Neapolitan Pizza Sauce Recipe

This Neapolitan Pizza Sauce Recipe is so simple and quick to make. It's a celebration of simplicity and fresh flavors, hailing from Naples, Italy, where pizza was born. There's no cooking involved, so the sauce retains a bright, fresh tomato taste I know you'll love.

Imagine yourself in Naples, Italy, savoring a fresh, authentic 100% Biga Neapolitan Pizza. What truly sets this pizza apart is the perfectly simple Neapolitan pizza sauce that ties everything together.

This sauce is all about letting sun-ripened tomatoes shine. Made from perfectly ripened San Marzano tomatoes, it’s mixed with just a pinch of salt, fresh basil, olive oil, and a hint of garlic. I also use it in this Easy Vegan Pizza Roll Recipe, and it’s the base for so many versatile dishes.

And here’s the best part about this Neapolitan pizza sauce—it’s never cooked! The high heat of the oven brings out the tomatoes’ natural sweetness and vibrant flavor, so quality ingredients are key to that authentic, mouthwatering taste. Plus, it’s one of my 5-in-5 sauces: ready in 5 minutes with 5 ingredients or less.

If you’re a fan of sauces that pack in flavor and nutrition, check out my Hidden Veggies Pasta Sauce for another quick and easy recipe. It’s loaded with vegetables but so smooth and delicious that no one will guess it’s secretly healthy.

Why You'll Love This Pizza Sauce

• Neapolitan pizza sauce is made with simple ingredients - San Marzano tomatoes, basil, garlic, and salt, to highlight the freshness of the tomatoes.
• Uncooked tomatoes create a perfect flavor and freshness balance in this sauce.
• This sauce can be used for gourmet pizzas, as a dipping sauce, or for pasta dishes.

Ingredients

Here's everything you'll need! See the recipe card for quantities.

Tomatoes: Look for genuine San Marzano tomatoes. They come from the San Marzano region in Italy and are marked with the “S. Marzano dell’Agro Sarnese-Nocerino D.O.P.” label. While fresh San Marzano tomatoes are amazing, canned versions are just as flavorful and convenient for making sauces year-round.

How To Make Neapolitan Pizza Sauce

See the pics below? It doesn't get any simpler or quicker than this. See the recipe card for directions.

Step 1: Place all the ingredients in a blender or food processor.

Step 2: Blend until it reaches the consistency you want.

Top Tips

• San Marzano tomatoes are ideal for a perfect sauce and come in both fresh (available July to September in Naples) and canned forms. Canned options are available year-round and provide great flavor. This is what we use.
• For fresh tomatoes, blanch and peel them before use. For canned, simply break them up with a masher or immersion blender. While a chunkier sauce is traditional, we prefer blending for a smooth texture—perfect for keeping tomato traces undetectable to my daughter!
• Strain the tomatoes with a sieve or cheesecloth to remove excess liquid for a thicker sauce, which helps prevent soggy pizza dough and ensures a crispy crust.

Serving Suggestions

Neapolitan pizza sauce is perfect for classic Neapolitan pizzas and can also be used for various gourmet pizzas and other dishes.

• Gourmet Pizzas: In addition to classic Neapolitan pizzas like Margherita and Pizza Marinara, Neapolitan pizza sauce can be used in various gourmet pizzas, such as Arugula pizza and Mushroom and Truffle oil pizza.
• This can also be used as a dipping sauce for vegetables and as a pasta sauce. Its fresh and vibrant flavor profile makes it an excellent addition to various Italian dishes, from Best Vegan Lasagna With Tofu Ricotta to vegan eggplant Parmesan.

Neapolitan Pizza Sauce FAQS