Can I Substitute Spaghetti Sauce for Pizza Sauce [Answered]

It all started when my partner asked me can I substitute spaghetti sauce for pizza sauce.

I found numerous options an answers. Die-hard Italian foodies said a big NO whereas the trendy food lovers said “why not.” Which means I am still in the same place confused and perplexed.

However, later I found the answer is not that complicated.

You can substitute spaghetti sauce for pizza sauce depending on your preference and taste bud. Spaghetti sauce is made with cooked and blended tomate flavored with garlic, herbs, and spices. Pasta sauce, contrarily, is simply uncooked tomato puree.

So if you need an extra kick in flavor going for the pasta sauce will be a great option. However, if you are a traditional-pizza lover, its recommended to stick to original pizza sauce recipes.

Want to know more? Stay with me till the end for some mouth-watreing recipes and topping ideas.

How to Turn Speghetti Sauce into Pizza Sauce?

Is it possible to use pizza sauce in place of spaghetti sauce? Yes! To make pizza with pasta sauce instead of tomato paste, just follow these simple instructions:

• Remove any extra liquid from the spaghetti sauce by straining it.
• To make a smooth spaghetti sauce, put it in a blender or food processor and pulse until smooth.
• Season with salt and pepper to taste.
• Repeat the pulsing process a couple more times to ensure complete mixing.
• Get rid of any remianing liquid by straining.
• Throw in an anchovy for some extra umami.

What is The Difference Between Spaghetti Sauce and Pizza Sauce?

There are a few significant differences between spaghetti sauce and pizza sauce. So, let’s get onto them below!

• Making Process

There is a distinction between pasta sauce and pizza sauce, despite their shared ingredients. Pasta sauce is formed by blending cooked tomatoes with aromatic garlic, herbs, and spices, whereas pizza sauce is prepared using raw tomato puree.

• Consistency

One is their consistency: spaghetti sauce is thicker and more watery, while pizza sauce is thinner and more creamy. They’re both made from tomato puree, but there’s a big difference in their seasonings. Getting the sauce right is the key to success if you’re in the pizzeria business.

• Thickness

For pizza, you’ll want to add some spices, but the difference between the two sauces is the thickness. Most pizza sauces have a thick tomato base and flavorful Italian herbs. They can also contain chili flakes for heat.

Some pizza sauces are already blended, but you can add spices or other seasonings to create your version. You can also freeze leftover sauce to use later.

• Flavor

While pizza sauce is made by putting a mixture of tomato and olive oil into a pan, spaghetti sauce is just tomato sauce cooked down.

Pizza sauce can be tangy, flavored with spices or vegetables, or have a more subtle flavor. In either case, it can be used immediately or refrigerated for several weeks.

The flavor of spaghetti sauce is generally less intense than the flavor of pizza sauce. For light dishes, marinara is a better choice. Traditional pizza sauce is rich in flavor.

When choosing between the two, keep in mind your personal preference and the needs of your recipe. This way, you can make the best choice for your tastes and the tastes of your guests.

• Texture

Both are made with tomatoes, but the difference between them is in their texture and consistency. Spaghetti sauce is thicker, and pizza sauce is runnier. While spaghetti sauce contains meat, pizza sauce does not.

You can make it with tomato paste. Unlike spaghetti sauce, pizza sauce uses pureed canned tomatoes.

How To Make Pizza Sauce: Step By Step Process

You can find an easy pizza sauce recipe down below. If you’re wondering, you can also use dried or chopped oregano, diced onions, canning tomatoes, and more to make your sauce authentic.

Step-By-Step Guide

• To make your pizza sauce, you’ll need to start cooking onions and garlic over medium heat.
• Next, add the tomato paste and canned tomatoes.
• Stir to combine and bring to a simmer.
• Once it’s simmered for at least 30 minutes, you’ll need to add salt and sugar. Some pizza sauces even contain red pepper flakes.

You can also freeze your homemade pizza sauce and use it again at a later date. That’s how you can make easy pizza sauce at home without an ounce of hassle!

Tips For Making Pizza Sauce

For a fresher pizza sauce, try using fresh tomatoes. They will retain their flavor better and be fresher than the canned variety. If you are using fresh tomatoes, try cooking them briefly in boiling water and then allowing them to cool.

If you have leftover sauce, you can freeze it for up to 3 months and defrost it overnight in the fridge. You can also make homemade pizza dough and spread the sauce on top.

While the basic tomato sauce works well for pizza, you should cook it twice before you use it as a pizza sauce. The second cooking step will add a mellower tomato flavor to the sauce. If you plan to make a pizza from your homemade sauce, you should taste it first.

Alternative Pizza Sauce Substitutes

The most common pizza sauce is made from canned tomatoes, but it’s also possible to substitute other types of sauce.

Plum tomatoes work well for this purpose. Try San Marzano tomatoes. These tomatoes are a traditional Italian type, but expensive. For a more affordable version, use canned or plum tomatoes.

Regardless of your preference, marinara and pizza sauce have their benefits. Pizza sauce tends to be thick and creamy, while marinara sauce tends to be more tart and contains less salt. If you’re looking for an alternative to your preferred Italian sauce, you can try substituting the marinara with the pizza sauce.

Which Sauce Should You Use For Baking Pizza?

While pizza sauce and pasta sauce have similar ingredients, they differ significantly in preparation and flavor. Pasta sauce is cooked and has pieces of tomato.

The texture of pizza sauce is much thicker and smoother than pasta sauce. This helps avoid a soggy base, a significant pitfall of the latter.

Both pizza sauce and pasta sauce are made with tomato sauce. The only difference is that the pasta sauce is uncooked, while the pizza sauce is cooked with flavorful herbs and spices. Both pizza sauce and pasta sauce are stapled ingredients in pizzerias.

Choosing the right sauce is essential for the dish you’re making. The two have different flavors and are best suited for different types of pizza. For instance, pizza sauce has more spice than marinara sauce. If you prefer a lighter, more refreshing sauce, choose marinara.

Can You Use Tomato Pasta Sauce as Pizza Sauce?

One common mistake is to confuse pizza sauce and pasta sauce. Pizza sauce has many similarities with pasta sauce but is very different in preparation and ingredients.

You can also use pasta sauce as pizza sauce if you don’t have pasta sauce on hand. It’s easy to confuse the two and end up with a soggy mess.

Pizza sauce is traditionally made from tomato paste, but it isn’t the only option. Some people like to use other ingredients, like Italian sausage or bacon. This makes the dish a little more adventurous. While you can substitute pasta sauce for pizza sauce, it won’t have the same flavor as tomato sauce.

To make a thicker sauce, you can grind the tomatoes in a food processor or high-powered blender. The resulting sauce will be thicker and smoother.

However, you should note that it may taste a little bland because it contains some tomato water. If that’s the case, you can season the sauce further by adding extra seasonings to it.

Another option is to use marinara sauce. You can use the marinara sauce as a pizza sauce, though you may need to add a few crushed tomatoes to thicken it. Other substitutes include pesto, barbecue sauce, ranch dressing, or sweet chili sauce.

Marinara Sauce: The Best Pizza Sauce

Marinara is a good choice if you’re looking for an authentic Italian pasta sauce. This sauce is usually made with ingredients that are easy to find.

There are four main components: tomatoes, garlic, and basil. This sauce is slightly sweet and slightly acidic. You can also make it with balsamic vinegar to bring out the flavor of the tomatoes.

Marinara sauce is another great pizza sauce alternative. It has a similar sweet and garlic taste and is excellent for pizza but without the overpowering tomato flavor.

It also can double as an appetizer. It’s also much healthier than store-bought marinara sauce. It has less sodium and is lower in sugar than typical pizza sauce.

Final Word

Spaghetti sauce is a multipurpose sauce used for many different recipes. Pizza sauce is mainly used for pizza. Both are based on tomatoes, but they can contain additional ingredients, such as olive oil and onion powder.

The difference between a pizza sauce and a pasta sauce is its consistency. A pizza sauce is thick and smooth, while pasta sauce is thinner and chunkier.

You shouldn’t mix the two, as you may change the flavor. You might also want to use one sauce for a pizza and a different one for a pasta dish.