9 Grocery Store Pizza Sauces That Can Beat Big-Chain Flavor
Making pizza at home can be a game-changer when you use the right sauce. While big pizza chains rely on mass-produced options, grocery stores offer amazing alternatives that can transform your homemade pie.
These nine sauces bring restaurant-quality flavors right to your kitchen, often with better ingredients and bolder tastes than what the major chains serve up.
1. Rao’s Homemade Pizza Sauce: The Gourmet Game-Changer
Slow-simmered with Italian plum tomatoes, Rao’s sauce brings a rich, velvety texture that clings perfectly to pizza dough. The balance of sweet and savory notes comes from their traditional cooking method.
No corn syrup or preservatives here, just pure tomato goodness with a hint of oregano and garlic. I’ve converted many friends to Rao’s loyalists after just one bite of my homemade margherita pizza.
2. Don Pepino Original Pizza Sauce: Old-School Authenticity
Packaged in its iconic gold tin, Don Pepino has been a pizza night staple since 1950. The chunky texture provides substantial tomato presence without overwhelming your toppings.
What makes this sauce special is its simplicity – just tomatoes, corn oil, salt, and spices. No added sugar means the natural sweetness of vine-ripened tomatoes shines through, creating a clean flavor base for your pizza creations.
3. Pastorelli Italian Chef Pizza Sauce: Chicago’s Secret Weapon
Chicago pizzerias have long known what home cooks are discovering – Pastorelli delivers authentic Italian flavor in every spoonful. The slightly chunky consistency provides wonderful texture against melty cheese.
Back in college, my roommate’s Italian grandmother swore by this sauce for her famous deep-dish recipe.
The hint of Romano cheese already mixed in gives it a depth that ordinary sauces lack, saving you an ingredient while boosting flavor.
4. Muir Glen Organic Pizza Sauce: Earth-Friendly Excellence
Harvested at peak ripeness, Muir Glen’s organic tomatoes create a sauce with bright, clean flavors. The subtle basil and oregano notes complement rather than compete with your chosen toppings.
Free from artificial preservatives and grown without synthetic pesticides, this sauce appeals to health-conscious pizza lovers.
The smooth consistency spreads easily across dough, creating an even base that cooks perfectly without becoming watery.
5. DeLallo Pizzeria-Style Pizza Sauce: Restaurant Quality at Home
Crafted to mimic the sauces used in authentic pizzerias, DeLallo strikes the perfect balance between chunky and smooth. The rich tomato flavor carries subtle notes of garlic and herbs without overwhelming your palate.
Every family pizza night, my kids request this sauce specifically. They’ve dubbed it the “restaurant sauce” because it transforms even simple cheese pizza into something special.
The thick consistency prevents soggy crusts, keeping your pizza perfectly crisp.
6. Cento Pizza Sauce: Versatile Italian Classic
Cento’s formula includes a touch of olive oil that carries flavors beautifully across your pizza. The sauce strikes a perfect balance – not too sweet, not too acidic – making it incredibly versatile for various pizza styles.
The smooth consistency works wonderfully for thin-crust pizzas where sauce distribution matters. Many home cooks appreciate how this sauce can be used straight from the can or easily customized with additional herbs and spices for personalized flavor profiles.
7. Pomì Pizza Sauce: Pure Tomato Perfection
Imported from Italy, Pomì brings authentic flavor through their unique packaging that preserves fresh tomato taste. The sauce contains minimal ingredients – Italian tomatoes, olive oil, salt, and seasonings like oregano, garlic, and bay.
The clean, bright flavor profile works beautifully with both traditional and creative toppings. When entertaining guests from Italy last summer, they commented that this sauce reminded them of pizzerias back home, particularly when paired with fresh mozzarella and basil.
8. Carbone Original Pizza Sauce: Celebrity Chef Quality
Created by the team behind the famous Carbone restaurants, this sauce brings restaurant luxury to your home kitchen. The complex flavor profile includes sweet, tangy, and savory notes that develop as the pizza bakes.
Slow-cooked Italian tomatoes form the base, while the perfect blend of herbs adds dimension without overwhelming.
Though priced higher than some competitors, the remarkable depth of flavor justifies the splurge for special pizza nights when you want to truly impress.
9. Trader Joe’s Pizza Sauce: Fresh Refrigerated Favorite
Unlike shelf-stable alternatives, Trader Joe’s refrigerated sauce delivers garden-fresh flavor that tastes homemade. The bright acidity balances perfectly with their signature herb blend, creating a versatile base for any style pizza.
Found in the refrigerated section near the fresh pasta, this sauce remains a hidden gem. I discovered it by accident while shopping for pasta, and now it’s my go-to for weeknight pizzas.
The convenient refrigerated tub makes application mess-free, with minimal waste.