Pizza Sauce Alternatives

We all love homemade pizza, but sometimes plain ol' marinara sauce can get boring. It's easy to bring a little variety to your pizza night by swapping out your pizza sauce with one of these flavorful alternatives.

"White Sauces"

Bechamel

Make a white pizza with an easy bechamel (or white) sauce. Make a roux with flour and butter and cook it with milk and seasonings to make a delicious white sauce that's perfect for people who aren't fans of tomato sauce. You can add herbs to add more flavoring.

Garlic White Sauce

Basically a White Sauce with garlic added. Recipe for Garlic White Sauce. This is the sauce used to make Shrimp Scampi Pizza.

Alfredo Sauce

Alfredo sauce is similar to bechamel but is made of heavy cream and parmesan cheese instead of milk. You can make your own or use one of the convenient jarred versions.

Garlic Aioli Pizza Sauce

Aioli is a garlic-flavored mayonnaise that makes a terrific condiment for vegetables and seafood. For example, tuna and tomato pizza with garlic aioli is delicious. Use high-quality mayonnaise for the best results, or you can even make your own.

Hummus

It's delicious on pita bread so you can't go wrong with it on pizza — hummus is an easy way to jazz up your pie while adding protein and nutrients, too. Top it with onions, olives, peppers, and feta cheese.

Garlic White Bean Paste

Often served on Italian bread as a form of Bruschetta, white bean puree is a creamy base for many toppings.

Ranch Sauce

A ranch pizza is sure to be a hit with the kids! Spread ranch dressing on the crust and top it with all sorts of healthy toppings. The creaminess of the dressing means you can go easy on the cheese if you like.

Garlic and Oil

Mix 1/4 cup olive oil (53 grams), 1/8 - 1/4 cup finely minced shallot (21-42 grams), 2 cloves garlic mashed into garlic paste, 1 sprig fresh rosemary leaves chopped very fine, 1/4 teaspoon salt (use 2X Diamond Crystal Kosher Salt), 1/8 teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper,

Instead of garlic paste can use Garlic Confit: Warm the oil in a pot over low heat and add the garlic paste and shallots. Stir well and let simmer for 5 minutes; you don't want the garlic or shallots to begin burning. Remove from heat and let cool before proceeding with the rest of the recipe. This will take the edge off the pungent raw garlic and shallot flavor while infusing the oil with more flavor.

Caramelized Onions

Onions, slow-cooked and caramelized until they are meltingly brown, sweet, and savory, are a delicious base for almost anything. Spread the onions on the pizza and top with feta cheese, prosciutto, mushrooms, arugula or spinach, and a drizzle of balsamic vinegar.

Ricotta Cheese

Spread a thin layer of ricotta cheese on your pizza crust and add a squeeze of lemon and ribbons of basil — then top with grilled vegetables, chopped tomatoes, and other toppings of your choice.

Or, stir together 1/2 cup ricotta, 1 cup shredded mozzarella, 1 clove garlic, finely chopped, 2 tablespoons oil, ½ teaspoon salt, and ¼ teaspoon pepper. Top with sautéed mushrooms, and other toppings of your choice.

Sauces with Herbs

Pesto

One of the easiest pizza sauce alternative is pesto (jarred or homemade). Just spread it straight on the pizza crust and top with your normal toppings.

Chimichurri Sauce

Argentine chimichurri sauce is a potent blend of parsley, oregano, garlic, and olive oil. Although it is traditionally used on meats, it is sure to be delicious on pizza as well. Try topping the pizza with thinly sliced steak as a nod to tradition.

"Other" Tomato Sauces

Salsa

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.

BBQ Sauce

If you fancy a BBQ chicken pizza, subbing BBQ sauce (jarred or homemade) for the tomato sauce is a great idea. If you don't have time to grill the chicken, just use rotisserie and add a drop of liquid smoke to the sauce.

Romesco Sauce

This Spanish sauce of tomatoes, roasted peppers, paprika, and almonds makes for an amazing variation on pizza sauce. Top the pizza with chicken, shrimp, or vegetables — this sauce is extremely versatile and goes well with almost anything.

Sun-Dried Tomato Sauce

Sun-dried tomatoes pack an extra-concentrated punch of flavor. You can make a simple sun-dried tomato pesto by pulsing sun-dried tomatoes, pine nuts, parmesan, and olive oil in a food processor. Use it like regular pesto or marinara sauce.

Some Other Non-Tomato Sauces

Tapenade

Tapenade, a spread made of olives, is super-flavorful and the perfect condiment for pizza. Add grilled vegetables and olive oil, and you're set.

Balsamic Glaze

Boil down ¼ cup of balsamic vinegar until it is thick and syrupy. Brush this over your pizza and top with cheese, mushrooms, onions, sausage, and more.

A Hint of Sweetness

Pepper Jelly

Sweet and spicy red pepper jelly is a delicious condiment on cheese by itself, so why not on a cheese pizza, too? Add sausage and sweet peppers to pump up the flavor on this unique pie.

Fig Jam

Fig jam would be a delicious foundation for a slightly sweet pizza. Use pre-made fig jam or make your own, and top it with goat cheese, prosciutto, parmesan, arugula, caramelized onions, or whatever your heart desires. A fig, prosciutto, and arugula pizza sounds amazing.

Asian Flavors

Hoisin Sauce

Sweet Asian hoisin sauce gives an Asian flair to your pizza and appeals especially to those who love Peking duck. Try topping it with cooked salmon, chicken, or duck. After cooking, top it with chopped green onions and cucumber.

Thai Chili Sauce

Sweet and spicy Thai chili sauce is a great base for an Asian-themed pizza. Top it with plenty of vegetables and some cooked chicken, tofu, or shrimp. You can even omit the cheese to keep it tasting fresh.

Thai Peanut Sauce

Using a Thai peanut sauce as a base for bean sprouts, chicken, scallions, and other veggies makes for a unique Thai-themed pizza.

Wasabi Sauce

Chef Jean-Georges created a unique fusion of Asian and French cuisine with his raw Ahi tuna pizza with wasabi creme fraiche sauce. You could create your own less-fancy version with raw or cooked salmon (if raw, buy from a reputable fishmonger) on top of a precooked crust, wasabi mixed with good mayonnaise, and topped with sesame seeds and micro-greens. As an appetizer, this dish could be quite affordable.

Indian Flavors

Curry Sauce

With so many varieties of jarred curry sauce available, a curry pizza can be a convenient weekday meal, especially when paired with premade naan bread. Spread the curry sauce on the naan and top it with chicken and paneer, a mild Indian cheese.

Tandoori Pizza

This tandoori chicken pizza is easy and delicious. Marinate chunks of chicken with tandoori seasoning and yogurt and then cook them with onions. Put the seasoned cooked chicken on some naan bread and top it with shredded cheese.