Can I use pasta Sauce for pizza?[All you need to know!]

Often one doesn’t have a batch of pizza sauce ready on a pizza night. You are perhaps too busy to make a batch or run to the supermarket to get one. So, what do you do? Look for alternatives, right? Perhaps the obvious choice that comes to mind is pasta sauce since they look the same. But, can pasta sauce be used for pizza? 

Pasta sauce can be used as an alternative to a pizza sauce, as they are both tomato-based. However, a pasta sauce on your pizza will make your pizza bread soggy since it is more liquid than a pizza sauce. That said, avoid using meat-based pasta sauce for your pizza.

In this article, we shall take a detailed look at what can and cannot be used as an alternative if you don’t have a pizza sauce when making pizza!

Is pasta sauce the same as pizza sauce?

pasta sauce is not the same as pizza sauce, as pizza sauce is made from uncooked tomato taste with the added seasonings. A Pizza sauce is a thick sauce that can be put on the pizza bread without making it soggy.

Whereas, a pasta sauce is a cooked tomato sauce with herbs and Italian seasonings. A few pasta sauces can also be meat-based such as Spaghetti meat sauce, Carbonara sauce, Amatriciana sauce, and Bolognese meat sauce.

pasta sauce tends to be runnier compared to pizza sauce. This is done with the addition of pasta water or stock. The sauce is more like a thick gravy. Just thick enough to coat the pasta. So, that every bite has enough sauce in it.

pasta sauce vs pizza sauce

Pizza Sauce	Pasta Sauce
It is uncooked and cooked while the pizza is cooking.	The pasta sauce is cooked.
Essential herbs are added to the pizza sauce, such as salt, pepper, oregano, basil, and garlic.	More herbs are added to the sauce, such as oregano, rosemary, thyme, basil, and chili flakes.
It is thick so that it sticks to the pizza base and thus does not fall off or so that it does not make the pizza base soggy.	Pasta sauce is thinner than pizza sauce, and the consistency varies. It is made liquid by adding pasta water. Ideally, the sauce consistency should be such that it coats the pasta.
Pizza sauce has a smooth consistency.	Pasta sauce has a chunky consistency as well as bits of tomato.

What can I use if I don’t have pizza sauce?

If you do not have a pizza sauce then a simple alternative would be a tomato paste or other tomato-based pasta sauce also works well. Just take the available thick tomato paste or pasta sauce and adjust the seasonings.

Also, if you are not very particular about having a tomato-based sauce on your pizza. Then, there are a few options like pesto sauce, ranch dressing, barbeque sauce, tapenade, chimichurri sauce, and a few other options to choose from.

how to turn pasta sauce into pizza sauce?

Tomato-based pasta sauce is some of the most straightforward choices for a pizza sauce. However, you must ensure that you are not using meat-based pasta sauces such as ragu as they are not an option for your pizza sauce. Other tomato sauces such as arrabbiata, spaghetti, etc can be used on your pizza base.

Here are a few steps that you need to follow to convert your pasta sauce into a pizza sauce:

1. In a saucepan add the pasta sauce and turn on the heat to low to medium.
2. Adjust the seasonings. Generally, pasta sauce has a lot of herbs added thus it already has flavors. If you are using a tomato paste then you’ll have to add in herbs such as Italian seasoning, salt, pepper, and basil.
3. Thicken the sauce.
4. Once the sauce has cooled, puree the same in the blender or use a handheld blender to get a smooth puree. pasta sauce is chunkier than pizza sauce therefore you’ll have to puree it.

Thus, you are ready with your pizza sauce.

can I use tomato paste for pizza sauce?

Tomato paste is used and can be as a pizza sauce. Tomato paste just like the pizza sauce is uncooked thus the flavor will not be very different thus it is considered one of the best alternatives to a pizza sauce.

Tomato paste is a little watery and therefore has to be simmered on a gentle heat to thicken it. Also, the addition of a few ingredients and herbs such as oregano, rosemary, thyme, salt, pepper, garlic powder, and olive oil will easily make a great pizza sauce.

Can I use ketchup as a pizza sauce?

Ketchup is mainly made up of tomato paste. Therefore, it can be used as a pizza sauce. However, you will have to tweak it to make ketchup a better alternative. Also, ketchup has added sweetness and is more vinegary.

You may add a few other ingredients such as basil, pepper powder, and garlic powder to make it taste closer to pizza sauce. However, if you don’t want to go through the hassle of tweaking it then you can simply use it as is.

Can I use marinara for pizza sauce?

Marinara is one of the most commonly used pasta sauces and serves as a base for most Italian tomato-based sauces. Thus, marinara can be used as a sauce for your pizza.

Marinara sauce, as well as pizza sauce, share the same basic ingredients. The addition of more tomatoes will produce a better, thicker sauce for your pizza. However, it is your preference.

can I use ragu as pizza sauce?

Ragu sauce has the perfect blend of sweetness and savory flavor and mimics a pizza sauce in the best possible way. Thus, it can be a perfect substitute for pizza sauce.

Ragu is made in a few different ways some add carrots and bay leaves to add sweetness and some additional red wine and onions. Tomatoes are used in various forms such as canned tomatoes, pureed tomatoes, and tomato paste. They add depth of flavor and texture to the sauce.

Can You Use Prego Italian Sauce For Pizza?

prego Italian sauce is also one of the most favored sauces as pizza sauce since many of the ingredients used in the pizza sauce and a prego Italian sauce are the same. rego sauce used both canned tomatoes and pureed tomatoes.

The herbs and spices used in a prego sauce are salts, pepper, oregano, parsley, basil, sugar, crushed garlic, and onions. However, you will have to puree the sauce well to get a smooth consistency.

If you do not have a tomato paste at hand, using a prego Italian sauce is a good alternative.

Can I Use Spaghetti sauce for pizza?

Spaghetti sauce can be used as a pizza sauce as long as it is meatless. A meat-based spaghetti sauce can not be used like any other meat pasta sauce.

Simply reduce the sauce by simmering it overheating and adjusting the seasonings. puree it in the blender. The smooth paste will be ready to use as a sauce on top of your pizza.

best pasta sauce for pizza

There are a few sauces that work the best as an alternative to pizza sauce.

1. Tomato paste
2. Arabiatta sauce
3. Spaghetti sauce (meatless)
4. Marinara sauce
5. Ragu sauce(meatless)
6. prego Italian sauce

All Marinara sauces are good substitutes for a pizza sauce.

Some Non-Tomato based sauces which work well are:

1. Pesto
2. Alfredo
3. Chimichurri sauce
4. Ranch dressing
5. Barbecue sauce
6. Sweet chili sauce

Above are some of the few commonly loved options you can find the one that works the best for you!