14 Popular Store-Bought Marinara Sauces, Ranked

14. Bertolli Traditional Marinara Sauce

The Bertolli Traditional Marinara has an appealing appearance, resembling a homemade sauce with a textured consistency and large chunks of tomato. Its dark red color is complemented by small bits of onion, garlic, and herbs. Unfortunately, the positive impressions stop there. Upon first sniff, we detected a distinctly artificial aroma, with hints of sweetness and acidity. When we tasted it, one bite was enough to turn us off. The flavor felt synthetic, as if unpleasant and unfamiliar ingredients were masking the natural tomato taste. This sauce uniquely contained calcium chloride, along with citric acid and sugar on the ingredient list.

Next, we assessed the texture and mouthfeel of the sauce. To be honest, we couldn't focus on those aspects due to the off-putting flavor. We took another bite to be fair, but ultimately set the tasting bowl aside, unable to continue. While the low price of this sauce is appealing, we still expect a product that is enjoyable to eat, even at a budget-friendly cost.

13. Francesco Rinaldi Marinara Sauce

We have to admit that we were let down by the performance of the Francesco Rinaldi Marinara Sauce, especially since we were drawn in by its appealing name. While we had no issues with its medium red color and sleek, smooth texture, the aroma was overwhelmingly artificial, which made us hesitant to taste it. However, we did sample it for the sake of our review. The flavor was slightly better than the scent, but it was still excessively sweet. The ingredient list included citric acid and sugar. While adding sugar to tomato sauce isn't inherently wrong—many Italians do so to balance the acidity of tomatoes—the final product shouldn't taste sweet.

The sauce had a smooth mouthfeel that matched its appearance, which was acceptable, but we want to point out that marinara sauce is typically chunky. Along with the Bertolli sauce mentioned earlier, this one ranked in the lowest tier for us. However, we rated it slightly higher due to the presence of fennel seed, which added a touch of interest, though it wasn't enough to redeem the overall experience.

12. Ragú Old World Style Marinara Sauce

We had no issues with the appearance of any of these sauces, including this one. Ragú's marinara sauce boasts a smooth, vibrant red hue that evokes a sense of nostalgia. Perhaps this is due to the fact that Ragú was established in 1937 and has since become a staple in countless American homes, ultimately becoming the top-selling pasta sauce brand in the U.S. by 2014. However, we were not fond of the aroma, which initially reminded us of a low-quality can of processed tomato soup. Unfortunately, the flavor was consistent with the scent. It tasted overly sweet and artificial, likely due to the added sugar and natural flavoring, making us feel as though we were eating that same soup. The texture was also somewhat thin and watery.

When tasted on its own, the sauce isn't terrible, but it struggled to stand out when compared to the others on this list. Priced at under $3, it is one of the more affordable options we sampled, costing just ten cents more than Francesco Rinaldi's sauce. If cost is the primary consideration, we would choose this one over the previous two. This is why we have placed it in a low, but not the lowest, ranking.

11. Trader Joe's Organic Marinara Sauce

We had high hopes for Trader Joe's marinara sauce, given our fondness for many of their other offerings. This is where a blind taste test proves useful, as it eliminates any biases. We appreciated the deep red hue and the noticeable chunks of garlic, herbs, and especially onion, which were left in larger pieces and were easy to identify. The chunky texture and mouthfeel of the sauce were also appealing. However, the aroma was somewhat off-putting, with a heavy, peculiar undertone that reminded us of –- we’ll just say it –- cardboard, which dampened our enthusiasm for tasting it.

The flavor mirrored the scent, and we weren't impressed. There was an odd taste lingering behind the tomatoes. After the blind test, we checked the label and discovered that this sauce contains soybean oil, making it the only one in the lineup with that ingredient. It also includes Parmesan cheese, which doesn’t affect the flavor negatively, but does make it the only non-vegan option on the list. We’ve rated it as medium low.

10. Yo Mama's Marinara Tomato Sauce

We've observed a noticeable trend where pricier sauces tend to rank higher, but this particular sauce stands out as an exception. Yo Mama's marinara sauce is priced at over $9, making it the most expensive in the group. Its appearance is quite appealing, featuring a slightly textured, darker red hue with small flecks of herbs. However, the aroma was less than enticing. As we warmed it up, we found no urgency to taste it.

The flavor was also somewhat off. We took an additional taste after revealing the sauces due to its high price, but there was an aftertaste that overshadowed the tomato flavor, which we couldn't quite identify. This is puzzling, especially since it contains all whole ingredients. Notably, it includes white wine, which is unique among the sauces, and while we usually appreciate that ingredient, it didn't enhance this sauce. While it wasn't terrible and we managed to finish the tasting bowl, we simply didn't find it enjoyable.

9. 365 by Whole Foods Market Organic Marinara Pasta Sauce

Whole Foods is known for its excellent reputation and a wide array of tasty products, but its 365 marinara sauce fell short of expectations. While the store's prices are generally on the higher side, this sauce is one of the more affordable options on our list. This could have been a plus, but after tasting it, we weren't motivated to give it another try.

We appreciated its appearance; it was chunkier than most, with a speckled look, and the larger pieces of herbs and garlic caught our eye in a positive way. The aroma was pleasantly herby, but it didn't quite reach greatness.

Despite the ingredient list featuring organic, whole components, including organic extra virgin olive oil, there was an odd, acidic undertone that we couldn't quite place. We tried to overlook it and continue tasting, but it consistently overshadowed the true tomato flavor, diminishing our overall enjoyment of the sauce. While we did appreciate the herby kick, the sauce ultimately did not leave a lasting impression. This is the lowest-ranked sauce on our list.

8. Prego Marinara Sauce

We’ve rated Prego’s marinara sauce as a solid medium choice. The sauce boasts a vibrant red color and a smooth texture. Its aroma is dominated by tomatoes and herbs, which is pleasant, though we found it slightly overwhelming. The flavor mirrors this description; while we appreciated the distinct tomato taste, the herb flavor was a bit too pronounced for our liking. Overall, the taste felt a bit heavy, similar to the aroma.

Despite containing canola oil and citric acid, we didn’t detect any strong artificial or chemical flavors. While we’re not fans of substituting olive oil with canola oil, this choice likely helps keep the sauce affordable, making it one of the least expensive options at just under three dollars. We view this sauce as a decent option, particularly for those on a budget, but we wouldn’t classify it as exceptional.

7. The Pasta Queen Marinara Tomato Sauce

The Pasta Queen's marinara sauce is our second and final sauce with a medium rating. This sauce has a smooth consistency with minimal texture and no visible chunks or specks. We initially expected it to rank higher due to its higher price point, and while it is a decent sauce, we were distracted by a persistent acidic note. We're uncertain about the source of this flavor, as the sauce is made from entirely whole ingredients.

Aside from this issue, the sauce is fresh and light. We typically appreciate fresh-tasting sauces, but in this instance, the unusual flavor detracted from the overall experience. The aroma is pleasant, mirroring the flavor profile, but we found it too subtle to be enticing. Overall, this is a solid sauce, but we’re hesitant to pay a premium for it again.

6. Sprouts Classic Marinara Pasta Sauce

We appreciated the look of this sauce, which features a deep red hue with sizable tomato chunks and visible bits of garlic and herbs. The aroma was pleasant and evoked memories of homemade sauce, although the herbal notes were perhaps a bit overpowering. The texture was reminiscent of a homemade crushed plum tomato sauce, with larger tomato pieces adding an interesting element.

Similar to the aroma, the flavor was enjoyable and brought to mind the taste of homemade sauce. While the ingredients include sugar, it didn’t impart any sweetness to the sauce. The flavor felt quite natural, with no artificial or odd tastes standing out. We rated this sauce as medium-high. It didn’t reach the high category due to the overpowering herbs, and while it was a solid sauce without any glaring flaws, it didn’t quite reach greatness. We liked it, but unlike the sauces we rated higher, we weren’t left wanting more when the tasting bowl was empty.

5. Victoria Marinara Sauce

Victoria's marinara sauce is the first to receive a high rating from us. One of its standout features is its appearance; while we've appreciated the look of every sauce we've reviewed so far, this one stands out with a distinct oily sheen. To clarify, this is a positive attribute — our ideal tomato sauce contains a generous amount of high-quality olive oil, which contributes to this glossy effect and enhances the sauce's rich red-orange hue.

Victoria's sauce is quite impressive. It boasts a delightful flavor and aroma. Although we did notice a slightly bright undertone that gave us pause, it was not artificial and didn't stop us from savoring every last drop. Priced at nearly $7, we believe it offers good value. It occupies the lowest spot in our high rankings because, while we found nothing wrong with it, the flavor and overall experience it provided weren't as captivating as those of the sauces ranked higher on our list.

4. Michael Angelo's Nonna's Secret Marinara Sauce

We find the intriguing and enigmatic name of this sauce captivating, but as we've learned in the past, a catchy name alone doesn't guarantee quality. Fortunately, the other attributes of this product impressed us enough to earn a high ranking. The sauce boasts a vibrant red hue and a distinct texture, featuring bits of garlic and herbs throughout. This texture contributes to a unique mouthfeel that sets it apart from others, making it quite enjoyable. The aroma evokes memories of homemade sauce, with herbal undertones and a richness that we've noted as heavy in some of the higher-ranked sauces when not executed as well. Its flavor is natural, and we easily polished off the tasting bowl.

Priced at under $5, it may not be the cheapest option, but it is more affordable than all the other top-ranking sauces, making it a solid choice for a moderate budget. We have no complaints about this sauce and would gladly purchase it again. However, similar to Victoria's version mentioned earlier, it simply didn't stand out as much as our top favorites listed below.

3. Rao's Marinara Sauce

We've observed that Rao's marinara consistently ranks at the top, and we truly enjoyed this sauce. It boasts an appealing appearance with a vibrant red hue and a pleasantly slightly oily texture, featuring just a few visible herb bits. The consistency is smooth without being chunky, reminiscent of a homemade sauce made from plum tomatoes that have been mashed with a potato masher. The aroma is delightful, evoking a homemade essence with a lovely olive oil base. Notably, this is the first sauce—aside from The Pasta Queen's sauce mentioned earlier—that specifically identifies the tomatoes as Italian, which we believe makes a significant difference.

The flavor evokes the essence of a well-made homemade sauce, and we appreciate its fresh and light character. The reason it didn't make it to our top two favorites is that during the blind taste test, our initial impression of the aroma and flavor was slightly reminiscent of canned or artificial products, although that perception faded with subsequent tastings.

2. Carbone Marinara

The two sauces that stand out as our top favorites are truly exceptional. Both were incredibly tasty, making it difficult for us to determine which one deserved the highest ranking. The Carbone marinara sauce boasts a vibrant red, oily look (which is a positive sign) and contains a few medium-sized herb pieces. Its aroma was delightful; as soon as we caught a whiff of it warming on the stove, our anticipation grew.

The flavor was impressive from the very first bite. We didn’t need to deliberate on its ranking. It had a natural taste with no unpleasant flavors or overwhelming notes. The sauce delivered a rich, oily flavor complemented by a robust tomato essence. It reminded us of a well-crafted homemade sauce, and once we finished our tasting bowl, we found ourselves wanting more. The primary ingredient is imported Italian tomatoes, and as we noted previously, we believe this makes a significant difference. Discovering this sauce truly brightened our day. Priced between $8 and $9, it may not be the cheapest option, but we believe the quality justifies the cost when possible.

1. Mezzetta Family Recipes Marinara Sauce

Mezzetta's marinara sauce stands out as our favorite choice. Its glossy, oily appearance suggests it will perfectly cling to pasta, complemented by a vibrant red hue with hints of orange from the oil. The sauce has a smooth texture, free of large chunks, and is sprinkled with occasional flecks of herbs and garlic.

The aroma is delightful, featuring a prominent scent of olive oil and garlic that is perfectly balanced. The flavor evokes the essence of a homemade sauce, light and refreshing in a delightful way. During our tasting, we felt as if we could close our eyes and be whisked away to an Italian outdoor table on a warm summer day. Not surprisingly, given its taste, the first three ingredients are Italian plum tomatoes from the renowned San Marzano region, California plum tomatoes, and imported olive oil. Authentic San Marzano tomatoes are a rare find in jarred sauces, making this one particularly appealing.

After a blind tasting, we confidently placed it in the top spot, considering we could adjust its ranking if we found another sauce we preferred, but nothing else managed to sway us. Although it falls on the pricier side, ranging from $7 to $8, we’re happy to indulge in it occasionally for a truly delicious and convenient meal.

Methodology

We chose a variety of popular jarred marinara pasta sauces at different price points that are widely available across the country. To conduct our evaluation, we performed a blind taste test, pouring samples of each sauce into small containers and labeling them with letters before storing the jars away. Our assessment criteria included appearance and color, aroma, texture and mouthfeel, flavor, the presence of natural or artificial tastes, and, to a lesser extent, price. Sauces that received high marks were those that were delicious and free from any unpleasant or distracting aromas or flavors.

We paired the sauces with rotini pasta cooked in salted water, without any grated cheese. To better focus on the sauce's flavor, we added a bit more sauce to each testing bowl than what the pasta required. Since it was challenging to keep 14 small dishes warm simultaneously while concentrating on each one, we heated them individually on the stove, allowing us to fully appreciate the aroma of each sauce at its peak. Our extensive experience with Italian cuisine, gained from years of living in Italy and working as a recipe developer specializing in Italian food, greatly influenced our selections.