Pizza Sauce vs. Pasta Sauce

Many people wonder about the difference between pizza sauce and pasta sauce. Here at Hungry Howie's®, we're both pizza and pasta enthusiasts, and since we spend quite a bit of time making each, we're familiar with the differences between the two sauces. There are a few key factors that set the two sauces apart. These include ingredients, how they are cooked, and how you use them.

The Difference Between Pizza & Pasta Sauce

You probably notice that the sauce on your favorite Hungry Howie's® pizza and your Hungry Howie's® oven baked pasta don't taste quite the same. That's because they aren't. In the world of pizza and pasta, while the two sauces are both tomato-based and flavored with a variety of seasonings, there are several differences between them.

Pizza Sauce

First, pizza sauce is generally uncooked. That's right, it isn't simmered or boiled or mixed for hours the way pasta sauce typically is. Rather, pizza sauce is more of a cold tomato paste or puree. A good pizza sauce contains pureed tomatoes with a few basic seasonings that is then spread right over that delicious pizza dough–no cooking required.

It tends to be a bit more tart than a pasta sauce, and is balanced out by the savory taste of gooey mozzarella cheese and the toppings of your choice. Pizza sauce is usually very minimal in regard to the list of ingredients. While you will likely find some salt and pepper, along with the classics such as garlic and oregano, there's usually not much more to it. It's simple and it's delicious.

Pasta Sauce

Pasta sauce, on the other hand, is a bit more involved than pizza sauce. If you've ever spent a Sunday afternoon perfecting your at-home sauce recipe you already know the difference between pizza sauce and pasta sauce. 

Pasta sauce tends to have many more ingredients than pizza sauce, and the seasonings tend to be included in much larger quantities. When you're eating pasta the sauce is often the main focal point. It's what you want to steal the show. So much more goes into it. Pasta sauce often includes ingredients such as onions, peppers, butter, and more. More than just pureed tomatoes, pasta sauce usually includes a variety of diced tomatoes and tomato paste, sometimes with a meat or vegetable broth as well. It's a complex dish to cook, and many individuals spend years perfecting their pasta sauce recipe. 

And unlike pizza sauce, which is made fresh and used cold right away, pasta sauce takes hours to simmer. This is so all of the different flavors can mingle together and create a unique and savory blend. Full of spices such as oregano, garlic, basic, and more, pasta sauce has a much fuller body and heavier aroma than pizza sauce. You only use pasta sauce hot, once you cook it for the proper amount of time, unlike the cold pizza sauce which cooks right in the oven along with your pie. 

Perfecting Your Sauce

Whether you are making pizza sauce or pasta sauce, crafting the perfect recipe is a form of art. It can take many tries to get it just as you wish. Often, you will not make sauce the exact same way twice. You may adjust the ingredients as you go each time, tweaking the recipe to what tastes just right that day. This is all part of the beauty of making the perfect sauce. 

At Hungry Howie's®, we've also spent years perfecting our pizza sauce and pasta sauce recipes. We perfectly balance all of the spices, use only the best tomatoes, and continuously test to make sure everything is just as it should be. This is how we create the ultimate pizza and pasta every time. It takes hard work and dedication. 

Order for Carry-Out or Delivery

We bet that by now you're craving your favorite Hungry Howie's® pizza near you or baked pasta, and we can't blame you. Order tonight for carry-out or delivery. We have a wide variety to choose from.

Build your favorite pizza with your go-to toppings and your favorite Flavored Crust®, or choose from a Hungry Howie's® classic like the Meat Eaters Pizza, the BBQ Chicken Pizza, or the Howie Special Pizza. All our pies are made with 100% mozzarella cheese on dough that we make fresh daily.

Or, if you're in the mood for a Hungry Howie's® oven baked pasta, try the Chicken Parmesan Pasta or our Baked Pasta with penne in marinara sauce that is covered in melted cheese. All of our oven baked pastas come with a side of Howie Bread® to complete the meal. If you're looking to add a little something extra to your dish you can select from meatballs, mushrooms, or sausage on top. Any way you order, you can't go wrong.

Order pizza online or give us a call and stop by tonight to pick up your order, or have it delivered directly to your house.