MOD Pizza’s red sauce tastes fresher than most fast-casual pizza sauces — and there’s a reason. It’s made with vine-ripened California tomatoes, fresh basil, and garlic, and unlike many chain sauces, it’s fully vegan with no dairy, meat, or animal products. But what exactly is in it — and how do the other sauces compare?
Here’s the complete ingredient breakdown for every MOD Pizza sauce in 2026, based on MOD’s published nutrition and allergen information.
MOD Pizza Red Sauce Ingredients
The classic red sauce — the default base on most signature pizzas — contains:
Ingredients: fresh vine-ripened California tomatoes, extra heavy tomato puree, salt, citric acid, tomato puree, tomato juice, calcium chloride, basil, granulated garlic, black pepper, crushed red pepper, yeast extract, oregano, marjoram, sunflower oil, silicon dioxide (to prevent caking), natural flavor.
A few things worth knowing:
- It’s vegan. No cheese, dairy, meat, or animal products — one of the safest bases for plant-based orders.
- Allergen-wise it’s clean: it doesn’t contain egg, fish, gluten, milk, peanuts, shellfish, soy, tree nuts, or wheat (though MOD warns about shared-kitchen cross-contact — more in our allergen guide).
- Nearly zero calories: about 5 calories per serving, 0 Weight Watchers points.
- MOD says the sauce is made fresh daily with two varieties of tomatoes.
Spicy Red Sauce Ingredients
The spicy red (Calabrian chili) version builds on the classic red sauce and adds heat:
Ingredients: red sauce base (as above) plus Calabrian hot chilis — made with Calabrian chili peppers, peppers, sunflower seed oil, salt, vinegar, and natural herbs.
Like the classic red, the spicy version is vegan and allergen-clean on paper. It was originally created for the limited-time Lucia pizza but can be substituted on any pizza — just ask.
Pesto Ingredients (Contains Dairy, No Nuts)
MOD’s pesto surprises people two ways:
Ingredients: basil, canola oil, water, parmesan cheese (pasteurized part-skim cow’s milk, cheese culture, salt, enzymes), granulated garlic, salt.
- Not vegan — it contains parmesan cheese (dairy).
- No nuts — unlike traditional pesto, MOD’s version skips pine nuts entirely, which matters for nut allergies.
Other MOD Pizza Sauces at a Glance
| Sauce | Style | Vegan? | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Red sauce | Classic tomato | Yes | The default; ~5 cal/serving |
| Spicy red sauce | Calabrian chili heat | Yes | Swappable onto any pizza |
| White sauce | Creamy | No (dairy) | Rich; use lightly if watching calories |
| BBQ sauce | Sweet-smoky | Typically yes | Higher in sugar — a little goes far |
| Pesto | Basil + parmesan | No (dairy) | No nuts despite the name |
| Garlic rub | Dry seasoning | Yes | Almost zero calories |
| Olive oil | Extra virgin | Yes | Heart-healthy but calorie-dense |
| Hot buffalo sauce | Cayenne-vinegar | Yes | Aged cayenne peppers, vinegar, garlic |
Sauce lineups can vary slightly by location and season — when in doubt, ask the MOD Squad or check the official MOD Pizza menu.
Sauce Ingredients FAQs
What is in MOD Pizza red sauce?
Vine-ripened California tomatoes, tomato puree, salt, basil, garlic, black pepper, oregano, and spices. It’s vegan and contains no major allergens, though cross-contact in the shared kitchen is possible.
Is MOD Pizza sauce vegan?
The red sauce, spicy red sauce, garlic rub, olive oil, and hot buffalo sauce are vegan. Pesto and white sauce contain dairy and are not vegan.
Does MOD Pizza pesto have nuts?
No — MOD’s pesto contains basil, canola oil, parmesan cheese, garlic, and salt, but no nuts. It does contain dairy, so it’s not vegan.
Is MOD Pizza red sauce gluten-free?
The sauce itself contains no gluten ingredients, but MOD prepares everything in a shared kitchen and doesn’t recommend its food for people with celiac disease due to cross-contact risk. See our allergen guide for details.
