🍕 Aurelio’s Pizza Sauce
Authentic Chicago-Style Pizza Sauce – Simple, Fresh & Delicious!
🤔 Quick Answer
What is Aurelio’s Pizza Sauce?
Aurelio’s Pizza Sauce is the legendary sauce from Aurelio’s Pizza, a Chicago-area institution since 1959. This authentic Italian-American pizza sauce is famous for its simplicity and fresh flavor. Made with premium San Marzano tomatoes, garlic, olive oil, and basic Italian herbs, it’s simmered for just 20-25 minutes to preserve the bright, fresh tomato taste. Unlike heavily seasoned, long-cooked sauces, Aurelio’s keeps it simple – letting the quality of the tomatoes shine through. This copycat recipe brings that authentic Chicago pizzeria flavor right to your kitchen!
🍅 About Aurelio’s Pizza Sauce
Fresh, simple, and bursting with tomato flavor – just like the original!
Aurelio’s Pizza has been a Chicago-area favorite since 1959, and their signature pizza sauce is a big reason why. Unlike many pizza chains that use heavily seasoned, overly sweet sauces, Aurelio’s takes a different approach – simplicity and quality.
The secret to this sauce lies in using premium San Marzano tomatoes from Italy. These tomatoes are naturally sweeter, less acidic, and have fewer seeds than regular tomatoes. Combined with just a few basic ingredients – garlic, olive oil, salt, sugar, and Italian herbs – the result is a sauce that lets the tomato flavor shine.
What really sets this sauce apart is the short cooking time. While many pizza sauces simmer for hours, Aurelio’s sauce cooks for only 20-25 minutes. This preserves the fresh, bright tomato flavor that’s characteristic of authentic Chicago-style pizza.
🎥 Watch How to Make It
Follow along with this step-by-step video tutorial
Aurelio’s Pizza Sauce
Authentic Chicago-style pizza sauce with San Marzano tomatoes
📝 Ingredients
- 2 cans (28 oz each) San Marzano tomatoes, crushed
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon dried basil
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste
👩 Instructions
- Prepare the Tomatoes: If using whole San Marzano tomatoes, crush them by hand or use a food processor for a chunky texture. Set aside.
- Sauté Garlic: Heat olive oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add minced garlic and sauté for 1-2 minutes until fragrant but not browned.
- Add Tomatoes and Seasonings: Add the crushed tomatoes, salt, sugar, oregano, basil, black pepper, and red pepper flakes (if using) to the saucepan. Stir in tomato paste.
- Simmer the Sauce: Bring the sauce to a boil, then reduce heat to low. Simmer uncovered for 20-25 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the sauce thickens to your desired consistency.
- Cool and Store: Remove from heat and let cool completely. Use immediately on pizza or store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 week, or freeze for up to 3 months.
📊 Nutrition Information
Per serving (1/2 cup)
💡 Pro Tips for Perfect Pizza Sauce
- Use San Marzano Tomatoes: Look for DOP-certified San Marzano tomatoes from Italy for the most authentic flavor. They’re worth the extra cost!
- Don’t Overcook: Simmer for only 20-25 minutes. Overcooking will make the sauce taste dull and lose that fresh tomato brightness.
- Hand-Crush Tomatoes: For the best texture, crush the tomatoes by hand instead of using a blender. This gives you control over the chunkiness.
- Make Ahead: This sauce actually tastes better the next day! Make it 1-2 days ahead and store in the fridge for maximum flavor.
- Adjust Consistency: If the sauce is too thick, add a splash of water. If too thin, simmer a few minutes longer.
- Taste and Adjust: Always taste before using! You may need more salt, sugar, or herbs depending on your tomatoes.
🔄 Recipe Variations
Spicy Arrabbiata Style
Increase the red pepper flakes to 1/2 – 1 teaspoon for a spicy kick. Add a pinch of cayenne pepper for extra heat.
Fresh Herb Version
Replace dried herbs with fresh: use 2 tablespoons fresh basil and 1 tablespoon fresh oregano. Add them in the last 5 minutes of cooking.
Garlic Lovers
Double or triple the garlic! Add 6-9 cloves for an intense garlic flavor. You can also add 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder for extra punch.
Sweet & Mild
Increase sugar to 2 teaspoons if your tomatoes are very acidic. This creates a sweeter, kid-friendly sauce.
📦 Storage Instructions
Refrigerator
Store cooled sauce in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 week. The flavors will actually improve after a day or two!
Freezer
Freezing: Portion the sauce into freezer-safe containers or heavy-duty freezer bags. Label with the date and freeze for up to 3 months.
Thawing: Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before using. You can also thaw in a saucepan over low heat, stirring occasionally.
Make-Ahead Tips
This sauce is perfect for meal prep! Make a double or triple batch and freeze in pizza-sized portions (about 1 cup per 12-inch pizza). You’ll always have homemade pizza sauce ready to go!
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Aurelio’s pizza sauce is known for its simplicity and use of high-quality San Marzano tomatoes. Unlike many pizza sauces that are heavily seasoned and cooked for hours, Aurelio’s keeps it simple with minimal ingredients – just tomatoes, garlic, basic herbs, and a touch of sugar. The sauce is simmered for only 20-25 minutes, which preserves the fresh tomato flavor that’s characteristic of Chicago-style pizza.
Yes, you can use regular canned tomatoes, but San Marzano tomatoes are preferred for their sweeter taste, lower acidity, and fewer seeds. If using regular tomatoes, you may need to adjust the sugar and salt to taste. Look for whole peeled tomatoes and crush them yourself for the best texture.
When stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator, Aurelio’s pizza sauce will keep for up to 1 week. For longer storage, you can freeze the sauce in portion-sized containers for up to 3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight before using.
Aurelio’s pizza sauce is traditionally slightly chunky, not completely smooth. Hand-crushing the tomatoes gives you the perfect texture with some small pieces. If you prefer a smoother sauce, you can use an immersion blender for a few seconds, but don’t over-blend as some texture is desirable.
Yes! In fact, many pizza makers prefer to make the sauce a day ahead. The flavors actually improve after sitting overnight in the refrigerator. Make the sauce up to 3 days in advance and store it covered in the fridge. Bring to room temperature before using on pizza.
The basic Aurelio’s pizza sauce is not spicy – it’s mild and tomato-forward. The red pepper flakes are optional and can be omitted for a completely mild sauce. If you like heat, you can add more red pepper flakes or a dash of hot sauce to taste.