Round Table Pizza Sauce Recipe

Round Table Pizza has been serving up tasty pies since 1959, and their sauce has a special flavor that keeps people coming back.

Many of us love pizza night at home because it saves money and lets us control what goes on top, but getting that restaurant taste can be tricky.

My husband loves his pizza loaded with bold, flavorful sauce. I remember one time when we were at my aunt’s house – we ordered from a popular chain, and the sauce was so thin and plain that everyone was disappointed.

In that moment, I thought, I already know the secret to getting that Round Table taste.

So I made my own version of the Round Table Pizza Sauce Recipe to serve with our homemade pizza. The best part is my aunt loved it so much that she asked me to make extra and even handed me two bottles to fill for her.

This simple copycat recipe takes just ten minutes and brings back that rich, tangy flavor everyone enjoys.

How Round Table Pizza Sauce Differs from Competitors

Round Table Pizza sauce has a unique profile that sets it apart. The spice level sits right in the middle. It brings warmth without burning your mouth.

You get a hint of heat that builds slowly. This balance comes from the right amount of cayenne pepper.

The sauce works beautifully with Round Table’s thick toppings. The bold flavor cuts through cheese and meats. It does not get lost under heavy pepperoni or sausage.

Pizza Hut uses a sweeter sauce with more sugar. Their sauce is thinner and runs more easily.

Domino’s goes for a tangier profile with extra garlic. Their sauce has a sharper bite.

Papa John’s includes more herbs and a cup of garlic butter on the side. Round Table focuses on balance. The celery seed adds an earthy note you will not find in other chains. The oregano and basil ratio creates a classic pizza taste.

Round Table keeps their sauce thicker than most competitors. This thickness means each bite has full flavor. The sauce stays where you put it instead of soaking into the crust.

Using Sauce on Your Pizza

Grab any spoon, but a big one with a flat bottom works best. Scoop about 1½ to 2 big spoonfuls for a 12-inch pizza.

Never drown the dough – you should still see some dough peeking through the sauce. Too much sauce = soggy crust.

Drop the sauce right in the middle. Hold the spoon handle between your thumb and index finger, lay the spoon flat, and start making slow circles outward.

Keep going until you’re about an inch from the edge (that bare edge becomes the beautiful crust later).

Spin the pizza while you spread if that feels easier. That’s it. Simple, fast, perfect every time.

Round Table Pizza Sauce Ingredients

• Tomato Paste (1 can, about 6 oz): This thick concentrate forms the foundation of your sauce. Look for tomato paste without added seasonings. Hunt’s brand works perfectly, but Contadina gives the same results. Both are national brands you can find at any grocery store. Tomato paste has a deep red color and rich flavor. It’s much thicker than tomato sauce. This thickness is important because it clings to the pizza dough better.
• Water (4 oz): This thins the paste to the right consistency. Use exactly 4 ounces for best results. Too much water makes runny sauce. Too little makes it too thick to spread. Room temperature water works best. It mixes easier with the paste.
• Onion Powder (½ tsp): This dried seasoning adds savory notes without chunks. Onion powder dissolves completely into the sauce. It gives that cooked onion flavor without the texture. The powder blends smoothly with other spices.
• Garlic Powder (½ tsp): This brings aromatic flavor to every bite. Garlic powder is stronger than fresh garlic. A little goes a long way. It mixes evenly throughout the sauce. Granulated garlic from bulk stores like Costco works great.
• Salt (½ tsp): Regular table salt enhances all the other flavors. This isn’t kosher salt or sea salt. Plain table salt is what you need. It dissolves quickly and seasons evenly.
• Sugar (¾ tsp total): A little sugar balances the acidity from the tomatoes. It gives the sauce a slight sweetness. You can use white granulated sugar.
• Paprika (½ tsp): Paprika adds a mild, sweet pepper flavor and helps with the sauce’s color.
• Cayenne Pepper (¼ tsp):This is used for just a tiny bit of background heat. It does not make the sauce spicy. You can leave it out if you prefer.
• Dried Basil (1 tsp): Basil adds a sweet and peppery flavor that is essential for pizza sauce.
• Dried Oregano (1 tsp): Oregano is a classic pizza herb. It has a warm, slightly bitter taste.
• Celery Seed (½ tsp): This is a special ingredient. It gives a mild, earthy flavor that is key to the unique taste. Fennel seed was too strong in testing, but celery seed works perfectly.

Essential Kitchen Equipment

1. Mixing Bowl – main bowl for sauce
2. Small Bowl – for dry spices
3. Liquid Cup – measure water
4. Whisk or Fork – blend tomato mix
5. Mortar and Pestle – grind herbs
6. Measuring Spoons – for exact spice levels
7. Rubber Spatula – scrape sides of bowls

How To Make Round Table Pizza Sauce

Step 1 | Start with the Tomato Base

Open your can of tomato paste and put it all into your mixing bowl. Measure exactly four ounces of water in your liquid measuring cup. Pour the water into the bowl with the tomato paste.

Step 2 | Mix the Base

Use your whisk or fork to mix the tomato paste and water together. Keep mixing until it is completely smooth and there are no lumps of paste left.

Step 3 | Prepare the Dry Spices

Take your small bowl. Add the onion powder, garlic powder, sugar, paprika, salt, and cayenne pepper. Stir them together so the spices blend before adding them to the sauce.

Step 4 | Grind the Herbs

Place dried basil, dried oregano, and celery seed into your mortar. Use your pestle to grind them into a fine mix. Move the pestle in soft circles until the herbs break down.

Step 5 | Add the Herbs to the Bowl of Spices

Pour the ground herbs into the small bowl with the dry spices. Stir them together again.

Step 6 | Final Mixing

Pour the full spice mix into your tomato bowl. Begin stirring slowly. The sauce will darken as everything blends. Stir until the sauce turns smooth, thick, and even in color. Make sure no spots of spice sit on the top or sides.

Step 7 | Let the Sauce Rest

Cover the bowl with a lid and place it in the fridge. One hour gives a decent flavor, but resting overnight brings a deeper, richer taste.

Tips for Making Perfect Pizza Sauce

• Check Your Tomato Paste: Make sure it only contains tomatoes. Extra seasonings in some brands can change your sauce flavor.
• Room Temperature Helps: Take the paste out of the pantry 30 minutes before making sauce for easier mixing.
• Taste and Adjust: After resting, taste a small spoonful. Add sugar for tanginess, salt for seasoning, or more oregano for herb flavor.
• Control Sauce Thickness: Add water a little at a time for thinner sauce, or let it sit uncovered to thicken slightly.

7 Ways to Use Pizza Sauce

1. Classic Pizza Base: Spread it on homemade or store-bought pizza dough. Top with mozzarella and your favorite toppings. Bake until the cheese bubbles.

2. Dipping Sauce: Warm it up and serve with breadsticks, mozzarella sticks, or garlic knots. The thick consistency clings to bread perfectly.

3. Pasta Sauce: Thin it with a little more water or chicken broth. Toss with cooked pasta for a quick meal. Add cooked ground beef or sausage for extra protein.

4. Sandwich Spread: Use it cold on Italian sandwiches or subs. It adds moisture and flavor to deli meat sandwiches.

5. Flatbread Topping: Spread on naan bread or pita. Add cheese and broil for two minutes. You get quick personal pizzas.

6. Meatball Sauce: Pour over cooked meatballs in a baking dish. Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes. The sauce keeps the meatballs moist.

7. Calzone Filling: Spoon inside folded pizza dough with cheese and toppings. The thick sauce does not leak out during baking.

Make-Ahead and Storage Tips

This Round Table Pizza Sauce Recipe stores beautifully and actually tastes better after resting. After making your sauce, transfer it to a clean glass jar or airtight container. Keep it in the refrigerator for up to one week.

The flavors deepen each day as the herbs continue to blend with the tomatoes. Always use a clean spoon when scooping out sauce.

For longer storage, freeze the sauce in portions. Pour the sauce into ice cube trays or small freezer bags. Each portion should be about a quarter cup. This gives you single-use amounts. Frozen sauce lasts up to three months.

Thaw frozen sauce in the refrigerator overnight before using. You can also thaw it quickly by placing the sealed container in warm water for 15 minutes.

Do not microwave the sauce to thaw it. Microwaving can separate the oils and change the texture.

When you are ready to use stored sauce, stir it well. Sometimes the spices settle to the bottom during storage. A quick stir brings everything back together.

Round Table Pizza Sauce Recipe FAQs

1. Can I use fresh tomatoes instead of tomato paste?

Yes, fresh tomatoes can be used, but they need to be cooked down and strained to achieve the same thick consistency as paste. Otherwise, the sauce may be runny. Use about 1½ cups of pureed fresh tomatoes for 6 oz of paste. Cooking removes excess water and intensifies flavor.

2. My sauce is too thick. How can I fix it?

If your sauce is too thick, just add more water. Add one teaspoon at a time. Stir it in completely. Stop when the sauce is easy to spread with the back of a spoon.

3. Can I make this sauce in a blender instead of mixing by hand?

Yes, you can use a blender, but it’s not really needed. The sauce mixes fast by hand and keeps a rich, dark texture. A blender makes it a bit smoother but adds extra cleanup and can whip in too much air. If you do blend it, a stick blender works better than a regular one.

4. What if I don’t have a mortar and pestle?

You can crush dried herbs lightly with the back of a spoon or pulse them briefly in a spice grinder. Just avoid powdering them too fine.

5. My sauce is too thin. What should I do?

A thin sauce usually means too much water was added. The best way to fix this is to let the sauce rest in the fridge for a few hours. The tomato paste will absorb some water. If it is still too thin, add a little more tomato paste.

6. Can I make this sauce without sugar?

Yes, you can leave out the sugar. The sauce will taste a little more tangy from the tomatoes. If you want to avoid sugar but still balance the acidity, you can try a tiny bit of honey or just leave it out completely.

7. My sauce tastes too strong after mixing. What did I do?

You probably skipped the resting time. Fresh-mixed sauce always tastes sharp. Put it in the fridge at least four hours, or better yet overnight. The spices calm down and blend perfectly. Give it time – you’ll be happy you waited.

This Round Table Pizza Sauce Recipe is rich, balanced, and perfect for topping any pizza. The thick, flavorful sauce complements all kinds of toppings and brings every slice together.

Try this at home and see how simple great pizza sauce can be. Each batch gets better as you learn what you like. Share this recipe with others who love good pizza.