Easy Keto Pizza Sauce Recipe (2024)

Looking for a keto pizza sauce for your low carb fathead dough or cauliflower pizza crust? This easy 15-minute recipe has a fraction of the sugar found in store bought sauces. Make it while your keto crust bakes and it will be ready when your crust is. You’ll want to make this delicious sauce again and again.

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Easy Keto Pizza Sauce Recipe (1)

THIS POST INCLUDES AFFILIATE LINKS TO SHARE THE THINGS I LOVE.

Great Keto Pizza is Possible on Your Low Carb Diet!

Following a low-carb or keto diet is easier than ever when you can enjoy great low carb pizza. The most popular keto friendly pizzas start with fathead dough, chicken pizza crust or a crispy cauliflower crust. All are great choices, so choosing a favorite depends on your preferred flavor and texture.

You'll be surprised to learn that the while today's keto pizza crusts are ultra low carb, it's the sauces and toppings you'll have to pay attention to. They may contain hidden sugars so make sure to read labels.

Carbs in Tomatoes

Tomatoes contain natural sugars and have a net carb count of 0.67 g per raw ounce. Tomato products, especially those which concentrate and thicken pureed tomatoes, are typically high in carbs. It’s common for popular canned/jarred tomato sauces and pizza sauce to add extra sugar to their recipes.

These hidden sugars often contribute to carb creep, causing stalls and weight gain for those on low carb keto diets. Luckily, my low carb sauce is so good you won’t even miss your old stand-by.

Easy Keto Pizza Sauce Recipe (2)

Keto Pizza Sauce

Several keto friendly pizza sauce recipes call for cooking-down fresh or canned whole tomatoes. And while I do that for pasta sauce, this method requires too much cooking time to make a quick pizza sauce.

Conversely, no-cook keto pizza sauce recipes mix a few dried seasonings with tomato paste and water. Yes, they are easy, but they lack the flavor of a cooked sauce.

My recipe takes the best parts of both methods, is easy and tastes great. While it's not ultra thick like store bought brands (Pizza Quick), it has less carbs and better ingredients. Here's how to make it:

  1. In a small pot, saute fresh chopped garlic in olive oil until softened and the raw smell cooks out.
  2. Add an 8 ounce can of tomato sauce to the pan and simmer with...
  3. Fresh chopped parsley, onion powder, dried basil, dried oregano, and red pepper flakes.
  4. Add a little sweetener because canned tomatoes are very acidic.
  5. Simmer about 5 minutes or until the sauce darkens a little and no longer smells raw.

Feel free to add chopped onion, fresh rosemary, dried marjoram, red pepper flakes or Parmesan cheese to make it your own.

NOTE: I had Contadina tomato sauce in the pantry but use your favorite brand. Just make sure that it doesn’t contain added sugars.

Easy Keto Pizza Sauce Recipe (3)

Other Keto Friendly Pizza Sauce Options

Some people can’t handle the acid in a tomato-based sauce anymore.* Still others want a new and exciting keto pizza flavor. Here are a few great keto pizza sauce options that will keep you loving your low carb pizza.

  • Alfredo sauce
  • Blue cheese dressing
  • Caesar dressing
  • Enchilada Sauce
  • Garlic and olive oil
  • Keto Barbecue Sauce
  • Pesto
  • Ranch dressing

TIP: Add a little baking soda to your tomato sauce to neutralize the acid. The amount of baking soda depends on the amount of sauce you make. Add ¼ teaspoon at a time until you notice the sauce is more mellow and no longer "bites". You can do this with your morning coffee, too. I add a pinch of baking soda to my coffee every morning!

What Can You Make with Sugar Free Pizza Sauce?

Spoon sugar free pizza over eggs for a quick-and-dirty Shakshuka (eggs-in-hell) recipe. It makes a great dipping sauce for cheesy keto breadsticks, mozzarella sticks or crispy fried eggplant . One of my favorite ways to use this sauce is for keto bagel pizzas. My kids love them as a snack!

Conclusion

It’s easy to make your own keto pizza sauce for your favorite low carb pizza crusts. It only takes a few minutes, you control the ingredients and it tastes great.

Easy Keto Pizza Sauce Recipe (4)

Easy Keto Pizza Sauce

An easy keto pizza sauce recipe made with tomato sauce, herbs, and spices. A quick cook enhances flavors. Great as a low carb dip, too.

5 from 8 votes

Print Pin Rate

Course: Condiments, Dressings and Sauces

Cuisine: Italian

Keyword: Low Carb Keto Pizza

Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 5 minutes minutes

Total Time: 15 minutes minutes

Servings: 8

Calories: 14kcal

Author: Kim Hardesty

Equipment

  • Can opener

  • Small sauce pan

Ingredients

  • 8 oz Contadina tomato sauce
  • 1 med clove garlic, pressed
  • 1 teaspoon olive oil
  • 2 teaspoon low carb sugar (Sukrin, Swerve, Lakanto, Besti)
  • 1 teaspoon chopped fresh parsley (or ½ teaspoon dried)
  • ½ teaspoon onion powder
  • ½ teaspoon dreid basil
  • ¼ teaspoon dried oregano
  • ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)

Instructions

  • Measure the onion powder, basil, oregano and red pepper flakes into a small bowl. Chop the parsley and add it to the bowl. Open the can of tomato sauce.

  • Pour the olive oil into a small sauce pan and add the pressed garlic. Turn the heat to medium and cook until the garlic is fragrant and loses its raw smell.

  • Pour the tomato sauce into the pan and add the chopped parsley and dried seasonings. Add half of the sweetener and taste, adding the rest if needed. Simmer about 5 minutes or until the sauce darkens slightly and no longer smells raw.

  • Cool and store in an airtight container for up to 5 days or freeze until needed. Thaw in the refrigerator.

  • Makes 1 cup of sauce with 8, 2-tbsp servings at 1.25 NET CARBS PER SERVING.

Nutrition

Serving: 2tablespoon | Calories: 14kcal | Carbohydrates: 1.75g | Protein: 0.52g | Fat: 0.58g | Sodium: 130mg | Fiber: 0.5g | Sugar: 0.56g | Vitamin A: 1162IU | Vitamin C: 24mg | Calcium: 20mg | Iron: 20mg

Easy Keto Pizza Sauce Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What pizza sauce is best for keto? ›

Here are some of the best low carb pizza sauces you can try out:
  1. Tomato Paste-Based Red Sauce. ...
  2. Heavy Cream and Cheese-Based White Sauce. ...
  3. Cream Cheese or Mascarpone Frosting.
May 8, 2023

What can I use if I don't have pizza sauce? ›

5 Pizza Sauce Alternatives
  • Other tomato-based sauces. Traditional pizza sauce is made using canned tomatoes, garlic, olive oil, onion, and herbs like basil and oregano but there are so many other tomato sauce options that offer different flavour profiles. ...
  • Pesto. ...
  • Alfredo. ...
  • Tapenade. ...
  • Extra-Virgin Olive Oil.

What can you put on a pizza base instead of tomato sauce? ›

Some popular options include garlic, lemon juice, lemon zest and fennel. Pepper adds some kick to the mildness of a white sauce and if you're fond of heat, red pepper flakes are a good option as well. BBQ sauce – Barbeque lovers are likely to enjoy a pizza sauce alternative with a smokier flavor.

What cooking sauces are keto friendly? ›

All of these are low in carbs and conducive to staying in ketosis.
  • Mayonnaise. Didn't expect this to be on the list, did you? ...
  • Mustard. Mustard is a staple condiment that you should have in your diet arsenal. ...
  • Hot Sauce. ...
  • Soy Sauce or Tamari. ...
  • Olive Oil. ...
  • Salsa. ...
  • Pesto. ...
  • Guacamole.
Feb 23, 2024

Can a slice of pizza kick you out of ketosis? ›

Traditional pizza made with wheat-based crust and topped with tomato sauce, cheese, and meat is high in carbs, which can kick you out of ketosis.

Can I eat pizza on keto if I don't eat the crust? ›

Consuming only the cheese sauce and toppings from a pizza can be a keto-friendly option, as long as you avoid the carb-rich crust. However, be cautious about hidden sugars in the sauce. Customizing your pizza toppings at home with keto-friendly ingredients can be a better alternative.

What can I use instead of marinara sauce for pizza? ›

Table Of Contents show
  1. 3.1 Fresh Tomatoes.
  2. 3.2 Pizza Sauce.
  3. 3.3 Tomato Juice.
  4. 3.4 Tomato Ketchup.
  5. 3.5 Tomato Paste.
  6. 3.6 Tomato Salsa.
  7. 3.7 Pureed Tomatoes.
  8. 3.8 Tomato Soup.
Oct 18, 2022

What can I put on my pizza instead of cheese? ›

Vegan White Pizza With Artichoke Tofu Ricotta and Roasted Garlic, right, and Vegan Pizza With Miso-Caramelized Onions and Shiitake Bacon are both great – without cheese. Season dough with dried herbs and paprika for a brighter, better flavor. Artichoke Tofu Ricotta is great on pizza or as a spread or dip.

What sauce is closest to pizza sauce? ›

Tomato sauce and BBQ sauce are just versions of pizza sauce. One alternative, used frequently in Italy, is pesto. Although usually an olive oil/basil/garlic/nut combination, it can also made with fresh oregano and Parmesan. Another option is seafood, particularly clams and sardines.

Can I use tomato puree instead of pizza sauce? ›

If all you have around is a bit of puree and a few store cupboard ingredients, this is the sauce for you. We don't advise using tomato puree straight from the tube as a base sauce - it's a touch dry and will catch and burn. At a push, dilute it with water in a bowl before spreading on your low-carb pizza base.

Can I use ketchup instead of pizza sauce in pizza? ›

Ketchup is best utilized as a substitute in recipes that already have some sweetness. In most cases, start with a ½:1 swap and add more American Garden's ketchup as needed to adjust the flavor. Do you crave pizza but don't have any pizza sauce? Don't worry, you can get great results using American Garden's ketchup.

What sauce has no carbs? ›

For instance, condiments like vinegar, mustard, hot sauce, garlic, chicken broth, and mayonnaise made with olive oil have virtually no carbs.

How many carbs a day on keto? ›

The ketogenic diet typically reduces total carbohydrate intake to less than 50 grams a day—less than the amount found in a medium plain bagel—and can be as low as 20 grams a day. Generally, popular ketogenic resources suggest an average of 70-80% fat from total daily calories, 5-10% carbohydrate, and 10-20% protein.

Why is tomato sauce not keto? ›

For instance, many store-bought tomato products, such as tomato paste, tomato sauce, salsa, tomato juice, and even canned tomatoes, contain added sugars. This significantly raises their total carb content, making them more difficult to fit into a ketogenic diet.

What is the healthiest pizza sauce? ›

  • Best Overall: Rao's Marinara. Amazon. ...
  • Best Low-Sodium: Victoria Low-Sodium Marinara Sauce. Amazon. ...
  • Best for Garlic Lovers: Barilla Traditional Tomato Sauce. Walmart. ...
  • Best for Added Veggies: Ragú Simply Chunky Garden Vegetable. Amazon. ...
  • Best Sweeter Sauce: Bertolli Traditional Marinara. Walmart.
Feb 12, 2024

What kind of pizza can you eat on keto? ›

It is best to eat the toppings off of white pizza to be safe. Yes, you can enjoy pizza toppings and cheese on a keto diet by excluding the high-carb crust. Opt for homemade or restaurant choices that offer keto-friendly crust alternatives or no crust at all.

Which pizza chains offer keto pizza? ›

Blaze Pizza's Keto Pizza

The fast-casual chain's keto crust has just six grams of net carbs, swapping flour for ingredients like flax seeds, eggs, and cheese.

Is Rao's sauce keto-friendly? ›

In fact, we love using Rao's marinara sauce for making recipes like our easy keto ravioli, Italian casserole, and stuffed peppers – it's amazing and gives it the real Italian flavor! Want the best prices?

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