What to Use If You Don’t Have Tomato Sauce: 7 Easy Alternatives

Out of tomato sauce?

There are several tomato-based ingredients that can be adjusted to work as a simple substitute for tomato sauce. The easiest options are usually fresh tomatoes, canned tomatoes, tomato paste, tomato purée, and sun-dried tomatoes.

On the other hand, ingredients like ketchup, tomato soup, and tomato juice can be used in some cases, but they are not ideal replacements and only fit certain recipes.

If you don’t have tomato sauce, you can still build something similar using what’s already in your kitchen. It can be fresh tomatoes cooked down, or quicker pantry options that give you a similar result without much effort.

Whether it’s for lasagna, pizza, or a simple skillet meal, you can still get that rich tomato base using other tomato products.

Here are 7 easy alternatives for what to use if you don’t have tomato sauce.

In This Article:

• Tomato Paste
• Canned Tomatoes
• Tomato Purée
• Tomato Soup
• Fresh Tomatoes
• Sun-Dried Tomatoes
• Ketchup

1. Tomato Paste

Tomato paste is a thick, concentrated tomato base made by cooking tomatoes down until most of the moisture is gone. Because of its intensity, it needs to be loosened before it can replace tomato sauce.

Heat a little olive oil in a pan, then add the tomato paste along with garlic, salt, pepper, and chili flakes. Stir it for a short time to bring out the flavor.

Add water and mix until it reaches a smoother, sauce-like texture. Equal parts tomato paste and water usually gives a good balance.

Let it simmer briefly so everything comes together. Once it settles, it can be used as a substitute for tomato sauce in recipes like pasta, pizza, or stews.

2. Canned Tomatoes

Heat some olive oil in a pot and cook chopped onion until it softens. Add minced garlic and let it cook briefly, then pour in canned tomatoes.

Season with salt, pepper, and chili flakes. If the tomatoes are whole or too chunky, break them down while cooking using a spoon or masher.

Let it simmer until it thickens into a sauce-like consistency. If you prefer a smoother texture, blend it after cooking.

Once it reaches the right consistency, it can be used as a direct replacement for tomato sauce in most recipes.

3. Tomato Purée

Tomato purée sits between tomato sauce and tomato paste in thickness, making it a solid base for a quick substitute.

It can be turned into a sauce by heating it with a bit of olive oil, garlic, salt, pepper, and any seasoning you like. Unlike tomato paste, it doesn’t need much water since it’s already looser in texture.

Let it simmer until it slightly thickens and the flavors come together. Once ready, it can be used in place of tomato sauce in most recipes.

4. Tomato Soup

Tomato soup is usually sweeter and thinner than tomato sauce, so it doesn’t replace it directly in most recipes.

It can still be used in some dishes, but it’s better suited for recipes where a lighter tomato flavor is enough, rather than something like pasta sauce.

Start with a small amount and adjust as you go, depending on how strong you want the tomato taste in the final dish.

5. Fresh Tomatoes

Fresh tomatoes can also be turned into a direct substitute for tomato sauce.

Start by preparing the tomatoes in a way that removes the skins. Slice them in half and grate the cut side, then discard the skins left behind.

Use the grated tomatoes the same way you would use canned tomatoes. Heat olive oil in a pot, cook chopped onion until soft, then add garlic and the tomatoes.

Season with salt, pepper, and chili flakes. Let it cook until it breaks down and thickens into a sauce.

Fresh tomatoes usually need less time on the heat, especially when they are ripe and naturally sweet.

6. Sun-Dried Tomatoes

Sun-dried tomatoes are usually sold either dry or stored in oil, sometimes plain and sometimes already seasoned. They can be used in place of tomato sauce, but they need to be brought back to a softer texture first.

Place them in a bowl and cover with hot water, letting them sit until they become soft enough to blend.

Transfer the softened tomatoes into a blender and add a small amount of vegetable oil (or the oil they came with). Blend until smooth and thick.

Season with basil, garlic, onion powder, salt, and pepper to build a flavor closer to tomato sauce before using it in meals.

7. Ketchup

Ketchup has a sweet and slightly tangy taste, which makes it very different from tomato sauce in both flavor and consistency.

It is not suitable as a straight replacement in dishes that depend on a proper tomato base, like pasta, pizza, stews, or casseroles. The flavor is too sweet and can easily overpower the dish.

Still, it can be used in very small amounts to add a mild tomato note in some recipes where only a light hint is needed.

Related: What Can You Use If You Do Not Have Soy Sauce? 8 Simple Soy Sauce Substitutes

What to Use If You Don’t Have Tomato Sauce: FAQs 

What can I use if I do not have tomato sauce?

You can use ingredients like canned tomatoes, tomato paste mixed with water, fresh tomatoes cooked down, tomato purée, or sun-dried tomatoes depending on what you have.

What is a good substitute for tomato flavor?

Tomato paste, canned tomatoes, and tomato purée are the closest options since they still carry a strong tomato base and can be adjusted into a sauce-like consistency.

What can I use instead of tomato sauce for pasta?

For pasta, the best options are canned tomatoes or tomato paste turned into a quick sauce. Sun-dried tomatoes can also work if blended into a smooth, seasoned paste.