Pizza is a beloved dish that is enjoyed by people all over the world. From the classic Margherita to the loaded meat-lover’s, there is a pizza for every palate. One of the key components of a great pizza is the sauce. While store-bought pizza sauce is convenient, making your own homemade canned sauce can take your pizza to the next level.

Making your own canned pizza sauce may seem daunting, but it is actually quite simple and the end result is well worth the effort. Not only does homemade sauce allow you to control the ingredients and flavors, but it also ensures that you have a steady supply of delicious sauce on hand whenever a pizza craving strikes.

To start, you will need ripe tomatoes, garlic, onions, olive oil, oregano, basil, salt, and pepper. The key to a great canned pizza sauce is using fresh, ripe tomatoes. You can use a variety of tomatoes such as Roma, San Marzano, or cherry tomatoes, depending on what is available to you. If fresh tomatoes are not in season or readily available, you can use canned whole tomatoes as a substitute.

Begin by blanching the tomatoes in boiling water for a minute or two, then transferring them to an ice bath to stop the cooking process. This will make it easier to peel the skin off the tomatoes. Once peeled, chop the tomatoes and place them in a large saucepan.

Add minced garlic, diced onions, olive oil, oregano, basil, salt, and pepper to the saucepan. Simmer the mixture for about an hour, stirring occasionally, until the tomatoes break down and the sauce thickens. Once the sauce has reached the desired consistency, taste and adjust the seasonings as needed.

Once the pizza sauce is ready, it can be canned for future use. Ladle the hot sauce into sterilized canning jars, leaving a half-inch headspace. Seal the jars with sterilized lids and rings, then process them in a boiling water canner for 35 minutes. Allow the canned sauce to cool before storing it in a cool, dark place.

Using homemade canned pizza sauce can transform your pizza-making experience. The fresh flavors of the sauce will shine through, and you can feel good knowing exactly what ingredients are going into your pizza. Additionally, having a stash of homemade canned sauce on hand means that you can whip up a pizza at a moment’s notice.

Whether you prefer a classic cheese pizza or a loaded supreme, perfecting your pizza with homemade canned sauce is sure to take your homemade pizza game to the next level. Once you taste the difference, you may never go back to store-bought sauce again.