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)

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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 kind of pizza sauce is keto friendly? ›

Heavy Cream and Cheese-Based White Sauce

A common white-sauce recipe for a keto-friendly white pizza starts with melting cream cheese and combining it with heavy cream, parmesan and olive oil to make it more spreadable over a pizza.

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

Some popular pizza sauce alternatives include the following:
  • Pesto.
  • Ricotta Cheese.
  • Barbecue Sauce.
  • Ranch Dressing.
  • Tapenade.
  • Olive Oil and Garlic.
  • Sweet Chili Sauce.
  • Chimichurri Sauce.

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

Eight pizza sauce alternatives
  • Basil pesto – A great starting point for experimentation with pizza sauce alternatives. ...
  • Béchamel – An integral part of many Italian dishes, béchamel also works well as a pizza sauce. ...
  • BBQ sauce – Barbeque lovers are likely to enjoy a pizza sauce alternative with a smokier flavor.

What cooking sauces are keto friendly? ›

Keto practitioners incorporate a variety of different condiments into their diets, including hot sauce, low-carb BBQ sauce, sugar-free ketchup, mustard, ranch dressing, mayonnaise, guacamole, soy sauce, sour cream, and more.

Will one piece of pizza kick me out of ketosis? ›

It depends on the ingredients in the pizza and how much you eat. 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.

Why is tomato sauce not keto? ›

Not all tomato-based foods are keto-friendly

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 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.

Can we use tomato ketchup instead of pizza sauce? ›

You can, but you'd need to do some stuff to it first… I'd recommend that you finely mince garlic, oregano (or just use Italian spices), and lightly fry them in (as little as possible) olive oil, then when fragrant (but not burnt), add your ketchup.

Can I use salsa instead of pizza sauce? ›

Salsa is another easy jarred alternative to pizza sauce and works especially well if you add chorizo, corn, beans, and other Latin-influenced toppings. Go for a tomato-based salsa if you don't want to stray too far from traditional pizza, or try a salsa verde made of tomatillos and cilantro.

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.

Which fruit is keto? ›

Keto fruits by definition are low in carbohydrates. You still need to exercise portion control with most keto-friendly fruits to be within the limits of a keto diet. Keto-friendly fruits include avocados, watermelon, strawberries, lemons, tomatoes, raspberries, peaches, cantaloupe, star fruit, and blackberries.

Can you eat the top of pizza on keto? ›

Yes, enjoying just the toppings from a pizza is a keto-friendly option. Focus on the protein-rich and low-carb components like cheese, meats, and vegetables. Be mindful of sauces and condiments for added sugars. This allows you to satisfy pizza cravings while adhering to keto principles.

Is cheese pizza OK for keto? ›

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.

Is mozzarella cheese keto? ›

According to the USDA, 1 cup of mozzarella cheese contains 17.6 grams of fat and 20.4 grams of protein. It's also rich in calcium, vitamin B12, and riboflavin. While not the best option for keto because of its carb content (3.83 grams), practitioners say you may still be able to consume it in moderation.

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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