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The 10 Best Store-Bought Pizza Sauces of 2024

Customize your next pie with classic sauce or options ranging from vodka to spicy

A selection of store-bought pizza sauces we recommend on a blue background

The Spruce Eats / Amelia Manley

While it may seem like classic tomato/red/marinara pasta sauce is the same as classic pizza sauce, they shouldn't be intertwined. Though they’re close—and interchangeable in a pinch—there is an inherent difference. 

Pasta sauce is typically low-simmered for hours to develop a deeper flavor profile; pizza sauce, on the other hand, is essentially an uncooked tomato sauce. The lack of stove time ensures the pizza sauce has a brighter, more tomato-forward taste.

The good news is that you don't need to rely on garden-fresh tomatoes for a pizza sauce that rivals your local pizzeria. There are plenty of no-fuss store-bought options to complement your homemade dough and fresh cheese—many of which taste just as good as the made-it-yourself stuff.

Best Overall

Don Pepino Pizza Sauce

Don Pepino Pizza Sauce

AMAZON

What We Like
  • Bright flavor

  • Short ingredient list

  • One can is enough for three pizzas

What We Don't Like
  • Can isn’t resealable

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

Best Canned

Stanislaus Full Red Fully Prepared Pizza Sauce

Stanislaus Full Red Fully Prepared Pizza Sauce

Amazon

What We Like
  • Great overall value

  • Smooth consistency

  • Great flavor

What We Don't Like
  • Can isn’t resealable

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

Best Jarred

Ragú Homemade Style Pizza Sauce

Ragu Homemade Style Pizza Sauce

Amazon

What We Like
  • Widely available

  • Budget-friendly

  • Short ingredient list

What We Don't Like
  • On the chunkier side

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

Best Spicey

Carbone Spicy Pizza Sauce

Carbone Spicy Pizza Sauce

Amazon

What We Like
  • Smooth, thick consistency

  • Nice kick for spice lovers

  • Backed by Carbone name

What We Don't Like
  • Higher sodium content

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

Best for Kids

Contadina Pizza Squeeze Original Pizza Sauce

Contadina Pizza Squeeze Original Pizza Sauce

Amazon

What We Like
  • Easy to dispense

  • Bright taste

  • Smooth consistency kids like

What We Don't Like
  • Ingredient list isn’t as “clean” as others

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

Best No Sugar Added

Yo Mama's Classic Pizza Sauce

Yo Mama's Classic Pizza Sauce

Yo Mama's Foods

What We Like
  • No added sugar or artificial sweeteners

  • Spreads well

  • Resealable jar

What We Don't Like
  • Not widely available in grocery stores

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

Best White

June Moon Spice Company White Garlic Pizza Sauce

June Moon Spice Company White Garlic Pizza Sauce

Amazon

What We Like
  • Unique alternative to traditional pizza sauce

  • A little goes a long way

  • Very versatile sauce

What We Don't Like
  • Contains dairy

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

Best Vodka

Cucina Antica La Vodka Sauce

Cucina Antica La Vodka Sauce

Amazon

What We Like
  • Unique alternative to regular pizza sauce

  • Larger, resealable jar

What We Don't Like
  • Contains dairy

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

Best Chunky

Williams Sonoma San Marzano Pizza Sauce

Williams Sonoma San Marzano Pizza Sauce

Williams Sonoma

What We Like
  • Made with San Marzano tomatoes

  • Slightly larger size than most jars

  • Even consistency

What We Don't Like
  • Slightly more expensive than other options

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

Best Keto

Rao's Homemade Pizza Sauce

Rao's Homemade Pizza Sauce

Amazon

What We Like
  • Low sugar content

  • Great depth of flavor

  • Spreads well

What We Don't Like
  • Not as bright and tangy as other pizza sauces

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.

What to Look for in Store-Bought Pizza Sauces

Ingredients

This shouldn’t come as a shocker: The shorter the ingredient list, the better. Like other food products, pizza sauces with shorter ingredient lists tend to contain more of the "good" flavor-boosting ingredients, while products with longer ingredient lists contain unnecessary fillers that can even detract from the overall quality and flavor. Look for sauces that start with a tomato base and include spices, oil, and a preservative (like citric acid) for longevity.

"I would avoid sauces with lots of unknown ingredients," says Frank Linn, owner/chef of Frankly Pizza in Kensington, Maryland. "If you can't pronounce it, you may not want to eat it. Sauces with the least amount of ingredients are best."

Type of Sauce

Another no-brainer, the type of sauce you choose can dramatically change the type of pizza you’ll be having for dinner. Are you looking for something authentic—like what you might get from your favorite pizza joint down the street. Or are you looking for something more unique—a white or vodka sauce pizza? Today, supermarkets stock all of them, and what you choose depends on your personal tastes and what you’re craving when you decide to whip up a homemade pizza. 

In general, a classic tomato sauce is what you want for a standard cheese or margherita pizza. But if you’re looking for something more herby, set your sights on a pesto. For something richer, try a white sauce or a vodka sauce.

Size

In general, you need about 1/2 cup, or 4 ounces, of pizza sauce for a 12-inch pizza. Considering standard jarred and canned pizza sauces are about 14 ounces, you can expect to be able to make approximately 3 to 4 pizzas, depending on how heavily sauced you like your pizza, with each container.

FAQs

How can you make store-bought pizza sauce better? 

There’s no shortage of ways to make store-bought pizza sauce a little bit more intriguing. And doing so doesn’t take much more than other ingredients you probably already have in your pantry. To spice things up, lean on dried herbs and spices—things like red pepper flakes, dried oregano, dried basil, or maybe some garlic or onion powder, says Linn. There’s plenty of room to get creative, but in general, he cautions against one pantry staple: garlic salt. "Sometimes the store-bought sauces already contain a lot of sodium," and garlic salt can further tip the scales in the wrong direction.

Can you use pasta sauce instead of pizza sauce?

We’ve already established the important thing: pizza sauce and pasta sauce are not the same. Pizza sauce is largely uncooked, whereas pasta sauce is simmered for hours for a deeper, richer flavor. But that doesn’t mean they’re not largely interchangeable. When it comes to trying other sauces on your pizza, Linn says to "experiment away!" Whether it’s pasta sauce, alfredo sauce, or something entirely different like pesto or vodka sauce, pizza is a relatively forgiving dish and it’s hard to go wrong.

Why should you use San Marzano tomatoes for pizza sauce?

"San Marzano tomatoes are the crème de la crème when it comes to making an authentic Italian pizza sauce," says Joonas Jokiniemi, chef and founder of Grill Smoke Love. Because San Marzano tomatoes are grown in volcanic, mineral-rich soil, they have a unique and robust flavor that’s the perfect marriage of sweetness and acidity, he explains.

"The sauce is neither too tangy nor overly sweet—just the right balance that complements the toppings and the crust." These tomatoes also have a thicker flesh and fewer seeds compared to other varieties, resulting in a smoother sauce that’s less watery to keep pizza crisp. 

When shopping for pizza sauce made of San Marzano tomatoes, make sure to keep an eye out for the DOP Certification.

"Genuine San Marzano tomatoes have a DOP (Denominazione di Origine Protetta) designation, which is an Italian certification that guarantees the quality and authenticity of the product," says Jokiniemi. "It ensures the tomatoes are grown in the specific region under regulated conditions, assuring you're getting the real deal."

How We Selected

Our team of editors and contributors spent hours researching the best store-bought pizza sauces on the market, evaluating their key features—like ingredients, style, and price—in addition to reviews from customers and other trusted sources. We then used our own knowledge and first-hand experiences to choose the items listed above.

Why Trust The Spruce Eats?

Brigitt Earley is a freelance writer who covers food and kitchen-related content for lifestyle brands, including The Spruce Eats. She received her culinary degree from The French Culinary Institute (now the Institute of Culinary Education) in New York City and is a former RealSimple.com editor with extensive experience testing and writing about food, kitchen products, and appliances. She wrote the original version of this round-up and has since updated it to include the most up-to-date information.

Sources

Updated by
Alyssa Langer
Alyssa Langer
Alyssa is a licensed registered dietitian who covers food and kitchen products. She has written for EatingWell, Martha Stewart, and more and has worked on many America’s Test Kitchen cookbooks.
Learn about The Spruce Eats' Editorial Process
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Amanda McDonald
Amanda McDonald
Amanda McDonald is a journalist living in New York City and Commerce Updates Editor for The Spruce Eats. She has written and edited health, wellness, food, and fitness content as well as recipes for multiple publications.
Learn about The Spruce Eats' Editorial Process
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