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Image illustrates home pizza sauce recipe.

Pizza Sauce

This home pizza sauce recipe is a rich, flavorful, small batch sauce made specifically for canning in 4 oz jars. It’s perfect for pizza nights, dipping breadsticks, garlic knots, or even quick lunches and snacks. Instead of opening a large jar and wasting leftovers, these single-serve portions keep everything fresh, convenient, and ready when you need them.
This homemade pizza sauce for canning is simple to make, uses pantry spices, and has that slow-simmered flavor that tastes like it’s been cooking all day. It’s a family-friendly small batch pizza sauce recipe that stores beautifully and makes homemade meals feel effortless.
With pizza sauce in 4 oz jars, you get just the right amount every time—no waste, no mess, just grab-and-go flavor. It also doubles as an easy homemade pizza dipping sauce for fries, crusts, and appetizers.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Processing Time 20 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 5 minutes
Servings 12 4 oz jars

Equipment

  • large saucepan or stockpot
  • Measuring cups and spoons
  • Immersion blender or blender (optional for smooth sauce)
  • canning funnel.
  • ladle
  • 12 4 oz canning jars with lids and bands
  • Water bath canner or large stockpot with rack
  • jar lifter.
  • Clean towels
  • Bubble remover/headspace tool

Ingredients
  

  • 2 cups tomato sauce
  • 1 tbsp tomato paste (for thickness)
  • 1 tsp olive oil
  • 1 tsp dried basil
  • 1 tsp dried oregano
  • ½ tsp garlic powder
  • ½ tsp onion powder
  • ½ tsp salt
  • ¼ tsp black pepper
  • 1 tsp sugar (optional, balances acidity)
  • 1-2 tsp lemon juice or bottled lemon juice (for safe canning acidity adjustment)

Instructions
 

Cook the Sauce

  • Add all ingredients to a saucepan and simmer over medium-low heat for 25–30 minutes. Stir often until the sauce thickens and flavors blend together.

Blend (Optional)

  • For a smoother texture, blend the sauce using an immersion blender before canning.

Prepare Jars

  • Wash and warm jars. Heat lids according to manufacturer instructions.

Fill Jars

  • Ladle hot sauce into 4 oz jars, leaving ¼ inch headspace. Remove air bubbles and wipe rims clean.

Seal Jars

  • Place lids on and tighten bands to fingertip tight.

Water Bath Process

  • Process in a boiling water bath for 20 minutes (adjust for altitude if needed).

Cool & Store

  • Let jars cool 12–24 hours. Check seals before storing in a cool, dark pantry.

Notes

How to Use

  • Pizza nights at home
  • Breadstick and garlic knot dipping
  • Quick snack trays
  • Lunchbox add-ons
  • Mini appetizer dips