What to Put on Pizza Instead of Tomato Sauce (11 Alternatives)
What to Put on Pizza Instead of Tomato Sauce
(11 Alternatives That Actually Work)
Because the red stuff is great — until it isn’t. Here’s your guide to breaking free.
Look, tomato sauce is a legend. It’s been holding down pizza bases since forever, and nobody’s here to cancel it. But if you’ve ever stared at your dough and thought “what if I tried something different?” — this post is for you. Maybe you’re dealing with a tomato allergy, maybe you’ve got picky eaters at home, or maybe you just want to flex a little at pizza night. Either way, you’ve come to the right place.
I’ve tried all 11 of these on homemade pizza — some are surprisingly simple, a few are properly gourmet, and one involves hot honey (yes, really). None of them require a culinary degree. Let’s get into it.
“The base sauce is where all the flavour architecture begins. Change that, and the whole pizza becomes a different conversation.”
— Zach Miller, That Pizza KitchenWhy Ditch Tomato Sauce (Even Sometimes)?
Tomato sauce is acidic. That’s a feature, not a bug — but it means it can overpower delicate toppings like fresh burrata, truffle oil, or subtle herbs. It also isn’t great for people with acid reflux, tomato allergies, or anyone following certain elimination diets. And honestly? It gets boring if it’s the only thing you ever use.
The good news is that pizza is one of the most sauce-flexible foods on earth. The dough is essentially a blank canvas, and as long as you’re not drowning it, almost any flavourful base works. The trick is knowing which sauce pairs with which toppings — and that’s exactly what we’re breaking down today. If you want to get your sauce game strong in general, our homemade pizza sauce guide is worth a read too.
#1 White Garlic Sauce
If you’ve ever had a white pizza and thought “this slaps harder than my usual slice” — this is why. White garlic sauce (sometimes called béchamel or just garlic cream sauce) is buttery, garlicky, and rich without being heavy. It’s the go-to swap for anyone who wants something creamy and savoury without the tomato tang.
To make it: melt butter in a pan, whisk in flour, add warm milk slowly, then finish with minced garlic, a pinch of nutmeg, and seasoning. Takes about 8 minutes. It spreads beautifully and holds up to toppings like chicken, mushrooms, and fresh herbs. Check out our dedicated white pizza sauce guide for the full recipe.
#2 Basil Pesto
Pesto on pizza is a straight-up power move. It brings an intense, herby freshness that tomato sauce simply can’t compete with. The combination of basil, pine nuts, Parmesan, and olive oil creates this complex, layered flavour that makes the whole pizza feel more elevated — like something you’d get at a proper Italian restaurant.
Use it as a base, spread it thin (it’s punchy, so less is more), and top with cherry tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, and a drizzle of good olive oil after baking. Our basil pesto pizza recipe walks you through the full thing if you want inspo. You can also use store-bought pesto from a trusted brand in a pinch — no shame.
#3 BBQ Sauce
BBQ chicken pizza exists for a reason — it’s unbeatable. The smoky, slightly sweet depth of a good BBQ sauce creates a completely different pizza experience. It’s bold enough to handle strong toppings like caramelized onions, cheddar, and jalapeños without getting lost.
The key here is using a quality sauce. Serious Eats has a solid breakdown of the best store-bought BBQ sauces if you’re not making your own. Go for a thicker sauce — the watery ones pool on the dough and create soggy patches. Not ideal. For full recipe ideas, our BBQ chicken pizza and gourmet BBQ chicken pizza are both worth bookmarking.
#4 Buffalo Sauce
If you like heat and tang, buffalo sauce as a pizza base is a revelation. It’s got that vinegary kick that cuts through cheese and rich toppings brilliantly. Buffalo chicken pizza has a cult following for a reason — and once you’ve tried it, you’ll wonder why you waited so long.
A thin layer of buffalo sauce (Frank’s RedHot is the classic choice) under your cheese and toppings creates a foundation that’s spicy, flavourful, and addictive. IMO, this is one of the best “non-traditional” pizza bases you can use. Our full buffalo chicken pizza guide has all the details, plus a dedicated buffalo chicken pizza recipe if you want to go all in.
#5 Olive Oil & Garlic
Sometimes the simplest move is the best move. A base of high-quality extra virgin olive oil rubbed across the dough with minced garlic, a pinch of chilli flakes, and sea salt creates a clean, fragrant foundation that lets your toppings truly shine. It’s the kind of base Neapolitan purists love — and honestly, they’re onto something.
This works especially well on thin-crust pizzas where you want a crispier, lighter result. According to The Kitchn’s olive oil pizza guide, using a robust, slightly peppery oil makes a real difference in the final flavour. If you’re into the Italian approach, our piece on authentic Italian pizza goes deep on this technique.
“Going sauce-free doesn’t mean going flavour-free. A proper olive oil base with garlic is its own kind of magic.”
— Zach Miller, That Pizza Kitchen#6 Ricotta
Ricotta as a pizza base sounds fancier than it is — but it absolutely delivers. You spread it directly on the dough, thin enough to see through slightly, and it bakes into this pillowy, creamy layer that’s genuinely dreamy. It’s mild, slightly sweet, and plays beautifully with both savoury and sweet toppings.
Season the ricotta with salt, pepper, and a little lemon zest before spreading. Then top with things like spinach, roasted garlic, prosciutto, or even sliced figs and honey for a sweet-savoury twist. It’s one of those moves that makes guests think you’ve been to culinary school. FYI — whole milk ricotta gives the best result, skip the skimmed stuff. This pairs perfectly with ideas from our burrata pizza for a luxe white pizza experience.
#7 Hummus
Before you exit the page — hear me out. Hummus as a pizza base is actually incredible. It’s creamy, nutty, rich in protein, and creates a really satisfying foundation for vegetable-heavy pizzas. It’s also one of the easiest swaps you can make because there’s no prep involved — just open the tub and spread.
The earthiness of hummus pairs brilliantly with roasted vegetables, feta, olives, and fresh herbs. According to Medical News Today, hummus is also a solid source of plant-based protein, iron, and B vitamins — so you can feel weirdly virtuous about your pizza. Use it on flatbread pizzas especially; our flatbread pizza recipes are a great starting point.
#8 Hot Honey
Okay, this one’s a little left-field — but hot honey pizza is having a serious moment in American pizza culture, and for good reason. The combination of sweet heat drizzled (or spread lightly) over a cheese pizza creates something wildly addictive. It’s not a traditional base in the same way as the others, but used as a thin drizzle under toppings or as a finishing sauce, it transforms a pizza entirely.
Mike’s Hot Honey is the brand that popularized this in the US, and Eater NY traced the rise of hot honey pizza to Brooklyn — naturally. Try it on a pepperoni or salami pizza for that perfect sweet-salty-spicy combo. For more creative topping ideas that pair with bold bases like this, our 9 best pizza topping combinations is worth checking out.
#9 Ranch Dressing
Ranch on pizza sounds deeply American — and it is, and that’s fine. If you’ve ever dipped a slice in ranch at a pizza place, you already know the flavour combination works. Using it as an actual base sauce takes it to the next level. It’s cool, creamy, herby, and pairs brilliantly with chicken and bacon toppings.
The key is using a thick, well-seasoned ranch — not a thin watery one that’ll make your base soggy. Spread it lightly across the dough, top with shredded chicken, bacon bits, cheddar, and green onions, and bake as normal. Our chicken bacon ranch pizza is the definitive version of this combo — genuinely one of the most popular recipes on the site.
#10 Olive Tapenade
For the pizza enthusiast who wants something genuinely gourmet, olive tapenade as a base is a bold and brilliant choice. It’s intensely savoury, slightly briny, and packed with Mediterranean flavour. A thin layer goes a long way — this isn’t one you spread thick.
Tapenade works best on a thin crust base where the flavours aren’t competing with a thick dough. Top it with roasted cherry tomatoes, crumbled goat cheese, fresh thyme, and capers for a pizza that tastes genuinely sophisticated. Epicurious has a great guide to working with tapenade if you’re making it from scratch. It also pairs nicely with recipes found in our ultimate pizza toppings guide.
#11 Tahini
Tahini as a pizza base is the wildcard on this list — and honestly, it’s the one that surprises people most. Thinned slightly with lemon juice and garlic, it creates a nutty, rich, Middle Eastern-inspired base that’s unlike anything else. It’s especially great for plant-based or grain-forward pizzas.
Spread it thin, top with roasted cauliflower, chickpeas, pomegranate seeds, and fresh mint for something genuinely stunning. It also works as a finishing drizzle if you’re not brave enough to commit to it as a full base yet. The New York Times cooking section explored tahini’s versatility extensively, and using it on pizza is a natural extension of that. For more plant-based pizza ideas, our 7 healthy pizza toppings post is a solid read.
Tips for Swapping Your Pizza Sauce
Switching up your base is exciting — but a few things can go wrong if you’re not careful. Here’s what I’ve learned after making all of these at home:
Less Is More
Most alternative sauces are richer than tomato. Use a thinner layer than you think you need — you can always drizzle more after baking.
Watch Moisture
Wet sauces (thin BBQ, watery ranch) can make the base soggy. Pat them dry or reduce them before spreading.
Some Sauces Go On After Baking
Hot honey and tahini drizzles often work better as a post-bake finish rather than under the cheese.
Match Your Cheese to Your Sauce
Strong sauces like buffalo pair with mild cheeses (mozz). Delicate sauces like olive oil pair well with stronger cheeses like pecorino.
Also — don’t overlook your dough as part of this equation. The right dough texture matters a lot when you’re using lighter sauces. A thin, crispy base works better with delicate bases like olive oil; a thicker base stands up well to heartier sauces like BBQ. Our guide to customizing pizza dough texture covers this in detail.
And if you’re thinking about toppings to pair with these bases, our 25 pizza topping ideas and best topping combinations are essential reading. Getting the sauce-topping relationship right is where the magic happens.
The Bottom Line
Tomato sauce will always be the king of pizza bases — but these 11 alternatives prove it’s not the only game in town. Whether you go white garlic for creaminess, BBQ for smoke, pesto for freshness, or tahini for something genuinely unique, there’s a sauce here that will make your next pizza night feel like a whole new experience.
The best part? Most of these take less than five minutes to prep (or zero, if you’re using store-bought). So there’s really no excuse not to mix it up on your next pizza night. Start with one, nail it, and work your way through the list. And when you find your new favourite — I want to know about it.
For more sauce and topping inspiration, head over to our ultimate pizza toppings guide and our 6 homemade pizza topping ideas. And if you’re still working on your dough game, our ultimate pizza dough guide has everything you need.
Ready to Go Beyond Red Sauce?
Explore more recipes, dough guides, and topping ideas at That Pizza Kitchen.
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