No-Cook Tomato (Pizza) Sauce

Last updated on March 28th, 2026

No-Cook Tomato Sauce. - harvestandnourish.com

A good homemade tomato sauce will perfectly complement your at-home pizza crusts. This No-Cook Tomato Sauce is simple yet bold, balanced and ready in minutes. Using high-quality canned tomatoes, we skip the stovetop and let the natural flavours shine. 

Most often, even in the summer, I rely on this quick canned tomato sauce recipe, but this no-cook version comes together even faster and is amazing on pizza.  To me, it most closely replicates what you’ll find on crispy, blistered pizzeria-style pizzas, but made in the comfort of your own home. Can you think of anything better?

Here’s everything you’ll need to make this No-Cook Tomato (Pizza) Sauce

  • 1 800 ml (28 oz) can crushed or undrained peeled whole tomatoes (see notes)  
  • 1 tablespoon (15 grams) extra-virgin olive oil
  • 1 ½ teaspoons (5 grams) kosher or fine sea salt
  • ½ teaspoon (0.5 gram) dried oregano
  • ¼ teaspoon (0.25 gram) chili flakes
  • 1 garlic clove, finely chopped or minced

This sauce has just the right balance of sweetness, acidity and heat with a thick texture that won’t compromise the structure of your pizza crusts. Use it straight from the bowl or let it sit for deeper flavour.

You can find my 4-Ingredient Artisan Pizza Dough recipe here.

No-Cook Tomato Sauce. - harvestandnourish.com

Why Canned Tomatoes?

I never hesitate to reach for high-quality canned tomatoes when making a sauce.

Here’s why:
  • Canned tomatoes are harvested at their peak, with all their fresh flavours, sweetness and consistency locked in. This is crucial for a no-cook pizza sauce where every ingredient counts.

Using fresh tomatoes can be tempting, but they can be unreliable—especially during the colder months—and result in a watery, bland tasting sauce.

  • They don’t need to be cooked to draw out their natural flavours. Good quality crushed or whole canned tomatoes have the right balance of acidity, sweetness and depth of flavour, all without having to turn on the stove.
  • They’re a pantry staple. Stock up and you’ll be ready for a pizza night any day of the week!

Whether you opt to use it freshly made or from your freezer stash, this No-Cook Tomato Sauce is a winner that delivers the perfect base every time.    

Try this Easy Pumpkin Seed Pesto or this Caesar Salad Dressing next.


If you make this recipe, please tag me on Pinterest or Instagram so I can see! 

And of course, feel free to leave any questions, comments or reviews. This is the best place to reach me, and I’d love to hear from you!

No-Cook Tomato Sauce. - harvestandnourish.com

No-Cook Tomato (Pizza) Sauce

This sauce has just the right balance of sweetness, acidity and heat and a thick texture that won't compromise the structure of your pizza crusts. Using high-quality canned tomatoes, we skip the stovetop and let the natural flavours shine. Simple yet bold, balanced and ready in 5 minutes! 
Prep Time:5 minutes
Keyword: no-cook, pizza sauce, tomato sauce
Servings: 4 cups
Author: Kerry

Ingredients

  • 800 ml (28 oz can) crushed or undrained peeled whole tomatoes*
  • 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
  • 1 garlic clove finely chopped or minced
  • 1 ½ teaspoons kosher or fine sea salt
  • ½ teaspoon dried oregano
  • ¼ teaspoon chili flakes

Instructions

  • Add all sauce ingredients directly to the can of tomatoes (or a medium-sized mixing bowl) and stir thoroughly. Taste and add a little more salt if you wish. Transfer to a sealable storage jar and keep in the fridge for up to 1 week or in the freezer for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before using.

Notes

*If using canned whole tomatoes, I recommend either crushing them by hand or with an immersion blender before using. You can also add all the ingredients to a food processor and pulse 2 or 3 times. Do not overmix, or the sauce will become watery and lose the slightly chunky texture that comes to mind when we think of traditional pizza sauces.

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