Updated on Oct. 09, 2024
Making pizza at home? After testing 10 brands, our Test Kitchen found the best store-bought pizza sauce options for your at-home pizza parties.
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Sure, everyone loves a good delivery pizza here and there, but making your own pizza at home is just way more satisfying—plus you can get the toppings just right.
To make your pizza nights really exceptional, you need quality ingredients (and tools!)—including mozzarella cheese, crust and sauce. Sauce from scratch is delicious, but you don’t always have the time to stir up a batch of homemade (though if you do, we recommend this five-star pizza sauce recipe). That’s when you reach for a jar or can of store-bought pizza sauce!
But do you know which sauce will really make your homemade pizzas good enough to rival your favorite pizza joint?
P.S. Check out the Ooni Pizza Oven along with these pizza cutters that’ll give you the perfect slice every time.
There are so many pizza sauce brands out there, so our Test Kitchen had to do some research to find the best. We looked at popular brands and then put them head-to-head in a blind tasting.
For this test, each sauce was sampled atop a pizza crust with just a sprinkle of cheese; think of it as a pared-down version of the pizzas you’d make at home. Our testers really wanted to appreciate the nuances of each sauce and see how they’d hold up to basic pizza components. Our team also kept these criteria in mind.
After eating 10 pieces of pizza, our Test Kitchen decided on the four brands that would have them going back for another slice.
Want a sauce that reminds you of your favorite fancy pizzeria? That store-bought sauce is Rao’s.
Rao’s tasted the freshest and most homemade of any of the nine other options in this test. Is there any higher praise than that? When it comes to any store-bought item, we’re all craving scratch-made taste.
What made Rao’s really stand out was the fresh tomato flavor as well as oregano and garlic. All these ingredients were visible in the sauce—even a few tomato seeds which made this brand feel like the real deal. Our Test Kitchen team also noticed some hints of olive oil as well which gave the sauce a great taste and good texture.
This sauce stands out and won’t get lost—even with a great homemade crust and fresh mozzarella.
Is Margherita pizza your go-to? Well, basil-lover, you’ll want Classico Traditional Pizza Sauce for your next pizza night.
Classico’s take on pizza sauce had a thick, rich texture and a deep red color that our Test Kitchen staff really appreciated. What was most notable, however, was the herb-forwardness of this sauce. Basil was the most prominent taste (outside of the jammy tomato flavor). Our crew also detected a great balance of oregano and black pepper. No tweaks needed to this sauce! Just grab a good pizza crust—try these healthy cauliflower picks—and get cooking.
If you prefer to eat organic, try Muir Glen Organic Pizza Sauce. This sauce was packed with robust tomato flavor—almost as if the sauce was reduced a bit to really amp up the taste of the produce. But tomato isn’t the only flavor you’ll find inside this can. Testers noticed a great balance of garlic as well.
Muir Glen’s pizza sauce was thicker than most we tried, but this is in no way a drawback. Our Test Kitchen thought the thicker texture of this sauce made it ideal for spreading across a homemade crust.
We get it: Even when you buy premade ingredients, you still want to personalize them. If you’re looking for a pizza sauce to serve as a great foundation for your favorite herb and spice blends, get Pomi Pizza Sauce.
This pizza sauce had a great, tangy tomato flavor that alone was exceptionally pleasing. It had testers thinking of fresh Roma tomatoes from the garden. The herbs in this sauce, though, were a bit milder. This works great if you plan to layer on a lot of additional flavors in your pizza or prefer to add fresh herbs from your garden to the sauce. Simply put: Pomi is the perfect canvas.
When it comes to jarred pizza sauce, the recipes we think of first are all for homemade pizza—and that’s great! There are so many delicious homemade pizza recipes that you can make right now with this shortcut.
But don’t feel like you’ve got to limit yourself to just pizza with this sauce, there are plenty of recipes with pizza sauce that you can try. Use one of our Test Kitchen-Preferred brands to make a tasty casserole, stromboli or sloppy joes.
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Pizza DipYou can assemble this easy appetizer in a jiffy. The pizza dip goes very fast, so you may want to make two batches. —Stacie Morse, South Otselic, New York
Sausage Pizza PastaIt's pizza in a bowl! Here's a terrific (and tasty) way to make sure your kids get the whole grains and vegetables they need to grow up big and strong. —Danna Holt, Shoals, Indiana
Sausage and Blue Cheese Stuffed PeppersThis family favorite combines some of our most-enjoyed ingredients: sausage, blue cheese and sweet peppers. The ease of preparation and slow-cooker convenience make this a go-to meal for busy weeknights. —Peggy Mehalick, Mountain Top, Pennsylvania
Grilled Veggie PizzaI came up with this recipe one summer as a way to use up vegetables from our garden. Grilling the veggies first brings out their sizzling flavors. Try it with a sprinkling of olives or pine nuts before adding the cheese. —Susan Marshall, Colorado Springs, Colorado
Pepperoni BreadThis savory stromboli starts with frozen bread dough, so it comes together in practically no time. The golden loaf is stuffed with cheese, pepperoni, mushrooms, peppers and olives. I often add a few slices of ham too. It's tasty served with warm pizza sauce for dipping. —Jenny Brown, West Lafayette, Indiana
Cheesy Pepperoni BunsA pizza version of the sloppy joe, this hot and melty open-faced sandwich is a surefire kid pleaser. Adults love it, too! —Tanya Belt, Newcomerstown, Ohio
Pizza Sloppy JoesIf you’re tired of same old sloppy joes, here’s a tasty twist! These messy, kid-friendly sandwiches have a definite pizza flavor that families will love, but be sure to serve them with a fork!
Connie Pettit - Logan, OH
Pepperoni and Sausage Deep-Dish Pizza QuicheTry this savory quiche for a hearty change-of-pace breakfast. Needless to say, it's wonderful for lunch and dinner too. — Donna Chesney, Naples, Florida
Steak & Beer ChiliA cup of chili is always a pleasant way to warm up on a cold day. This one has a combination of budget-friendly chuck steak and brats in a spicy broth. I like to serve it with a dollop of sour cream. —Betsy King, Duluth, Minnesota
Pizza Noodle BakeHere’s a family-pleasing casserole that comes together in a snap, making it perfect for a weeknight meal. Double the recipe and freeze one for later! —Bernice Knutson, Soldier, Iowa
Open-Faced Pizza BurgersI'm not sure where I first saw this pizza burger recipe, but I'm glad I did! My family requests this meal often. A dash of oregano livens up canned pizza sauce. —Sharon Schwartz, Burlington, Wisconsin
Waffle-Iron PizzasThese little pizza pockets put together using the waffle maker are a fun mashup. Try your favorite toppings or even breakfast fillings like ham and eggs. —Amy Lents, Grand Forks, North Dakota
Pizza Tater Tot CasseroleFor a new spin on a classic casserole, try my easy version. For a fun twist, just add your family’s favorite pizza toppings! —Sharon Skildum, Maple Grove, Minnesota
Pizza StromboliI used to own a bakery, and this stromboli recipe was one of our customers' favorites. Once they smelled the aroma of pizza and sampled these tempting spiral slices, they just couldn't resist taking some home. —John Morcom, Oxford, Michigan
Pizza BeansTake this pizza-inspired dish to your next party. It makes an amazing side, or you can enjoy a larger serving alongside a fresh green salad for a delicious entree. It can even be made the day before and reheated. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
Pizza CrackersKids love making these simple pizza crackers. I like to use pizza sauce from a squeeze bottle to make it easier for them. Just make sure an adult is there to put the crackers in the oven. —Tonya Sanders, Geneva, Iowa
Pizza SlidersOur love for Italian food and pizza gave me the idea for pizza sliders. These would be delicious as a lunch, light dinner or party appetizer. Who could turn down pizza in a slider? —Joan Hallford, North Richland Hills, Texas
Spinach Pizza QuesadillasThis simple four-ingredient dinner is special to me because my daughter and I created it together. You can make variations with other veggies you might have at home. It's a smart way to get kids to eat healthier. —Tanna Mancini, Gulfport, Florida
Low-Carb Pizza RollsI came up with a lower carb version of my stuffed pizza rolls recipe when I decided to try more of a keto/paleo lifestyle and needed something satisfying to heat up at work for lunches. This is quick, easy, and lower in carbs! Mix and match toppings to suit your tastes like a vegetarian version, Hawaiian or meat lovers. —Sarah Gilbert-Roberts, Beaverton, Oregon
Pepperoni Pizza PocketsStuffed with a pizza-style filling, these special sandwiches surprise you with a burst of flavor in every bite. They were popular at our son’s birthday party, but you can be sure adults will love them too! —Robin Werner, Brush Prairie, Washington
Pizza on a StickMy daughter and her friends had fun turning sausage, pepperoni, veggies and pizza dough into these cute kabobs. —Charlene Woods, Norfolk, Virginia
Air-Fryer Pizza PocketsThese air-fryer pizza pockets will satisfy everyone in the house. The best part is that they can be made ahead, frozen and then cooked right from the freezer for instant, satisfying snacks. —Clarice Brender, North Liberty, Iowa
Sausage PizzaWhat makes this recipe unique is the slow overnight fermentation of the dough. The flour has time to hydrate and relax, which makes the dough so much easier to roll out! —Josh Rink, Taste of Home Food Stylist
Zucchini Pizza BitesThis simple snack is the perfect, low-carb way to satisfy your pizza cravings. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
Flatbread PizzaI have been making this recipe for years to make homemade calzones, pizza and grilled flatbread pizza. It always comes out perfectly and doubles and triples well. This batch will make one large pizza or two to three calzones. —Patricia Prescott, Manchester, New Hampshire
Leftover Pizza Sauce FAQ
How do I store leftover pizza sauce?
Store your leftover pizza sauce in the refrigerator or, for longer storage, in the freezer. To store in the freezer, place your pizza sauce in freezer-safe containers, leaving at least 1/2-inch of headspace. Freeze for 6 to 12 months. When ready to use, let the sauce thaw in the fridge first.
How long is leftover pizza sauce good for in the fridge?
If you store your leftover pizza sauce in an airtight container, it should keep up to four days in the fridge.
Can I use pizza sauce in recipes that call for spaghetti sauce?
You can certainly use your pizza sauce in place of spaghetti sauce in a pinch. Depending on how thick your pizza sauce is and how thick you want your pasta sauce to be, you might need to thicken or thin it. To thicken your pizza sauce for pasta, simmer it over a stovetop, stirring occasionally, until it reaches your desired consistency. Or, to thin your pizza sauce for pasta, cook it over low heat while slowly whisking in a splash or two of broth or water.
You can also add herbs and aromatics to your pizza sauce to make it pasta-ready. Try stirring in torn fresh basil, sauteed garlic and onions or Italian seasoning.
