The Best New York-Style Pizza Sauce Recipe – State of Dinner (2024)

Published: · Modified: by Erin · This post may contain affiliate links · 12 Comments

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This New York-style pizza sauce recipe simmers on the stove to give you a flavorful and fresh-tasting sauce! It is slightly sweet and bursting with the flavors of tomatoes, garlic, and herbs. This delicious recipe is perfect for your next pizza night!

The Best New York-Style Pizza Sauce Recipe – State of Dinner (1)
Jump to:
  • What Makes This a Good Pizza Sauce Recipe?
  • Steps to Making the Best Pizza Sauce
  • What Else Do I Need for a New York Pizza?
  • Side Dish Recommendations
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • More Pizza Recipes
  • Recipe
  • Reviews

What Makes This a Good Pizza Sauce Recipe?

This recipe is for a cooked sauce of tomatoes that is bursting with the flavors of garlic and basil. It has much more depth of flavor than a sauce is that uncooked, which makes every bite of your pizza simply extraordinary!

Key Ingredients & Substitutions

All of these sauce ingredients work together to create a robust pizza sauce where the tomatoes and herbs are hearty, without any one flavor being overpowering. While each ingredient is important, there are a few that really make the sauce what it is!

Whole Tomatoes: Most brands use their higher quality tomatoes for the canned whole tomatoes, and their lesser quality tomatoes go into their diced tomatoes. So for the best flavor, I use whole tomatoes for my sauce. If you need to use diced tomatoes then it is an equal substitution.

Tomato Paste: The addition of tomato paste in this recipe helps create a rich and thick sauce. If you do not have tomato paste then you can increase the whole tomatoes to 28 ounces. With this substitution, you may need to cook your sauce for up to 90 minutes in order to get a thicker consistency.

Fresh Basil: Some recipes use basil sprigs and remove them after cooking, but I like the flavor of basil blended into the sauce. It adds freshness and vibrance! When it comes to basil in this sauce, fresh is best! But if you do not have fresh basil then you can use 2 teaspoons of dried basil in its place.

Olive Oil and Butter: Many times when adding fat to a recipe, you use one source. But when we combine butter and olive oil together we get an even better sauce. The olive oil adds flavor, and the butter adds richness and texture.

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Steps to Making the Best Pizza Sauce

Step 1: Saute the herbs in olive oil and butter. This builds the foundation of the sauce.

The Best New York-Style Pizza Sauce Recipe – State of Dinner (3)

Step Two: Add in all of the remaining ingredients. The tomatoes, onions, basil, and sugar go into the pot.

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Step Three: Puree the tomatoes and other ingredients together. This can be done using a hand blender or food processor.

My family likes a smooth sauce with no tomato chunks, so I puree the ingredients until they are smooth. But if you like some chunks in your sauce then just blend it for a shorter amount of time.

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Step Four: Simmer the sauce for an hour over low heat, with the sauce gently bubbling. The flavors deepen as the sauce cooks, and in the end, you will have a rich and delicious pizza sauce!

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What Else Do I Need for a New York Pizza?

Now that you have made the best pizza sauce you will ever have, you just need a few other things for the very best New York-style pizza recipe!

Pizza Dough: They say that there is nothing like a true New York pizza crust. Apparently, there is something in the water that makes it impossible to recreate. But this cold ferment pizza dough recipe has great flavor and texture, and makes a darn good pizza!

If you want to enjoy your pizza today then try this delicious .

Premium Quality Mozzarella Cheese: The third most important ingredient for a New York pizza (coming in behind the sauce and the crust) is the cheese. Shredded cheese, to be exact.

You won't find slices of fresh mozzarella cheese on a New York pizza. Instead, sprinkle shredded low moisture mozzarella over the sauce. The key here is that it needs to be whole milk, low moisture cheese. Skip the low-fat and pre-shredded cheeses, and you will end up with the best creamy, delicious topping for your pizza.

Additional toppings: You can add your favorite toppings, like pepperoni or sausage. Just keep the toppings minimal to let the crust and sauce shine through. Finally, sprinkle some shredded Parmesan cheese over the top and the pizza is ready to bake.

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Side Dish Recommendations

  • A big green salad
  • Some buffalo wings. Or to mix it up, try these sweet and spicy!
  • Toasted ravioli makes a great appetizer!
  • If you want to stick with iconic New York food then be sure to serve up some Half Moon Cookies for dessert!
  • Pair with a medium-bodied wine, like Syrah or Chianti. For a white wine, Sauvignon Blanc is a great choice!

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use this sauce for other styles of pizza?

This recipe is the perfect foundation for any homemade pizza! If you are making a Detroit or Neapolitan-style pizza, then follow the directions exactly as listed. For a Chicago-style pizza, blend the ingredients for less time, leaving small tomato chunks in the sauce.

How should I store the sauce?

Once the sauce has cooled to room temperature, transfer it to an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 2 weeks. It can also be frozen for up to 3 months.

More Pizza Recipes

  • Cold Ferment Pizza Crust Recipe
  • Easy No Sugar Pizza Sauce Recipe
  • Chicago-Style Deep Dish Pizza Recipe
  • Homemade Garlic and Herb Pizza Dough Recipe
The Best New York-Style Pizza Sauce Recipe – State of Dinner (12)

Let me know how you like this recipe by leaving a review! And follow along on Instagram @stateofdinner for behind-the-scenes and to be among the first to know when new recipes post!

Recipe

The Best New York-Style Pizza Sauce Recipe – State of Dinner (13)

The Best New York-Style Pizza Sauce

Recipe by: Erin

Delicious New York-style pizza sauce that simmers on the stove to develop a rich flavor to make your next pizza night extra special!

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 5 minutes mins

Cook Time 1 hour hr 5 minutes mins

Total Time 1 hour hr 10 minutes mins

Course Condiments

Cuisine American, Italian

Servings 6

Calories 79 kcal

Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon (15 ml) olive oil
  • 1 tablespoon (14 grams) butter
  • 2 medium (2 medium ) garlic cloves (2 teaspoons minced)
  • 1 ½ teaspoons (3 grams) dried oregano
  • teaspoon (0.25 grams) crushed red pepper
  • 1 ½ teaspoons (9 grams) kosher salt
  • 14 ounces (370 grams) whole peeled tomatoes
  • 6 ounces (170 grams) tomato paste
  • ¼ cup (40 grams) finely minced yellow onion
  • 2 tablespoons (4 g) chopped fresh basil
  • 1 teaspoon (4 g) sugar

Instructions

  • Heat olive oil and butter in a medium saucepan, over medium-low heat.

    1 tablespoon olive oil, 1 tablespoon butter

  • Add the minced garlic, oregano, crushed red pepper, and salt, and stir frequently until you begin to smell the garlic and herbs (2-3 minutes).

    2 medium garlic cloves, 1 ½ teaspoons dried oregano, ⅛ teaspoon crushed red pepper, 1 ½ teaspoons kosher salt

  • Add the tomatoes, tomato paste, onions, basil, and sugar, and puree using a hand blender, until smooth. (You can also use a food processor for this step.)

    6 ounces tomato paste, 14 ounces whole peeled tomatoes, ¼ cup finely minced yellow onion, 2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil, 1 teaspoon sugar

  • Return the sauce to the stove over medium heat. Once the tomatoes begin to simmer, reduce the heat to the lowest setting, where the sauce just bubbles lightly.

  • Cook for 1 hour, until the sauce has reached your desired consistency. Taste the sauce and add additional salt, if desired.

  • Use immediately, or cool and store refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 2 weeks.

Notes

Yield: This makes enough for two 14-inch pizzas.

Nutrition

Calories: 79kcal | Carbohydrates: 10g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 4g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 5mg | Sodium: 918mg | Potassium: 433mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 624IU | Vitamin C: 13mg | Calcium: 43mg | Iron: 2mg

The nutritional facts provided are only estimates. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.

Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

Share a photo of your creation with your friends!Mention @stateofdinner or tag #stateofdinner!

The Best New York-Style Pizza Sauce Recipe – State of Dinner (2024)

FAQs

What is the secret to New York style pizza? ›

By coating individual flour granules, oils will effectively lower the maximum level of gluten formation in a given dough, making the resultant baked crust slightly denser and notably more tender than a fat-free dough. Without oil, a New York pie would dry out and toughen during its 12 to 15 minute stay in the oven.

What gives NY pizza its flavor? ›

Sugar and olive oil are usually added to high-gluten bread flour, yeast, and water to create the dough, which is hand-tossed. Some people say the unique flavor and texture of the crust occurs because of the minerals that are only found in NYC's tap water.

Why does NYC pizza taste so good? ›

New York–style pizza gets its distinguishing crust from the high-gluten bread flour with which it is made. Minerals present in New York City's tap water supply are also credited with giving the dough in metro area pies its characteristic texture and flavor.

Is New York pizza sauce cooked or not? ›

Unlike Neapolitan pies, which generally use a simple, uncooked sauce of fresh or canned tomatoes and salt, New York by-the-slice pies use a heavily seasoned cooked sauce. The key to great New York-style sauce is creating balance between sweetness, acidity and heat, with a definite herbal backbone.

What cheese do NY pizzerias use? ›

There are several other things to note about the best type of cheese to use for New York Style pizzas. The mozzarella cheese ought to be full-fat cheese. This is because you can only achieve that stretchy effect with full fat cheese. Low-fat or part-skim cheese does not stretch the same.

How to make homemade pizza taste like a pizzeria? ›

10 Tips for Making Restaurant-Style Pizza at Home
  1. 1/10. Do the Dough. In order to make restaurant style pizza, you must start with a good dough. ...
  2. 2/10. Rise Above. ...
  3. 3/10. Cornmeal is Key. ...
  4. 4/10. Simmer Your Sauce. ...
  5. 5/10. Steady on the Sauce. ...
  6. 6/10. Less is More. ...
  7. 7/10. Set on Stone. ...
  8. 8/10. Crank the Heat.
Feb 10, 2022

What do New Yorkers sprinkle on pizza? ›

Spread tomato sauce evenly over dough. Sprinkle with oregano, mozzarella cheese, basil, Romano cheese, and red pepper flakes.

What is the most famous pizza flavor? ›

Poll after poll, pepperoni always tops the list of America's favorite pizza toppings.

What makes a pizza taste best? ›

Good dough, good sauce, and good cheese together can make a great pizza. the most important part of the sauce is good tomatoes. Italian tomatoes are the best: they just are. Then you need to cook the tomatoes with some fats.

Why does restaurant pizza taste so good? ›

The No. 1 reason restaurant pizza is better than homemade is that they have ovens that can reach 900°F, or even hotter, which makes for perfectly crisp and chewy crusts, with those lovely charred spots, says Kierin Baldwin, chef-instructor of Pastry & Baking Arts at the Institute of Culinary Education.

What is the best water for pizza dough? ›

A water of medium hardness – 100 to 150ppm works best for dough preparation.

Does New York water make pizza taste better? ›

yeah, kind of. While the city's water is certainly unique and has defining qualities, the impact it has on the actual taste and texture of bagel and pizza dough may be more minimal. In fact, the production techniques are likely what makes these New York specialties taste better.

Should you precook pizza sauce? ›

You don't actually need to cook the sauce because it will eventually be cooked with the entire pizza, and pre-cooking it can take away from the tomatoes' vibrant flavor. Using raw ingredients allows every element of the sauce to be at its most flavorful. This is part of what separates pasta sauce and pizza sauce.

Should I simmer my pizza sauce? ›

The flavor gets richer the longer you let the sauce simmer. However, if you don't have the time to let it cook down for an hour, just let the sauce cook for as long as possible. The flavor won't be as robust and the texture will be thinner, but no one will complain.

Do New Yorkers eat pizza folded? ›

But the difference is, between New York style pizza dough and other types of pizza, is that New York pizza is often folded up by the consumer before they eat it.

What is the difference between New York style pizza and regular pizza? ›

New-York style pies are often easily distinguishable because of their extra-large and thin crust. The crust isn't as chewy as that in the traditional pie. Because the base isn't as complex as that of traditional pizzas, it is the perfect backdrop for loading up on layers of toppings and cheese.

What's the difference between New York style pizza and regular pizza? ›

New York style pizza is typically large (14-18 inches as opposed to a 12 inch typical Neapolitan pizza). It is often sold by the slice, which are flat, wide and foldable. The dough is made of high-gluten flour and has a The cheese is normally Grande brand mozzarella which grated and evenly covers pizza.

What makes NY pizza crust different? ›

New York-style pizza dough is an offshoot of Neapolitan-style dough—still a thin crust pie, but slightly thicker than its Italian cousin. The crust is sturdy, but not cracker-like, and instead features a tender chew thanks to the addition of oil in the dough.

What does a New Yorker pizza have on it? ›

According to the Pizza Hut website, the Big New Yorker is a 16-inch pizza that's cut into six oversized, foldable slices with a crispy thin crust, sweet marinara sauce, mozzarella cheese and Parmesan oregano seasoning. For an additional fee you can add toppings like pepperoni, sausage, mushrooms or onions.

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