Recipe for Home Canned Pizza Sauce Made Easy and Delicious

There’s something truly satisfying about crafting your own pizza sauce at home, especially when you can preserve it for months to come. Home canned pizza sauce not only bursts with fresh, vibrant flavors but also gives you complete control over the ingredients—no preservatives or unnecessary additives here!

Whether you’re a pizza aficionado or just love having a homemade sauce ready for a quick meal, this recipe is a game-changer. Imagine opening a jar during a busy weeknight, knowing you made it yourself and it tastes far superior to store-bought options.

Plus, it’s a wonderful way to preserve the bounty of fresh tomatoes from your garden or farmers market.

This detailed guide will walk you through every step of making and safely canning your pizza sauce at home. From selecting the best ingredients to proper sterilization techniques, you’ll feel confident creating a delicious, shelf-stable sauce that will elevate any pizza night.

So, grab your apron and let’s dive into this rewarding culinary adventure!

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

This home canned pizza sauce recipe is a perfect blend of fresh, tangy tomatoes, aromatic herbs, and a hint of sweetness that balances the acidity beautifully. You’ll love how versatile it is—perfect for pizza, pasta, dipping, and more.

The recipe uses simple, whole ingredients without any artificial flavors or preservatives, making it a healthier alternative to store-bought sauces.

Another reason to love this recipe is the preservation method. Canning locks in the fresh flavors, allowing you to enjoy your homemade sauce all year round.

It’s economical, reduces food waste, and gives you peace of mind knowing exactly what’s in your food. Plus, it’s a fun and rewarding project for any home cook eager to explore traditional food preservation techniques.

Ingredients

• 10 pounds fresh Roma tomatoes, peeled and chopped
• 1 cup chopped onions
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 2 teaspoons salt (non-iodized)
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• 2 tablespoons dried basil
• 1 tablespoon dried oregano
• 1 teaspoon black pepper
• 1/2 cup bottled lemon juice (for proper acidity)

Equipment

• Large stockpot or saucepot
• Blender or immersion blender
• Large mixing bowl
• Jar funnel
• Canning jars (pint or quart size)
• Lids and screw bands
• Water bath canner or large pot with rack
• Jar lifter
• Clean kitchen towels
• Knife and cutting board

Instructions

1. Prepare the tomatoes: Start by washing your tomatoes thoroughly. To peel easily, score a small ‘X’ on the bottom of each tomato and blanch them in boiling water for 30-60 seconds, then transfer immediately to ice water. The skins should slip off easily.
2. Chop and crush: Chop the peeled tomatoes roughly and place them in a large pot. Use a potato masher or blender to crush them to your preferred consistency. Some prefer a chunky sauce, others smooth—choose what you like!
3. Cook the base: Heat olive oil in a sauté pan over medium heat. Add chopped onions and garlic, cooking until translucent and fragrant—about 5 minutes. Add these to the tomato mixture.
4. Add seasonings: Stir in salt, sugar, dried basil, oregano, and black pepper. Mix well to combine. The sugar helps balance the acidity of the tomatoes.
5. Simmer: Bring the sauce to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 45-60 minutes, stirring occasionally. This allows the flavors to meld and the sauce to thicken.
6. Adjust acidity: Remove from heat and stir in bottled lemon juice. This step is critical for safe canning, ensuring the pH is low enough to prevent harmful bacteria.
7. Sterilize jars: While your sauce simmers, prepare your canning jars by washing them in hot, soapy water and sterilizing them in boiling water or a dishwasher on a hot cycle.
8. Fill jars: Using a jar funnel, ladle the hot sauce into the sterilized jars, leaving 1/2 inch headspace at the top. Remove air bubbles by running a non-metallic spatula around the inside of the jar. Wipe rims clean with a damp cloth.
9. Seal jars: Place lids on jars and screw on the bands until fingertip tight.
10. Process jars: Place jars in a water bath canner with water covering the jars by at least 1 inch. Bring to a boil and process for 35 minutes (pint jars) or 40 minutes (quart jars). Adjust for altitude if necessary.
11. Cool and store: Remove jars using a jar lifter and place on a clean towel to cool for 12-24 hours. Check seals by pressing the center of each lid—if it doesn’t pop back, your jar is sealed. Store sealed jars in a cool, dark place.

Tips & Variations

“Always use bottled lemon juice or vinegar when canning tomato products to ensure safe acidity levels.”

Tip: For a smoother sauce, use an immersion blender instead of chopping. Also, consider adding a pinch of red pepper flakes for a subtle kick.

Variation: Swap dried herbs with fresh ones—use 1 tablespoon fresh basil and 1 tablespoon fresh oregano instead of dried. Add them toward the end of cooking to preserve their flavor.

Tip: Experiment with adding sautéed bell peppers or mushrooms for a more complex sauce. Just be sure to adjust cooking times accordingly.

Nutrition Facts

Serving Suggestions

This pizza sauce is incredibly versatile. Use it as the base for your homemade pizzas, layering it with your favorite cheese and toppings.

It also works beautifully as a pasta sauce—just heat and toss with cooked noodles for a quick meal.

Drizzle some over roasted vegetables or use as a dipping sauce for breadsticks and mozzarella sticks. You can even add it to casseroles or as a flavorful addition to soups and stews.

Conclusion

Making your own home canned pizza sauce is an incredibly rewarding process that combines the joys of cooking with the practicality of food preservation. Not only do you get a delicious and wholesome sauce free from preservatives and additives, but you also gain the convenience of having ready-to-use pizza sauce on hand anytime you crave a homemade pizza or a quick pasta dinner.

By following this step-by-step recipe, you ensure your sauce is safe to store and enjoy throughout the year. Plus, the flexibility to customize herbs and spices means you can tailor the sauce to suit your family’s tastes perfectly.

Give this recipe a try, and you’ll never look back to store-bought jars again! For more delicious homemade sauce ideas, check out our Classic Marinara Sauce and Roasted Garlic Tomato Sauce.

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