: 24kcal | Carbohydrates: 3g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 0.2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 152mg | Potassium: 139mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 148IU | Vitamin C: 5mg | Calcium: 15mg | Iron: 1mg
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Amee Livingston
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