Can You Add Ketchup to Your Pizza? Check It Out

If you want to be less stressed, eat some pizza – it tastes like paradise.

Now, while making pizza, I always wonder if I can use ketchup instead of pizza sauce. Or if I can eat pizza with ketchup. After all, pizza sauce and ketchup have similar core ingredients – tomatoes.

Can you use ketchup on pizza instead of pizza sauce?

You can use ketchup on pizza, for being a tomato-based sauce. But ketchup is thinner than pizza sauce, so boil it to a thick consistency with oregano, salt, sugar, and pepper, suitable for pizza. However, the taste and flavor may differ from pizza sauce in the case of sauce-based pizza.

Let’s look at detailed information regarding whether you can add ketchup to pizza and, if so, how to use it.

Can You Use Ketchup on Pizza Instead Of Pizza Sauce?

Since both ketchup and pizza sauce contain tomatoes, you can substitute ketchup with pizza sauce. Especially if you prefer sweet pizza, ketchup can make an excellent addition, as it’s much sweeter than pizza sauce.

Well, while ketchup’s flavor comes from a lot of sugar and vinegar, pizza sauce’s comes from olive oil, peppers, and oregano. Pizza sauce, however, also contains sugar and vinegar, which contributes to the similarities between the two.

However, ketchup is more watery than authentic pizza sauce. So, boil and thicken it to make it suitable for putting on pizza dough. To add familiar pizza flavor, add oregano while boiling.

Just remember that it will impart a sweeter and tangier flavor than pizza sauce.

What Country Puts Ketchup On Pizza?

Is ketchup acceptable in authentic pizza? What about authentic Neapolitan pizza – is ketchup on pizza in Italy ok?

Well, not exactly. Putting ketchup on pizza is not something Italians prefer. If it’s pizza in Italy, it’s the authentic pizza sauce. However, they may substitute pizza sauce with pasta sauce. But there’s no place for ketchup.

You may ask why?

Well, one reason ketchup is sweet is that Italians don’t like pairing savory with sweetness. Besides, pizza is their traditional treasure. So, putting anything but authentic ingredients is something they will never like.

In addition, if you dip pizza in ketchup in the US, you may face several raised eyebrows. Ketchup is not preferable in Newyork style or any American pizza.

However, in several countries, adding ketchup to pizza is quite normal. Ketchup-topped pizza is popular in Trinidad, Lebanon, and Poland. In Brazil, people also like eating pizza with ketchup.

Additionally, in several Asian countries, eating pizza with ketchup is nothing unusual.

In short, ketchup on pizza is ok for non-Italians and non-Americans.

Pizza Sauce Vs. Ketchup: The Taste, Texture, And Nutrition

The differences between pizza made with pizza sauce and ketchup depend on taste, texture, and nutritional profile. I have listed the differences below in detail.

The differences in nutrition between ketchup and pizza sauce per 100 grams are listed below.

Does Ketchup Make Your Pizza Healthier?

You might wonder whether ketchup or sauce is healthy to put on pizza.  

Well, store-bought ketchup, tomato sauce, and pizza sauce have high levels of preservatives, sugar, and sodium, which are also low in nutrition. Therefore, even though they taste amazing on pizza, using one of them cannot be a healthy choice if you are health conscious.

But don’t worry. You can use healthy ingredients to make ketchup, tomato, and pizza sauce. Alternatively, you could use healthier pizza toppings instead of ketchup or sauce.

3 Tips To Use Ketchup On Pizza

If you want to add ketchup on pizza, remember these 3.

1. Add ketchup sparingly

Pizza sauce has a more tangy and sweet flavor than pizza sauce. So it is best to use a small amount of it on the top of your pizza to maintain a balance in the flavor.

2. Use homemade ketchup

Well, you can use store-bought ketchup on your pizza. But homemade ketchup would be preferable because store-bought ketchup is frequently laden with sodium and sugar, neither of which are particularly healthy ingredients. So, make your homemade ketchup by reducing sugar and sodium.

3. Add wholesome toppings

After using the ketchup, top your pizza with nutritious ingredients like vegetables, chicken, or shrimp to make it healthier. Avoid topping your pizza with processed red meat, as it poses several health risks.

5 Pizza Sauce Substitute

Looking for additional pizza sauce alternatives? Here are 5 of them.

1. Pesto

The pesto sauce originates in Genoa, Italy, and is typically made with basil, extra virgin olive oil, parmesan cheese, pecorino cheese, pine nuts, garlic, and salt. So, pizza with pesto will have a strong flavor you will undoubtedly adore.

Nevertheless, even though pesto contains nutritious ingredients, it is high in calories and fat. Therefore, consuming too much pesto may result in weight gain.

2. Ricotta cheese

Ricotta cheese is a healthier option as it contains less fat and sodium. Its mild creaminess may make your pizza the most delicious.

Aside from that, you can use ricotta cheese on pizza if you plan to add weight.  

3. Olive oil and garlic

A freshly baked pizza with garlic and olive oil give off a mouthwatering aroma. Olive oil and garlic may also provide additional nutrients like iron, phosphorus, and vitamins B1, C, and B6.

Additionally, it might aid in maintaining heart health, blood pressure control, and many more.

4. Alfredo sauce

You can add Alfredo sauce to white pizza. But since it contains plenty of calories and rich fat in butter, cream, and Parmesan cheese, overeating it could lead to weight gain.

Additionally, developing a number of cardiovascular diseases is linked to being overweight. 

5. Chimichurri sauce 

A good monounsaturated fat, fiber, vitamins, and minerals can be found in chimichurri sauce, making it a healthy condiment. Garlic, olive oil, spices, and chopped parsley make up most of its ingredients.

Pizza sauce can therefore be replaced with chimichurri sauce as a healthier option.

Ketchup on Pizza: Weight Loss

If you’re trying to lose weight, you might wonder whether ketchup on your pizza will help or hinder your efforts. If you choose to use store-bought ketchup, you may have a diminished risk of weight loss because it is high in calories, fat, sugar, and sodium.

On the other hand, eating fast food pizza frequently might not be a good idea if you want to stay healthy and fit.

FAQ’s:

• Can you use ketchup instead of pizza sauce on your pizza?

Yes, you can add ketchup instead of pizza sauce to your pizza. In addition, countries like Trinidad, Lebanon, and Poland frequently top their pizza with ketchup. Due to its thick consistency, ketchup makes a great addition to pizza, but make sure to use it only sparingly.

• Can ketchup on pizza sauce help you lose weight?

If you eat pizza from a restaurant, ketchup on the pizza can be detrimental to your weight loss efforts. Remember, store-bought ketchup is usually rich in calories, fat, sugar, and sodium, which can not be a good option for weight loss. 

Sum up

Hey, what’s for dinner today? Let me venture a guess. It is homemade pizza, right?

However, you don’t have any pizza sauce in your refrigerator—only ketchup. Therefore, it raised the question: Can you use ketchup on pizza?

Well, you can. But if you wanted to make a healthier pizza than the ones at a store or restaurant, it would be best if you used homemade ketchup. To stay healthy and happy, keep in mind that it is best to avoid store-bought foods as much as possible.