The Best Store-Bought Pizza Sauces for the Tastiest Homemade Pies (2024)

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There are a lot of good pizza sauces out there, but it might not surprise you that our top pick comes from one of the pizza capitals of the USA: New Jersey. Don Pepino's pizza sauce is a bright and tangy sauce made with just five ingredients: Jersey fresh tomatoes, corn oil, salt, spices, and garlic powder. Importantly, it’s also free from many of the extra ingredients you find in store-bought products, including preservatives, starches, artificial sugar, added color, gums, and citric acid. It also has a winning consistency—one that isn't watery or overly chunky.

We also can’t help but notice the packaging, which is a fun, retro-looking can that’s easier to store than big, bulky glass jars. It also has a pull tab, which is easier than using a can opener. Unfortunately, it’s not easily resealable, so we recommend using the sauce in one-go or placing any extras in a separate air-tight container for storage. (The 14.5-ounce cans offer enough sauce for about three large homemade pizzas, depending on your sauce preference.)

Size: 14.5 ounces | Main Ingredients: Tomatoes, corn oil, salt, spices, garlic powder | Allergens: N/A

If you’re on the hunt for something that rivals what the local pizza joint uses, this canned sauce is it. Stanislaus has been in business for 80 years, and has truly perfected the art of store-bought pizza sauce. Some reviewers even note that the chefs at their favorite pizzeria cite this sauce as their secret ingredient.

The sauce, which is made from California-grown vine-ripened tomatoes and extra virgin olive oil, sunflower oil, salt, black pepper, basil, oregano, and garlic, is slightly chunky but extremely fresh-tasting. And though you have to spend more initially, the can is huge—107 ounces!—so you’re bound to have plenty of extras. Unfortunately, it’s not easy to seal, so you’ll have to transfer leftovers. But pro tip: Freeze sauce into individual portions in air-tight containers or freezer baggies for convenience.

Size: 107 ounces | Main Ingredients: Vine-ripened fresh tomatoes, extra virgin olive oil, sunflower oil, salt, oregano, black pepper, granulated garlic, naturally-derived citric acid | Allergens: N/A

You don’t have to look far to find this jarred sauce—most major grocery stores stock it on their shelves. And while it’s one of the more affordable picks, it’s not any less worthy of your attention. Ragú’s Homemade Style Pizza Sauce is on the thicker side (read: may not be the best bet for kids or picky eaters), but it has a relatively short ingredient list and is full of flavor. Like other great pizza sauces, the formula hinges on vine-ripened tomatoes, olive oil, and spices—not much else.

Each 14-ounce jar goes a long way, too. It’s more than enough for a handful of pies and is easily resealable, so you don’t have to worry about transferring any leftover sauce to a separate container. Simply replace the lid, and place the jar in the fridge until the next pizza craving strikes.

Size: 14 ounces | Main Ingredients: Tomato puree, soybean oil, salt, spices, natural flavor | Allergens: N/A

The ingredient list may not differ much from other top pizza sauces, but the addition of crushed red pepper tips the scales in a big way here. For spice lovers, it kicks things up a notch, lending just the right amount of heat to your average pizza.

As you might expect from a product that carries the Carbone name, the sauce can be measured by more than its spice. It has the perfect smooth but not too runny consistency. It expertly adheres to dough without any of the chunky bits the more finicky eaters in your party might discard. On the downside, it is higher in sodium content than some other star sauces.

Size: 14 ounces | Main Ingredients: Italian tomatoes (whole peeled tomatoes, tomato puree, salt, basil), tomato puree (tomatoes, salt), olive oil, carrots, onions, salt, crushed red pepper, oregano, garlic, basil, black pepper | Allergens: N/A

If you’re looking for a fun, family-friendly Friday night activity, pizza-making is it. It’s one of the most kid-friendly dinners you can make, and a simple enough task for little helpers—especially if someone else stretches the dough. There’s a quick way to make things even easier for the youngest set, too: pizza sauce that comes in a squeeze bottle.

It’s a largely mess-free way of making pizza. Rather than fiddle with spoons that inevitably lead to spills, kids can simply grip and squeeze sauce (almost) exactly where it needs to be. It’s not all about convenience, though. Despite an ingredient list that’s a bit longer and more complex than others on our list, this one tastes surprisingly bright, has a nice, smooth consistency, is packaged in the USA, and is non-GMO.

Size: 15 ounces | Main Ingredients: Tomato puree (water, tomato paste), sugar, sea salt, modified food starch (corn), onion powder, soybean oil, spices, garlic powder, carrot fiber, citric acid, potassium sorbate (preservative), natural flavors | Allergens: Contains soy

We love this pizza sauce natural—and short—ingredient list. It boasts just 10 ingredients—and not a single one is sugar. Any sweetness you detect in the sauce—and there’s enough to please all palates, is from the real, fresh non-GMO tomatoes the sauce is made from. The ingredient list is entirely devoid of added sugars or artificial sweeteners.

In fact, the smooth, fresh sauce is so crowd-pleasing that the company guarantees you’ll love it. If not, they’ll refund your purchase—something you can’t say about most store-bought sauce. We love how well the sauce spreads, too. A single 12.5-ounce jar can make nearly six pizzas, depending on how much sauce you use. And if you have more? Store it in the resealable jar, another glass container, or freeze it in freezer bags to keep it fresh longer.

Size: 12.5 ounces | Main Ingredients: Fresh tomatoes, fresh onions, fresh garlic, olive oil, oregano, basil, balsamic vinegar, salt, black pepper, and natural spices | Allergens: N/A

The best pizzerias in the world offer something beyond the standard tomato sauce—and so should your kitchen. Thankfully, it’s easy to serve up something unique and delicious with this mayonnaise-based option. Yep, you heard that right. Although it may sound strange—and not at all Italian—this sauce is highly flavorful and surprisingly customizable.

In addition to the forward Parmesan, the 20-year-old family recipe also contains crowd-pleasers like olive oil, garlic, oregano, salt, and pepper. And though it’s a bit more expensive than others, a little bit of the thick, savory sauce goes a long way. Any leftovers are surprisingly versatile, too. In addition to pizza, you can use the sauce for pasta, salads, toast, and more.

Size: 12 ounces | Main Ingredients: Mayonnaise, Parmesan, garlic powder, olive oil, oregano, sea salt, black pepper | Allergens: Contains milk and soy

If you haven’t had a vodka sauce pizza complete with large, thick cuts of mozzarella, you’re missing out on one of the world’s greatest treats. And you don’t need to book a plane ticket to NYC—the capital of the vodka sauce pizza—to get a taste of the good stuff. Make the famed pizza at home with this jarred sauce.

It’s packed with Italian chopped tomatoes, heavy cream, fresh onion, extra virgin olive oil, pecorino romano cheese, an array of fresh herbs and garlic, and of course, vodka. It comes in large 25-ounce jars—enough for multiple pizzas, whether you’re serving them at a dinner party or saving some sauce for later. Thankfully, the resealable cap makes it easy to keep the sauce fresh for later, plus you can always put individual servings in freezer bags for longer-term storage.

Just keep in mind, this vodka sauce contains dairy, so it’s not ideal for those with dietary restrictions, including vegans and those with a lactose allergy.

Size: 25 ounces | Main Ingredients: Italian chopped tomatoes, heavy cream, fresh onions, pecorino romano cheese (sheep’s milk, cheese culture, salt, enzymes), extra virgin olive oil, salt, vodka, basil, white pepper, black pepper, citric acid | Allergens: Contains milk

Is it the smoothest sauce? No, but that’s part of what makes this pizza sauce so appealing. The product, made from world-renowned San Marzano tomatoes, is well-balanced yet nuanced—a little bit sweet, a little bit tangy. There’s not much in addition to the tomatoes, though. The ingredient list is limited to extra-virgin olive oil, sea salt, basil, black pepper, and citric acid.

It also has a consistency that strikes all of the right notes: thick and slightly chunky but consistent. You won’t get a thin sauce with large chunks in some spots. Instead, it spreads just right. It also comes in a slightly larger jar than most—perfect for a pizza party.

Size: 18 ounces | Main Ingredients: Tomatoes (San Marzano tomatoes, tomato puree, calcium chloride, citric acid), extra virgin olive oil, sea salt, basil, black pepper, citric acid | Allergens: N/A

Just because a pizza sauce is made with premium ingredients like San Marzano tomatoes doesn’t mean it’s the best choice for the health-minded consumer. Many contain unnecessary additives and other ingredients that render them unfit for people with special dietary restrictions, including those who follow a Keto diet. Rao’s Homemade Pizza Sauce—a wildly popular pick as it is—is a great option for these individuals, though.

The premium product has one of the lowest amounts of sugar, but is still packed full of flavor. That’s because the sauce is made with whole peeled tomatoes, Italian cherry tomatoes, olive oil, Italian spices, and a medley of fresh vegetables like carrots and onions. It’s then slow simmered for depth of flavor that rivals others. And, like other great sauces, the consistency is nice and thick. It spreads evenly and plentifully, so a little bit goes a long way.

Size: 13 ounces | Main Ingredients: Italian whole peeled tomatoes, Italian cherry tomatoes, olive oil, carrots, onion, salt, oregano, garlic, basil | Allergens: N/A

Final Verdict

For classic flavor at the right price, you can’t beat Don Pepino Pizza Sauce. For a spicy kick to your next homemade pie, Carbone's Spicy Pizza Sauce is high-quality and tastes like you're at the restaurant.

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