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Jarred tomato sauce is an excellent shortcut when you need help getting a meal on the table quickly. It can feel like a healthy no-brainer, but with a little sleuthing, we found that not all sauces are created equal, especially in terms of added sugar and salt. We checked the numbers on countless labels against our nutrition parameters and tasted more than 50 sauces (that’s not a typo!). Here are the seven sauces that stood out in terms of flavor and nutrition. Plus, learn what to look for when reading the label of a jarred sauce.
Stacks of jars of tomato sauce Credit: Ted + Chelsea Cavanaugh
What to Look for on the Label
Sugar
Sugar is often added to balance tomatoes’ natural acidity. But many brands use the sweetness from vegetables, like carrots and onions, to get the job done. So, if you’re watching your added sugar, stick to brands with 0 grams.
Salt
Sodium enhances the flavor of just about everything, but some marinara sauces on the market have as much as 570 milligrams per ½-cup serving—nearly a quarter of your daily recommended limit. In a perfect world, we’d opt for one with 300 mg or less, but we found they can be tricky to find. Plus, many lower-sodium options left a lot to be desired. If you pick a sauce that’s on the higher side, consider balancing your salt intake by cutting back on sodium elsewhere in the day (check out these 9 easy ways to cut sodium in your diet).
7 Best Marinara Sauces
Stacks of jars of tomato sauce Credit: Ted + Chelsea Cavanaugh
Stacks of jars of tomato sauce
Credit: Ted + Chelsea Cavanaugh
Barilla Traditional Tomato Sauce Credit: Barilla Traditional Tomato Sauce Barilla Traditional Tomato Sauce Great for Garlic Lovers Plenty of onions and garlic give this classic-tasting tomato sauce super-savory flavor. 50 cal, 450mg sodium, 0g added sugar Buy it: Walmart, $2
Bertolli Traditional Marinara Credit: burpy.com Bertolli Traditional Marinara For Those Who Like a Sweeter Sauce Flavor-packed tomato paste and a touch of sugar add sweetness without going overboard on the added sugar. 70cal, 490mg sodium, 2g added sugar Buy it: Walmart, $2
Rao’s Marinara Credit: Ted + Chelsea Cavanaugh Rao's Marinara Best Premium Sauce Chunks of juicy tomato dot this bright sauce that has a luxurious mouthfeel from the olive oil. 100 cal, 420mg sodium, 0g added sugar Buy it: Walmart, $6
Victoria Low-Sodium Marinara Sauce Credit: Ted + Chelsea Cavanaugh
Victoria Low-Sodium Marinara Sauce
Victoria Low-Sodium Marinara Sauce Credit: Ted + Chelsea Cavanaugh
Victoria Low-Sodium Marinara Sauce
Credit: Ted + Chelsea Cavanaugh
Victoria Low-Sodium Marinara Sauce
Victoria Low-Sodium Marinara Sauce
Best Low-Sodium
This pick packs all the classic marinara flavor with less than half the sodium of our recommended limit.
70 cal, 120mg sodium, 0g added sugar
Barilla Traditional Tomato Sauce Credit: Barilla Traditional Tomato Sauce Barilla Traditional Tomato Sauce Great for Garlic Lovers Plenty of onions and garlic give this classic-tasting tomato sauce super-savory flavor. 50 cal, 450mg sodium, 0g added sugar Buy it: Walmart, $2
Barilla Traditional Tomato Sauce Credit: Barilla Traditional Tomato Sauce
Barilla Traditional Tomato Sauce
Great for Garlic Lovers Plenty of onions and garlic give this classic-tasting tomato sauce super-savory flavor. 50 cal, 450mg sodium, 0g added sugar Buy it: Walmart, $2
Barilla Traditional Tomato Sauce Credit: Barilla Traditional Tomato Sauce
Barilla Traditional Tomato Sauce
Credit: Barilla Traditional Tomato Sauce
Barilla Traditional Tomato Sauce
Barilla Traditional Tomato Sauce
Great for Garlic Lovers
Plenty of onions and garlic give this classic-tasting tomato sauce super-savory flavor.
50 cal, 450mg sodium, 0g added sugar
Buy it: Walmart, $2
Ocean’s Balance Mariner’s Marinara Credit: Ocean’s Balance
Ocean’s Balance Mariner’s Marinara
Ocean’s Balance Mariner’s Marinara Credit: Ocean’s Balance
Ocean’s Balance Mariner’s Marinara
Credit: Ocean’s Balance
Ocean’s Balance Mariner’s Marinara
Ocean’s Balance Mariner’s Marinara
Best with a Mission
This one includes iron- and B6-rich kelp grown in the Gulf of Maine to help reduce ocean acidification and bolster the surrounding ecosystem.
110 cal, 380mg sodium, 0g added sugar
Bove’s Marinara Credit: Ted + Chelsea Cavanaugh
Bove’s Marinara
Bove’s Marinara Credit: Ted + Chelsea Cavanaugh
Bove’s Marinara
Bove’s Marinara
Bove’s Marinara
For Herb Lovers
If old-school pizzeria tastes are your jam, this one’s for you thanks to the herbs that season this aromatic sauce.
60 cal, 295mg sodium, 0g added sugar
Ragú Simply Chunky Garden Vegetable
Best with Added Veggies Carrots, sweet potato, celery, green bell peppers and zucchini combine to add fresh flavor and extra natural sweetness. 70 cal, 520mg sodium, 0g added sugar Buy it: Walmart, $2
Ragú Simply Chunky Garden Vegetable
Ragú Simply Chunky Garden Vegetable
Ragú Simply Chunky Garden Vegetable
Best with Added Veggies
Carrots, sweet potato, celery, green bell peppers and zucchini combine to add fresh flavor and extra natural sweetness.
70 cal, 520mg sodium, 0g added sugar
Bertolli Traditional Marinara Credit: burpy.com Bertolli Traditional Marinara For Those Who Like a Sweeter Sauce Flavor-packed tomato paste and a touch of sugar add sweetness without going overboard on the added sugar. 70cal, 490mg sodium, 2g added sugar Buy it: Walmart, $2
Bertolli Traditional Marinara Credit: burpy.com
Bertolli Traditional Marinara
For Those Who Like a Sweeter Sauce Flavor-packed tomato paste and a touch of sugar add sweetness without going overboard on the added sugar. 70cal, 490mg sodium, 2g added sugar Buy it: Walmart, $2
Bertolli Traditional Marinara Credit: burpy.com
Bertolli Traditional Marinara
Credit: burpy.com
Bertolli Traditional Marinara
Bertolli Traditional Marinara
For Those Who Like a Sweeter Sauce
Flavor-packed tomato paste and a touch of sugar add sweetness without going overboard on the added sugar.
70cal, 490mg sodium, 2g added sugar
Rao’s Marinara Credit: Ted + Chelsea Cavanaugh Rao's Marinara Best Premium Sauce Chunks of juicy tomato dot this bright sauce that has a luxurious mouthfeel from the olive oil. 100 cal, 420mg sodium, 0g added sugar Buy it: Walmart, $6
Rao’s Marinara Credit: Ted + Chelsea Cavanaugh
Rao’s Marinara
Best Premium Sauce Chunks of juicy tomato dot this bright sauce that has a luxurious mouthfeel from the olive oil. 100 cal, 420mg sodium, 0g added sugar Buy it: Walmart, $6
Rao’s Marinara Credit: Ted + Chelsea Cavanaugh
Rao’s Marinara
Rao’s Marinara
Rao’s Marinara
Best Premium Sauce
Chunks of juicy tomato dot this bright sauce that has a luxurious mouthfeel from the olive oil.
100 cal, 420mg sodium, 0g added sugar
Buy it: Walmart, $6
` Good food fast logo View Series Best Prepared Meal Delivery Services Best Meal Delivery Services 5 Easy Snack Ideas You Can Pack in a Mason Jar 9 Healthy Salads to Order from Popular Fast-Food Chains
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Best Prepared Meal Delivery Services Best Meal Delivery Services 5 Easy Snack Ideas You Can Pack in a Mason Jar 9 Healthy Salads to Order from Popular Fast-Food Chains
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