There Can Only Be One Best Tasting Pasta Sauce
I first decided to find the best canned spaghetti sauce back when I was researching what you can add to jarred pasta sauces to make them taste better. My inquisitive mind couldn’t help but wonder which store-bought pasta sauce tastes the best right out of the jar (or can!)
With my recent condiment taste test still on my mind, I thought it only made sense to do a similar head-to-head comparison with canned pasta sauces. And, perhaps unsurprisingly at this point, the results were just as surprising as they were when I tested toilet paper and paper towels!
Since there are all sorts of meals you can make with store-bought spaghetti sauce, it only makes sense that those meals will taste even better if you start with the best tasting sauce. So without further ado, let’s get into the juicy details of this pasta sauce taste test!
The OGT Canned Spaghetti Sauce Showdown
The Contenders
I selected the following contenders for our jarred/canned spaghetti sauce showdown, all of which are widely available and can be found in most grocery stores:
- Prego Classic Marinara
- Barilla Marinara
- Bertolli Traditional Marinara
- Mezzetta Marinara Sauce
- Rao’s Homemade Marinara
- Classico Traditional Sweet Basil
Methodology
As with other product evaluations I’ve done, I went into this taste test with an open mind, as well as an awareness of my own pre-existing preferences and biases. Members of the OGT team were on the scene to provide additional insight, along with my husband Dave, who loves spaghetti sauce almost as much as he loves sharing his opinion. ;-)
After tasting each sauce, I evaluated them according to two primary characteristics:
- Texture – Was the texture of the sauce rustic and chunky, or smooth and soup-like? Did the texture complement the flavor?
- Flavor – How did the sauce taste? Was the flavor balanced, or did it have too much or too little of something? The best spaghetti sauces and marinara sauces balance the flavors of tomato, garlic, onion, and herbs in perfect harmony, so that’s what I was looking for.
The Best Jarred Pasta Sauce Is…
The Winner: Mezzetta Marinara Sauce
This marinara sauce from Mezzetta was not only packed with fresh tomato flavor, but it was also well seasoned, rich, and slightly earthy too. This is a rich, full-flavored sauce, and the vibrant color and bright, fresh flavor kept me coming back for more!
The Runner-Up: Rao’s Homemade Marinara
The Rao’s sauce was my second favorite, but I would still eat it happily any day of the week! It was a little more chunky than some of the other sauces, but the delicious homemade flavor made it a standout among the other options. (Bonus Tip: You can save big on Rao’s by picking up a two-pack at Costco!)
Last Place: Bertolli Traditional Marinara
This sauce from Bertolli was really sweet. Between that, a too-thin texture, and underwhelming flavor, putting this one at the bottom of my list wasn’t a difficult call to make.
Honorable Mentions
Dave’s Pick: Classico Traditional Sweet Basil
It’s always nice when a product lives up to the expectation created by its name, and that was definitely the case with Classico’s Traditional Sweet Basil, which was both sweet and infused with the flavor of basil. It wasn’t my favorite (a bit too sweet by my standards), but Dave sure loved it.
Best For Garlic Lovers: Barilla Marinara
This marinara sauce from Barilla, a mainstay of the pasta aisle, may not have had the most strongest tomato flavor, but it sure packed a punch of garlic and onion! With it’s garlic-forward flavor and spreadable texture, this would be a great sauce to use for homemade pizzas or lasagna.
Best For Picky Eaters: Prego Classic Marinara
Prego’s marinara sauce had a nice, slightly sweet flavor, but I wouldn’t say there was anything remarkable about it. With that being said, the picky eaters in your life won’t have any complaints about this sauce — probably!
The Takeaway
The biggest takeaway from this and other taste tests I’ve done is that we all have our own unique tastes and preferences, and that those make it impossible to rank similar products with any kind of real objectivity. But it’s fun to try new things, and you can learn a lot about what you like (or dislike) and why with side-by-side comparisons.
With that in mind, your favorite jarred spaghetti sauce might be totally different from mine! If so, be sure to tell us which one you like best and why in the comments below!
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What’s your favorite pasta sauce?
Everyone’s tastes are different. I find so many of the jarred sauces have way too much sugar added. I found some lower sugar options – Prego does make one, it’s ok. That is one of the first thing I look at – how much sugar they add. I haven’t looked for marinara in particular – but pizza sauce, yes! Rao’s is my choice!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I’m from South Louisiana and we love our food seasoned and flavorful. The BEST spaghetti sauce besides homemade is Cajun Powers spaghetti sauce!!! Just brown whatever meat you want and add this sauce that taste like you cooked it all day or just the plain sauce out the jar will have people asking if you slow cooked it all day. You can order all the Cajun Power sauces on line . The are all the best to me the chicken stew or gumbo sauces will have people thinking your grandmother cooked it all day! Amazing sauces especially if you like spices we love our spice. I would add a little Tony’s seasoning. No need to add garlic or bellpepper and onions but you can sauté that then add sauce but it already has all of that in it. I hope y’all have it in your stores or order from their website. I promise you that you will not be disappointed.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I used to always use Rao’s then I discovered Mezzetta and even better, Carbone’s. Carbone sauce is the only I’ve ever had that I don’t have to add anything to, other than maybe some meat. It’s delicious.
Now I’ll have to try Dell’Amore Pasta Sauce…if I can find it here on the West Coast. :)
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I would never eat anything Prego. I recently discovered Classico Spicy Tomato and Basil. It replaced Spicy Tomato that I use to really enjoy before it disappeared from the store shelves.. It’s difficult to find but did at certain Walmart stores. Most jar sauces are underwhelming but I do want to try Raos
Please log in or create a free account to comment.My favorite sauce is Paul Newman’s Sockarooni sauce. It’s delish!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I have used the Classico Traditional Sweet Basil for years! I just add ground beef.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Classico is my go-to. I’ll look for Mezzetta and give it a try. Rao’s – not impressed. It’s overpriced and soupy. I can make my own sauce at that price! Classico is chunky and I’m a big fan of basil. Rao’s is 7.99 but they’ve dropped the price to 5.99. I do know how to make a 7 hour Italian sauce (constant stirring) but only if I have company.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I rarely buy sauce but I bought some Rao’s and enjoyed it.Costco had a great sale on it. I haven’t tried your top pick. I’ve never seen it around here. I make my own sauce most of the time.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Rao’s line of tomato sauces are well known in the Keto community as being one of the most Keto friendly tomato sauces because of no added sugars and lower on carbs.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.My favorite is Classico! In all flavors, it is better balanced than the others. Rao’s is good, but I have to add sugar to it – otherwise it is too sour. Prego is crap.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.We tend to use Prego at our house. We like the flavor and also the sauce is. fairly chunky. It’s not a thin sauce which I like.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Kirkland brand of marinara sauce is close to RAOS but cheaper and not as strong, will have to try the one you like tho, but giv e Kirkland brand a try you’ll be surprisef
Please log in or create a free account to comment.My favorite is Dell’Amore Pasta Sauce. It’s absolutely fantastic! I thought that Carbone’s and Rao’s were great but this is better than both of them. It is made by a small Family Owned Company in Vermont. The had been in business for decades but hard to find on a lot of supermarket shelves. Don’t have as high tech marketing as the more famous ones. You can purchase this on Amazon. Try it, I think you’ll be a fan!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.My favorite jarred sauce is from Thrive. Their tomato basil sauce is so fresh tasting. I haven’t been able to find anything else like it in any stores. It’s also organic and worth every penny. Another bonus is that it is delivered right to my front door. I always keep it on hand.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Newman’s Own Sockarooni–all day, every day! It has everything in it–you don’t have to add anything to it. Rao’s is quite pricey but very good.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.These are good picks. But my favorite is not on the list – Hunt’s Garlic and Herb. Comes in a can, cheap, and tasty. When I don’t have homemade, this is my go to.
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