Easy Homemade Pizza Sauce Recipe for Kids

If your kids love pizza (and let’s be honest—who doesn’t?), then this easy homemade pizza sauce is the perfect way to get them involved in the kitchen! This simple recipe is fun, quick, and doesn’t require any cooking, so your little chefs can help every step of the way. Plus, it’s made with ingredients you likely already have on hand, making it a healthier, fresher alternative to store-bought pizza sauce.

Whether you’re preparing for a fun family pizza night or looking for a quick activity to keep your kids entertained, this pizza sauce will be a hit. Ready to get started? Let’s make some sauce!

Why Homemade Pizza Sauce?

Why choose homemade pizza sauce over store-bought? There are plenty of reasons to make this at home, especially when you’re cooking with your kids.

Healthier Option

Store-bought pizza sauces can have added sugars and preservatives. When you make it at home, you control exactly what goes into the sauce—no surprises!
I remember flipping over a jar of store-bought sauce once and seeing a list of ingredients I couldn’t even pronounce. That’s when I realised homemade was the way to go.

Customisable

You can tweak the flavours to suit your family’s preferences. Like more garlic? Add a bit more! Prefer a sweeter sauce? Toss in a pinch of sugar.
Last week, my daughter suggested adding a sprinkle of paprika. It sounded unusual, but we gave it a try—and now it’s our “secret ingredient.”

Bonding Time

Cooking together is a great way to bond with your kids. Making this pizza sauce gives them an opportunity to feel involved and learn basic cooking skills like measuring, mixing, and tasting.
The best part? Watching their faces light up when they taste the sauce and proudly declare, “This is the best sauce EVER!”

Gather Your Ingredients

The best part about this recipe is that it uses simple ingredients you probably already have in your kitchen! Here’s what you’ll need:

tomato sauce (or crushed tomatoes for a chunkier texture)
tomato paste (optional, for a thicker sauce)
dried oregano
dried basil
garlic powder
onion powder
olive oil
Salt and pepper to taste
Optional: A pinch of sugar to balance out the acidity

Got your ingredients ready? Great! Let’s move on to the fun part—making the sauce!

One of my favourite things about this recipe is that it’s so forgiving. Don’t have onion powder? Skip it. Prefer fresh garlic? Go for it. The kids think it’s hilarious when I call it “freestyle cooking.”

Step-by-Step Instructions for Easy Homemade Pizza Sauce

Making this pizza sauce couldn’t be easier! Here’s how to do it, step by step:

Step 1: Start with the Tomato Base

Pour the tomato sauce (or crushed tomatoes) into a medium-sized mixing bowl. If you’re using tomato paste for a thicker sauce, add that in too.
My kids love pouring the ingredients—they call it “making the first splash.” And yes, sometimes it’s more of a splash than I’d like, but that’s part of the fun!

Step 2: Add the Herbs and Spices

Stir in the oregano, basil, garlic powder, onion powder, and olive oil. Your little ones can help measure out the ingredients and sprinkle them in—this is a great way for them to practice measuring skills!
When my kids added oregano for the first time, they’d always say, “It smells like pizza already!” That’s when I knew this recipe was a winner.

Step 3: Mix It All Together

Give the sauce a good stir until everything is well combined. This is a fun job for kids—they can take turns mixing or use a whisk for an extra fun twist.
My youngest likes to count how many stirs it takes to “make the magic happen.” Spoiler alert: it’s usually around 10.

Step 4: Taste Test

Here’s where your kids can put their chef hats on! Have them taste the sauce and ask for their input: “Does it need more salt?” “Is it too tangy?” If it tastes a bit too acidic, add a small pinch of sugar to balance it out.
My daughter always takes this step very seriously, rubbing her chin and saying, “Hmm, it needs a pinch more salt.” It’s like having a mini food critic in the kitchen!

Step 5: Adjust Seasonings

Feel free to adjust the seasoning based on what your family likes. If your kids love garlic, add a bit more! If you’re out of one herb, don’t stress—you can substitute with what you have on hand.
One time, we ran out of basil and used Italian seasoning instead. The kids called it “pizza surprise sauce,” and it was just as delicious.

And just like that—your homemade pizza sauce is ready to go!

Making It Fun for Kids

Making pizza sauce is a great sensory activity for kids. They get to feel the smooth texture of the tomato sauce, smell the fragrant herbs, and taste their creation. Encourage them to be curious and have fun during the process!

Last time we made this, my youngest insisted on adding extra olive oil because she liked the “glug-glug” sound it made. It was the highlight of her day!

Tips for Success

Cooking with kids is all about fun, but we know things can get a little messy. Here are some tips to make the process smoother:

Minimise Messes: Set up a work area with easy-to-clean surfaces. If you want to keep things neat, give each kid their own little bowl for mixing their sauce.

Sauce Too Thin?: Stir in some extra tomato paste or a bit of grated cheese to thicken it up.

Storage: If you have extra sauce, store it in the fridge for up to a week or freeze it in small portions for future pizza nights.

Pro Tip: Freeze the sauce in an ice cube tray for individual portions—it’s perfect for quick snacks or mini pizzas.

Using the Pizza Sauce

This sauce is perfect for more than just pizza! Here are a few other ideas:

Pizza Dipping Sauce: Use it as a dip for breadsticks or veggies.

Pasta Sauce: Heat it up and pour it over your favourite pasta for a quick meal.

Marinara for Snacks: Serve it as a dipping sauce with mozzarella sticks or other finger foods.

My kids love using it as a “magic sauce” for everything—from crackers to veggie sticks. Who knew broccoli could be so exciting with a little pizza sauce?

Final Thoughts

Making homemade pizza sauce with your kids is a fun and easy way to bring the family together in the kitchen. Whether you’re making pizzas, dipping snacks, or serving up a quick pasta dish, this sauce will become a family favourite.

And don’t stress about the mess—those little tomato splatters are just evidence of the fun you had.

We’d love to see what you and your little chefs create! Share your pizza creations with us, and be sure to check out our other kid-friendly recipes for more fun in the kitchen.

Check out this recipe Mini Pizza for Kids if you would like a step by step on making mini pizzas.