Taste Test: Jarred Spaghetti Sauce
With the hustle and bustle of work, kids and everyday life, sometimes there’s no time to whip up a batch of homemade tomato sauce. We checked out some of the popular supermarket brands and asked our Facebook fans for their faves. Here is how the top five measured up.
For this taste test, we stuck with straight-up marinara sauces without any fancy add-ins. We sampled the sauces on their own and with a plain cracker. To determine our 1 to 5 rating (5 being the highest), we paid close attention to flavor, texture, and nutrition content. With jarred sauces, our biggest concerns are calories, sugar and sodium. We also looked at the average cost — these babies don’t come cheap!
And for you purists, we know nothing tops homemade. These ratings aren’t jarred sauces versus from-scratch sauces. We pitted jarred versus jarred.
Prego Marinara
Rating: 4
Price: $3.39 per 23-ounce jar ($0.14 per ounce)
Nutrition Info (per 1/2 cup): 80 calories, 480 milligrams sodium, 7 grams sugar
Our Take: Prego’s sauce has an overwhelming tomato flavor with a touch of sweetness. You can taste the tiny pieces of tomato in every bite. Though the label claims its “100% natural,” Prego uses citric acid to preserve its sauce (the term “natural” is loosely regulated by the FDA).
Rao’s Homemade Marinara Sauce
Rating: 5
Price: $8.99 per 32-ounce jar ($0.28 per ounce)
Nutrition Info (per 1/2 cup): 70 calories, 350 milligrams sodium, 4 grams sugar
Our Take: Our Facebook fans gushed about the delicious flavor of Rao’s. Once I tasted it, I understood why. Full of chunky pieces of tomatoes and flavorful basil, it was my favorite of the bunch. Even better: There are only eight simple, fresh ingredients listed on the jar. The only downfall: It was by far the priciest of them all (but worth it!).
Newman’s Own Marinara
Rating: 3.5
Price: $3.59 per 24-ounce jar ($0.14 per ounce)
Nutrition Info (per 1/2 cup): 70 calories, 510 milligrams sodium, 11 grams sugar
Our Take: Newman’s Own had a nice blend of tomatoes, basil and onions with a touch of sweetness. This one was the highest in sodium (22% of your daily recommended amount) and had the most sugar per serving — probably because the sugar is added and is listed as the third ingredient. The plus side: it also had the most vitamin A (30%) thanks to all the tomatoes and tomato products used.
Barilla Marinara
Rating: 4
Price: $3.39 per 24-ounce jar ($0.14 per ounce)
Nutrition Info (per 1/2 cup): 70 calories, 460 milligrams sodium, 6 grams sugar
Our Take: You can taste the basil, tomatoes, onions and pepper in every spoonful of Barilla’s sauce. A slightly sweet aftertaste lingered on my tongue — perhaps due to the small amount of sugar added. “Natural flavors” are listed in the ingredients, but who knows what that really means?
Trader Giotto’s Organic Tomato Basic Marinara (Trader Joe’s Brand)
Rating: 5
Price: $2.29 per 25-ounce jar ($0.09 per ounce)
Nutrition Info (per 1/2 cup): 60 calories, 440 milligrams sodium, 3 grams sugar
Our Take: Take a peek in the jar and you can see the chunks of tomatoes and pieces of basil. The sauce has a pleasant tomato flavor that’s not overwhelming or too acidic. This was the only organic brand of the bunch (and the cheapest per ounce!) with no additives or sugar added. It also contains 25% of your daily vitamin C, which tied with Rao’s for the highest in the group.
TELL US: What’s your favorite go-to jarred sauce?
I'm a big fan of Giant super market's brand "Simply Enjoy." They have a great tomato basil flavor and marinara. Simple ingredients. No sugar or artificial sweeteners. They also have vodka sauce and a spicy version.
Yes, you cant always make your own so you will have to buy sometimes. The selection is impressive but my favorite is Trader Giotto because you can satisfy yourself about the wholesomeness. No additives and you can see the chunks of tomato.
I agree with your choice Trader Joe's brand . I love that it have chucks of tomatoes and its still affordable.
I love Prego Marinara sauce and it is the only kind I use if I don't make homemade.
And Simply Enjoy makes a great Roasted Eggplant sauce, too! It actually makes a yummy English Muffin Pizza . . .
Never had the Preggo marinara but the Chef Boyardee for Conagra Foods is to die for.
Lucille in Little Rock.
Classico is the best and is lower in sodium. It sells for about 2.50 a jar.
Where's the Ragu!!!!? My fave!
I love Rao, but Victoria is just as good and a little less expensive, especially when BJ's or Costco has it. They also have a family size jar in addition to the smaller size. They have several types, but the marinara is my favorite. Use it all hte ime.
I like Bertolli in every sauce I've tasted by them. They taste phenominal and have won the best taste award for many of their sauces.
To be fair I must say that I never just use what comes out of the jar. I usually buy the store brand, mix it with a can of Spicy Hunts (cheaper than glass jar brands), and jazz it up with spices and my own mushrooms, onions and tons of garlic. Even the worst store brand can be great in the end. When I need it to stretch I add a can of tomatoes and tomato paste. A little red wine never hurt anyone either.
My favorite jar sauce is Bertolli Olive Oil & Garlic. YUM! I wouldn't mind trying that Rao brand. I've never seen it before. Really though if I was going to spend that much on sauce I would just pick up a quart of homemade from Joe's Italian Kitchen for $8. It's the very best I've ever had.
I love San Marzano. The very best. Tastes like you just took it off the stove. Made with the best San Marzano tomatoes.
A little pricey though.
If I don't make homemade, Mids is the go-to sauce for me…tastes so fresh…all the flavors are delicious!
Ria's marinara – I get it at Stop & Shop. It's all natural and a bit upscale but completely worth it.
My Favorite is Ragu, the light sauces are very good. Less oil, less sugar, less salt, fewer calories and
still tasty.
Paul Newman's hand down for me & my family.
Rao's is by far the best….not sold everywhere but you can buy it on their web-site. In fact, ALL of their sauces are better then anyones. Yes, they are pricier but sooooooooo worth it!
Muir Glen Italian Herb is delicious. Nice chunks of tomatoes, subtle herbs. I like it on filled pasta as it compliments the cheese or meat and doesn't overpower the pasta.
DelGrosso's is absolutely the best,hands down. A totally family owned company in PA,the quality is superb. There are several varieties which are the favs of individual family members.
Another vote for Calssico. The roasted garlic is pretty low cal and low sodium. I usually add veggies- peppers, mushrooms, onions, whatever I have.
I have seen many of these, but have not tried many of them. Paul Newman's is OK, but there is a grocery chain found here in the south, called H.E.B. (H.E. Butt) and they make their own sauce. I have never found anything better than their jarred marinara. I have picked up Rao's, Muir Glen and have looked for San Marzano because I saw Giada de Laurentis use it once in a quick recipe. I usually put them down due to price and get my old stand-by. Now I may try a few of these. Thanks! By the way, I tried a couple of Emeril's but was not sold.
The best sauce you will find is definitely Tuttorosso made by Red Gold in Elwood , IN.
This sauce is an original Italian recipe and it is great! This company is also a family-owned business here in Indiana. The products are fantastic!!
Ragu Chunky GardenStyle, Any Flavor, is IT for me!
My favorite is Cucina Antica it is the BEST!!!!!!
Palmieri Spaghetti and Marinara Sauce is the BEST store bought sauce. It's low salt,
low fat and full of flavor, not too salty or sweet.
Prego tastes the most like my Mom's!
Has anyone else ever tried The Silver Palate sauces.??? They have several and all I have tried are the very best! I especially enjoy the Fra Diavolo Arribiata – Hot and Spicy Pasta Sauce and The Tuscan Marinara Sauce.
Another great sauce is Patsy's. It's from the restaurant in NY where Frank Sinatra used to eat all the time, when he wasn't eating at Rao's. *grin*
I like Prego, I use it for eggpant parmesian. I make it for meals at our club and always go home with an empty dish.
I agree. I love the Bertolli;in all there sauces!!
Seriously, no Classico!? They are my go to (love the newer spicy one). I tried Prego once and found it surprisingly sweet. The leftover also seemed to last waaaay too long in the fridge, a sign of way too many preservatives. At least the Classico gets moldy so i know there's some real stuff in there!
I have to agree with Tom. I never use any sauce straight from the jar. I always add onions, garlic, browned meat, mushrooms, etc. I have tried Red Gold's crushed tomatos and diced tomatoes. I'll have to look for their sauce. I recently found Delmonte canned spagehtti sauces on sale at a case lot sale for 59 cents a can. I bought a couple cases. I realized after many years of using the jar sauce the canned sauce is just as good considering I saved a bundle and we are feeding five adults.
My fav is the Walmart brand. I think its called Great Value. Ive never been a fan of jarred pasta sauce but since I came accross this I rarely make my own sauce now!
Of those listed, I prefer Barilla's to the rest. However, my favorite (WalMart haters, please stop here) is the Great Value brand traditional sauce, or the garlic and onion. Best flavor of any sauces I've tried (except homemade, naturally) and inexpensive at less than $1.50 a jar. Quick, flavorful, and easy on the family budget.
My families favorite is Ragu, especially the one with sweet Italian sausage. Sometimes I will combine Ragu with a cheaper canned Hunt's brand to stretch the budget. Haven't seen the GreatValu brand at Walmart, but will be looking for it!
Right On! I always add my own spices and veggies to make a great semi-homemade sauce.
I'm with you Diane. Ragu chunky is my favorite.
Mid's pasta sauce is quite amazing. The marinra is great, but if it's meat you love (and I love it) then you HAVE to try their Meat sauce or my favorite, the Italian Sausage. It's as close to homemade as possible, thick and meaty…and less than $5 for a large jar.
My Italian friends, who believe in making everything from scratch, will ONLY eat Mid's jarred sauce (no other brand will do) if they are in a rush and don't have several hours to make their homemade stuff. If the Italians love it, then it's gotta be good!
My husband does not like chunks of tomato and I like the versitility of a good merinara (pizza, pasta, ravioli and even over italian meatloaf) so Bertolli, Classico and Newmans Own are my go-tos.
I agree. My favorite is Ragu Light Tomato Basil
How can you have a taste test and not include Ragu? My favorite is Ragu light tomato Basil
What about Francesco Rinaldi traditional marinara? It has been around for years. I use that or Ragu when I don't make my own. Most of the sauces tested are very good but they have not been on the market as long as Rinaldi's. It is a bit high in sodium, 650mg but on par calorie-wise and sugar. 15% vitamin A.
I KNOW THIS IS ABOUT JAR SAUCE…….BUT FRESH IS SOOOOOO SIMPLE AND FAST. THANKS. BY THE WAY I'M ITALIAN.
Delgrosso products are the best–and if you live in PA and can get them you ought to try the full line. Even their Sloppy Joe sauce and pizza sauce are extremely good. Much better than any other store brand!
Tom, I do the same thing. My friends all think it is home made. I have been showing my son Thomas some of these tips. They are time saving and delicious, and I always add the wine.
God Bless, Monika
Classico for me, with added parsley and garlic.
I like the taste of Prego, but also that it does not have onions. The taste of onion pieces is gross in my mouth. So some of these sauces may be great but I'll never try them because of the onions.
Mids is our favorite and its a full quart.
Emeril all the way!!!
I agree. I admit I don't make my own…but Prego is the ONLY brand my kids and husband will eat!
I can't believe Ragu wasn't in the contest – love it
Family favorite isFrancesco Rinaldi sweet and tasty tomato and Victoria Vodka sauce
Me, too! Lots of flavor, sweet enough, and not a lot of fat.
My favorite has been Bella Vita for over a year now! It is low in Carbs and has no added sugar and the taste is wonderful. I also like Trader Joe's!
Tom…..that is exactly how I jazz up a jar of sauce…! And, I do believe you can take any jar of pasta sauce and make it into something unique and wonderful…!
I do enjoy the Trader Joe's brand, but I really like Enricos. Difficult to find, sometimes, but it's also mostly organic without a ton of additives.
My favorite comes from Safeway "Select". The best, assuming you like a little kick to your red sauce is their Arribbiata. Amazing!
In these tough [economic] times, I've resorted to canned sauce…usually Hunts. Garlic and Herb is my favorite. Its about a $1 – $1.25 can. Add some pre-made turkey meatballs and dinner is on the table in 15 minutes…yummy!
The best is Organics roasted garlic sauce from Dominicks….being an Italian family that made very heavy gravy loaded with pork, sausage & meatballs, this brand even satisfied my fussy husband. Great for chicken parmagana or pasta fa zool. (sp)
My son purchased several jars of Simply Enjoy Marinara Pasta Sauce at a Giant (which we do not have in my area) and it was one of the best jar sauces I have ever tasted. I am asking him to purchase a case the next time he visits us. I'll gladly pay. Thanks for agreeing with me.
The best in my book is Mid's which is from right here in the Cleveland area. YUM!
Yep…Ragu is my go to sauce expecially when making lasagna. No other sauce tastes right. I believe they say it is preservative free as well. Never looked for Citric Acid though…hmmm?
i LIKE PAUL'S SOCKITOME SP?
My favorite is Francesco Rinaldi – it's my go-to sauce if I can't make my own for a simple spagetti and sauce, plus it works great in lasagnas, parmagianas and casseroles. It's got all natural ingredients and is approved by Good Housekeeping. You can get it on sale for sometimes $1.99 a jar so I stock up.
I enjoy Trader Joe brand,it is inexpensive,wholesome,and really taste good,over pasta–hot turkey meat ball subs–and I use it for kabassa stir fry over rice.with food cost today,its the only way to go,( Feeding 6 children under 8 years old( two sets of twins–in a row,NO MORE—We just practice Now–thank god)we love children but with my small income,we are very happy with what has happen.PAA-POO
The very best Heart Healthy is Healthy Choice. It beats out all the rest. Problem is most large stores no longer carry it.. Instead they have Newman's, Emeril's, Prego and Ragu —YUCK.