Combined with my pan pizza crust and toppings, this copycat Pizza Hut pizza sauce makes your homemade gluten free pan pizza taste JUST LIKE the original! Fool your family and even yourself 🙂
Does anyone else besides me wish for just once you could get a pizza from a chain restaurant? I wouldn't say Pizza Hut was one of the top pizza places by no means (my favorite pizza is a New York style--usually something made by a family-owned business). But I DID love Pizza Hut pan pizza every once in a while. It was like nothing else out there and I think that's part of why I liked it.
My son is a delivery pizza LOVER and every time he orders a pizza, I sit on the opposite side of the table and smell that wonderful aroma coming from the box as he opens it. He pulls out the first piece and takes a big bite, and I imagine myself taking a bite of that pizza, the crunchy, almost fried bottom with the unmistakable thick and tangy sauce hiding beneath a blanket of gooey, bubbly cheese. Mmmmm!!! I can almost taste it as I'm writing this!
If you think that picture above is Pizza Hut's pan pizza, think again. That is my OWN creation people! That's right. It's my gluten free pan pizza, complete with this marvelous copycat Pizza Hut pizza sauce and my incredible gluten free pan pizza dough to boot! You can put this sauce on a regular gluten-filled pizza crust, or a regular gluten-free pizza crust, or anything you want pizza sauce on because it's so good!!
What's In This Copycat Pizza Hut Pizza Sauce?
It's a pretty standard recipe, nothing fancy involved, but the components make up not just a good sauce, but a GREAT sauce. Here are the ingredients:
- tomato paste OR tomato sauce
- water
- olive oil
- granulated sugar
- dried oregano
- dried thyme
- garlic powder
- salt
- black pepper
Don't worry if you're gluten free and can't have the delivery chain pizza anymore. You can make it yourself and you'll probably think it's better than the original ever was 😉
Copycat Pizza Hut pizza sauce
Ingredients
- 2 6-ounce cans tomato paste or 1 15-ounce can tomato sauce
- 2 cups water, or 1 cup water if using tomato sauce
- 1 teaspoon granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Bring all ingredients to a boil over medium heat. Reduce to simmer. Cover with lid slightly ajar and allow to simmer for about 30-40 minutes, or until sauce is reduced and thickened, stirring every 10-15 minutes.
- Store leftover sauce in refrigerator for about 4-5 days, or freeze for up to three months.
Paul m says
The recipe is close. I worked at Pizza Hut for several years long ago and made thousands of gallons of sauce. There was no oil of any type. Stewed tomatoes (strained) and tomato sauce was used.
Angelica says
If you were to modify this recipe then what exactly would you do? I'm want to make a pizza for someone who lovvvvvves Pizza Hut but I want it to taste as authentic to the 80s/90s as possible. If you could help then I would appreciate it 🙂
Askani says
If you have done the work, please tell me which tools were used.
Christie Lalonde says
PERFECT 👌
Kim says
Thanks, Christie!!
Samantha says
This recipe sounds great and I can not wait to try it. When it comes to saving the left over sauce has anyone tried canning it instead of freezing?
Kim says
I have not, Samantha. But that's a great idea!! I've never canned a single thing, but surprisingly my daughter, who isn't a baker at all, has canned her own strawberry jelly several times so I should ask her to try 🙂
Susan Schultz says
I'm canning it today.
Pam says
Thank you so much for this recipe 😊 Pizza Hut was always a tradition for us, always pan pizza and always extra sauce. The sauce really makes it extra fantastic and I thought I’d never be able to enjoy it again. Tonight I made the sauce and it was so yummy!!! I even think your dough recipe is better, so crispy but not dry at all. I am so happy I can now have my favorites again. Thank you Kim 😊
Kim says
Awe, you are so welcome, Pam! I'm so glad you like it!! Even though it's not an authentic Italian pizzaria and is just a chain, I always liked Pizza Hut and missed being able to order a pizza anytime I wanted. Now with a little preparation, we can have that same taste!
As always, thanks so much for your wonderful comments 🙂