Every pasta lover has their favorite pasta sauce brands with distinct tastes and textures that they grow up eating. There is always something so special about the flavors of these instant products that housemade pasta sauce cannot compare, not to mention their convenience.
If you love pasta, here is a list of the top pasta sauce brands to bring you a scrumptious, tasty, and effortless meal. Chances are you’ll find your favorite product on top of this list. With no further ado, let’s dwell straight in!
Do You Know About These Top Pasta Sauce Brands?
The opinions on those pasta sauce brands are based on my personal tastes and preferences. It’s fine if you prefer the flavors of one product over another. Depending on each product’s flavors, properties, and prices, you can easily pick your favorite product.
1. Ragu
Though Ragu has gradually lost its original flavors, the brand is still worth trying.
As one of the most traditional and famous pasta sauce brands in the US, Ragu was founded by a couple of immigrants in 1914. This product originates as a family-owned recipe using authentic Italian flavorings and ingredients like olive oil, basil, tomatoes, and garlic.
The thing I love about Ragu lies in its diversity of products, which come in unique flavors (besides the traditional tomato basil variety) and textures. There are products devoted to different purposes, like meat sauce and marinating sauce.
Generations of Americans have grown up eating Ragu, and it’s still a popular brand. Unfortunately, Ragu’s flavors and quality have decreased significantly over the years due to its overwhelming sweetness, artificial tomatoes’ taste, and a weird bitter undertone.
In addition, the consistency of Ragu products is too watery, unlike the homemade sauces. If you still want to try this brand, pick the Ragu Pasta Sauce, which is suitable for vegetarians. The product’s package is nice and can preserve well in the fridge.
Here is a short review of the Old World Style Ragu pasta sauce.
2. Barilla
Barilla Premium Pasta Sauce Variety Pack is the epitome of Barila goodness. It combines high-quality ingredients like extra virgin olive oil, Italian basil, and grated Italian cheeses, bringing a burst of authentic Italian pasta flavors that you will love.
The only compromise of Barilla pasta sauces lies in their intense sweetness, despite the “no added sugar” product labeling. However, this sweet taste comes from naturally sweet vine-ripened tomatoes, so don’t fret even if you don’t like added sugar.
In addition, Barilla sauces are preservative-free and gluten-free, making them an excellent choice for people with celiac disease. Besides pasta, their mild fragrance of basil and sweetness can pair well with roasted or grilled chicken.
3. Bertolli
The shape and product presentation of Bertolli sauces may look more eye-catching than other brands, but their flavors are far from the tier’s top. The brand’s pasta sauces are made of Italian staples like Parmesan cheese and vine-ripened tomatoes.
With added salt, sugar, and a combination of fragrant spices and herbs, Bertolli brings a deep and flavorful taste to your pasta. When cooked lightly with olive oil, the layers of flavors start to unlock and bring your meal to the fullest.
Among different flavors, I particularly prefer the white Bertolli Garlic Alfredo Pasta Sauce over the red basil ones, which might taste like runny ketchup. Nevertheless, Bertolli is an excellent choice if you are looking for a budget-friendly and delicious pasta sauce product.
However, please note that Bertolli products contain significantly higher calories and sugar content than the other pasta sauce brands. If you want to reduce your sugar intake or follow a keto diet, Bertolli is not a wise choice.
4. Trader Joe’s
Trader Joe’s has some unique products that you should try out!
Trader Joe’s pasta sauces make your dish taste like the cheese bread packed with Italian herbs sold at Subway. That’s not necessarily a good thing, but Trader Joe’s is an excellent choice for the sweet tooth with its intense sweetness and rich taste.
Though the earthiness of spices and herbs is very deep and recognizable, it’s not powerful enough to balance the sweet taste of their products. Therefore, I don’t recommend this brand if you don’t like sweet pasta.
Nevertheless, Trader Joe’s offers some very unique and interesting flavors and combinations, such as the Vegan Bolognese Style, Cacio E Pepe (a mix of cheese and pepper), and the famous Autumnal Harvest Creamy Pasta Sauce (tomatoes, butter, and pumpkin).
5. Prego
Prego is one of the world’s leading pasta sauce manufacturers. With a combination of herbs, spices, and natural vine-ripened tomatoes, their products can enhance the flavors of all pasta recipes.
Still, the flavors of Prego products are a little Americanized and fairly different from authentic Italian flavors.
In addition, the taste of tomatoes in Prego pasta sauces is not as bold as the other product, but their garlicky undertone is very powerful, which can be a blessing or a curse, depending on your preferences.
Prego products don’t contain any preservatives, artificial colors, or added MSG, resulting in a natural and unprocessed taste. Its thick texture and vegan properties also bring you yummy and healthy meals.
The best choice for pizza lovers would be this new Mushroom Prego Pasta Sauce, which is also nutrient-rich and gluten-free. If you want to add more fun to the meal, try out this traditional Traditional Prego Pasta Sauce.
How does Prego pasta sauce compare to the other brands? This funny blind test will tell you!
6. Newman’s Own
From the organic tomato and basil to the vodka and marinara sauce, Newman’s Own will never let you down with its fantastic flavors (as well as its charitable cause, but that’s another matter).
If you prefer sugary pasta sauces, Newman’s Own isn’t the best choice as it doesn’t contain sugar. However, it’s an excellent option for those looking for a nutritious and basic marinara sauce.
The Alfredo sauce offered by Newman’s Own has been on my ingredient list for many years. The white, creamy texture and outstanding flavors of heavy cream mixed with parmesan cheese and spices bring a rich and satisfying flavor to every pasta recipe.
If you love Newman’s Own, go for this Newman’s Own Organic Pasta Sauce to elevate your meal and create authentic Italian flavors. The Sockarooni Sauce is another excellent product from Newman’s Own with its peppery taste and filling flavors.
7. Buitoni Marinara
Are you looking for a tasty and decadent sauce to pair with the meatball without overshadowing its meaty flavor? If the answer is yes, look no further than this Buitoni Marinara Sauce.
The product offers a fresh and balanced combination of sweet and salty flavors mixed with natural and tasty sun-dried tomatoes. Buitoni also uses extra walnuts and parmesan cheese to enhance the sauce’s creaminess.
Besides pasta and meatball, Buitoni marinara sauces can pair well with pizzas and many other Italian-inspired dishes.
8. Classico
Classico is a high-quality pasta sauce with a flavorful taste and smooth consistency!
Though Classico products may hurt your budget a bit, their impressive and bold flavors, plus the naturally sweet and bright tomatoey taste, will make you feel good. In addition, the brand is very popular, with its products available in nearly all grocery stores.
The taste of Classico pasta sauce combines a flavorful kick of basil and the tanginess of fresh tomato. It will make any pasta recipe richer and more satisfying. I recommend this delicious and purely vegetarian Classico Traditional Sweet Basil Tomato Spaghetti Pasta Sauce.
Other than the high price, the only compromise of Classico pasta sauces lies in their high acidic content, plus a too smooth and pasty texture. Therefore, you should suppress the acidic taste by adding some olive oil to achieve the best flavors.
Have a quick look at the flavors and texture of the famous Classico sauce products!
9. The Meatball Shop
The Meatball Shop is a highly sought-after restaurant chain in New York City. Its reputation is attributed largely to its famous pasta, to which the house-made sauces have a vital contribution.
With the addition of dried red pepper flakes, the meatball shop’s pasta sauces will add more heat and spiciness to your dishes. The only thing I have to complain about is that the number of products is rather limited.
Apart from their tomato basil and The Meatball Shop Spicy-ish Arrabbiata Pasta Sauce. You can try out the 5-flavor combo to capture the essence of the brand.
10. Whole Foods 365
If you want to enjoy the finest ingredients and flavors at a reasonable price range, go for Whole Foods 365 Organic Pasta Sauces. This brand is a blessing for worldwide pasta fans with its rich, flavorful, and cheap products.
Those who have tasted the Classico marinara sauce will find identical flavors in this sauce brand, except for lack of acidity.
You can easily look for some vegetarian-friendly, gluten-free, low-fat, and organic pasta sauces in the brand’s product list. My favorite choice is the Organic Pasta Sauce, which is suitable for people following a diet who want to enjoy tasty pasta without gaining weight.
The restaurant’s signature products, like Whole Foods 365 Organic Four Cheese Pasta Sauce or Whole Foods 365 Organic Tomato Basil Pasta Sauce, are available at an affordable price.
11. La San Marzano
La San Marzano Tomato And Basil Classic Pasta Sauce is one of my favorite choices: it has a semi-chunky texture, tasty flavors, and wonderful smell from natural spices. The brand follows simple recipes that require a few high-quality ingredients to produce its pasta sauces.
All award-winning pasta sauce products of La San Marzano come from the San Marzano valley. The brand follows a traditional cooking method of simmering and constantly stirring the sauce on low heat, giving it a natural and authentic texture.
La San Marzano uses pure sea salt and spices like garlic, onion, basil, and black pepper to create its flavoring base, invoking plenty of earthy and herbal undertones for its products.
The only setback lies in its higher price compared to the other brands, but the quality of its excellent products is indisputable.
12. Cucina Antica
Cucina Antica Marinara product has reached near perfection as a blank-slate sauce in the high-end price range.
The highlights of Cucina Antica Marinara sauce lie in its bold, fresh, and tomatoey flavor. You can still sense the mild undertones of herbs, sweetness, and saltiness that don’t overwhelm the natural flavors of tomato.
The sauce features real tomato chunks, creating a unique texture when you cook it. The simple and authentic Italian flavors of the Cucina Antica Tomato Basil Pasta Sauce will always deliver the best result.
This garlic-free product is also an excellent choice for those who don’t like the garlicky smell and taste.
Take a look at the texture, packaging, and nutritional values of Cucina Antica sauce!
13. Victoria
It’s hard to pick other words besides exceptional and outstanding in describing the flavors of Victoria pasta sauces. The brand’s choices of ingredients and production follow a rooted philosophy: the highest-quality ingredients make the most delicious pasta sauce.
Just check the product labelings of Victoria pasta sauce jars, and you will find 100% Italian tomatoes mixed with fresh garlic, onion, basil, and olive oil imported from Italy.
With the use of premium ingredients and no water, preservatives, or added sugar, Victoria products bring an organic and authentic taste that is not inferior to any housemade pasta sauce.
If possible, you should try out all the flavors of Victoria pasta sauces to enjoy their fine quality. If you don’t know which to choose, stick with the classic Victoria Marinara Sauce or for more complex flavors.
14. Rao’s Homemade
No fans of pasta can skip Rao’s Homemade, the best-ever instant pasta sauce product.
There’s no need to introduce much about Rao’s homemade, the all-time favorite pasta sauce of Italian culinary lovers. Their products look exactly like the traditional and housemade pasta sauce your grandmothers used to make in the good old days.
With beautiful color and uniform consistency, plus a signature thick and chunky texture, Rao’s Homemade products are simply a set standard for high-quality and authentic pasta sauces.
Though the prices of Rao’s Homemade products are above average, you won’t regret spending your money when having the first taste. Their fabulous aromas and deep, rich Italian flavors will linger in your mind for a long time.
When I want to treat my family members to the most delicious pasta, this Rao’s Homemade Marinara Tomato Sauce is an indispensable ingredient. It contains no gluten, which is another plus point for people with Celiac disease.
What Are Your Picks Among These Pasta Sauce Brands
Though different pasta sauce products all include basic Italian staples like tomatoes, spices, herbs, and seasoning, just a little change can significantly alter the product’s taste.
That’s the primary purpose of this post, which is to bring you a yummy, cozy, and authentic pasta dish that takes minimal effort to prepare.
However, please note that the highest rankings are not necessarily the best, and vice versa. I recommend you check each product’s description and try out their actual flavors to make the best decision. If you love the post, please like, share, and leave your comment.
Thank you for reading!
