The 5 Best Jarred Marinara Sauces of 2024: A Taste Test!

Marinara sauce is a delicious and versatile tomato sauce used in Italian and American cooking. It is prepared with a few ingredients like tomato, garlic, onion, and herbs. However, different variants can be produced by mixing and matching ingredients in different proportions. So, you can find all types of jarred marinara sauce recipes.

You can always make marinara sauce from scratch. But some of the store-bought varieties are just as good. They add great flavor to a variety of dishes like pasta, meat, ratatouille, and pizza.

Our Picks of 5 Best Jarred Marinara Sauces

After putting the top brands to the test, here is our list of recommendations for the best jarred marinara sauces.

1. Best Overall: Keto Marinara Pasta Sauce by Yo Mama’s Foods

When you want healthy marinara sauce made from good organic ingredients, Yo Mama’s keto marinara pasta sauce is the unbeatable choice.

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Features:

  • 60 calories per serving size of 0.5 cups
  • Gluten-free and sodium-free
  • Fresh Non-GMO tomatoes

Pros

  • No added sugar
  • Low carb
  • Made with natural ingredients
  • Keto-certified
  • Contains fresh herbs, garlic, onion and spices

Cons

  • May need extra salt for seasoning

Yo Mama’s Keto marinara sauce is made from natural and wholesome ingredients. It is refreshingly aromatic. Garlic and onion in this sauce produce distinct and appetizing flavors.


This is the type of sauce that instantly elevates a simple pasta dish and makes it gourmet quality. Use Yo Mama’s keto marinara sauce and the only additional seasoning you will need is salt. Additionally, it is a low-carb, low-sodium brand that is great if you are health-conscious.

The taste is slightly savory with a hint of sweetness. The natural freshness of the ingredients is evident. Use it to enhance the taste of your favorite pasta or chicken recipe. You can also use it as a pizza sauce.

Overall Rating: 4.5 stars out of 5

2. Best for Pizza: Rao’s Homemade All Natural Premium Marinara Sauce

Made from fresh Italian tomatoes and herbs, this sauce is a feast for the taste buds!

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Features:

  • Sweetness is from evaporated cane juice
  • 80 calories per ½ cup serving
  • Good source of vitamin C
  • Contains spices like garlic, oregano, and basil

Pros

  • Strong but appetizing flavor
  • Good source of vitamin C
  • No artificial flavors or preservatives
  • Organic

Cons

  • Contains 340 mg sodium
  • More expensive than other brands

Rao’s homemade marinara sauce is very popular for its intense and power-packed flavors. It is as good as a genuine homemade sauce, although you buy it at a store.


Rao’s homemade marinara sauce is renowned for its organic range. The organic factor also sets it apart from competitor brands.

Since it contains fresh Italian tomatoes, it is a rich source of Vitamin C. The natural seasonings include pepper, fresh onions, and garlic. However, Italian herbs like oregano, fresh basil, and pepper add a gourmet touch.

The rich and hearty texture of this sauce can transform even the simplest pasta dishes. It also works well when mixed with ground meat or chicken. You can also use it as a dipping sauce or for pizzas and tofu dishes. The flavor is smooth and pleasant.

The only drawback is that Rao’s homemade marinara sauce is more expensive than other brands. However, the superior flavors make it worth its price.

Overall Rating: 4.5 stars out of 5


3. Best for Spaghetti: Victoria White Linen Marinara Sauce

Enjoy the authentic taste of 100% Italian Plum tomatoes and aromatic Italian herbs with the White Linen Marinara sauce.

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Features:

  • Kosher recipe
  • Contains pure olive oil, fresh basil, and onions

Pros

  • Delivers the authentic flavors of an Italian pasta sauce
  • Contains all-natural ingredients
  • Just the right amount of sourness
  • Tastes fresh
  • Has no artificial additives

Cons

  • Expensive
  • The texture is a little runny

White Linen Marinara sauce by Victoria Fine Foods has the stamp of approval from pasta lovers all over the world. The flavors are rich, tangy, and fresh. This makes it one of the best Italian marinara sauces. It is vegan-friendly and made from fresh, flavorful ingredients.

There is no added sugar. The taste isn’t too salty. You can directly mix it with pasta or cook it with other ingredients to prepare wholesome dishes. The sauce freezes well. So, you can store it for a long time.

White Linen Marinara Sauce uses the freshest ingredients. So, it is as good as any fresh sauce that you make from scratch. The seasoning is just perfect with the right touch of spice.

The drawback of this variety is that it is available in a pack of two and can be quite expensive. The texture is very runny. If you prefer a thick, silky texture, try to cook it with the rest of the ingredients.

Overall Rating: 4.0 stars out of 5

4. Best Italian: La San Marzano Di A. Romano Marca Brand Marinara Sauce

With a chunky texture and robust taste, this marinara sauce is great for pasta and meat dishes.

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Features:

  • Contains 149 calories per serving of ½ cup
  • Product of Italy
  • Gluten-free and non-GMO

Pros

  • Contains fresh Italian ingredients
  • Made from real San Marzano tomatoes
  • Very flavorful
  • Fresh and spicy flavors of oregano, basil, and pure olive oil

Cons

  • The texture is not very smooth
  • A strong taste of oregano

This sauce is produced by a 45-year-old family company that focuses on traditional and homemade recipes from the heart of Italy.

The non-GMO and gluten-free recipe of La San Marzano Marinara Sauce makes it very appealing. Although the sauce is ready to use and you can directly add it to pasta, it can also be cooked further. The flavor of oregano in this sauce is pronounced. You may find it too strong if you aren’t fond of this herb. The rest of the herbal flavors are mild, and the overall taste is savory.

La San Marzano Marinara sauce is low carb. It tastes good with meat as well as vegetarian pasta dishes.

This is one of the best marinara sauces when you want to make pasta in a hurry. You will not need any additional ingredients to whip up a main course dish. It delivers the same taste and satisfaction as detailed Italian sauce recipes that involve a lot of effort. If the oregano turns you away, add some more Italian herbs like basil or season with pepper to balance the flavors.

Don’t forget to garnish with Parmesan for the best results.

Overall Rating: 3.5 stars out of 5

5. Best for Meatballs: Prego Italian Marinara Sauce

Indulge in the tantalizing flavors of sweet, vine-ripened tomatoes and fresh herbs with Prego Marinara Sauce.

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Features:

  • Has 70 calories per serving for ½ cup
  • Low-fat content

Pros

  • Zesty and refreshing flavors of tomato
  • Thick texture and bold taste
  • Very aromatic
  • Reasonable price

Cons

  • Contains canola that comes from genetically modified crops

Prego Marinara Italian Sauce is a versatile ingredient for many recipes. You can use it in your favorite homemade pasta recipes, lasagna, chicken parmesan, or pizza.

You can also use this sauce as a tomato base for various recipes. Then build the rest of the dish with other ingredients. You can also use it as a dipping sauce or instead of ketchup in sandwiches and subs.

Prego Marinara Italian Sauce has bold flavors from Italian spices. So, you will not need any extra seasoning. The jars are economically priced when compared to competitor brands. Hence, it is a good idea to stock this sauce to prepare easy pasta dishes in minutes.

This pasta sauce has a soft and silky texture. The ingredients are well-blended and do not appear as chunks. The smooth texture also makes it work as a pizza sauce.

To enjoy the best taste of this sauce, we recommend that you heat it before use. The sauce stores well in the refrigerator. You can also store it for months in the freezer.

Overall Rating: 3.5 stars out of 5

To conclude…

The flavors and rich texture of homemade pasta sauce which is made from scratch are truly one-of-a-kinds. Nothing beats the amazing flavors and distinct taste of such authentic Italian Marinara sauces.  However, making it is time-consuming and difficult. Not all of us have the luxury of time to tackle this. Or it could also be that we do not want to put in all that effort.

best jarred marinara sauce

When we are pressed for time, the next best option is to use store-bought marinara sauce varieties. However, the marinara recipe isn’t standardized. Different cooks have their own take on this traditional recipe. The good thing is that this presents a variety of choices.

This guide takes you through the best-jarred marinara sauces available. They are flavorful and are almost as good as most homemade pasta sauces. Whether you prefer chunky or smooth marinara sauce, just look for the right brand. Some of them even work as perfect ingredients for lasagna, pizzas, and meat dishes.

Add them to pasta or cook them with vegetables and meat to prepare wholesome, flavorful, and satisfying dishes. So, exercise your creativity and experiment with different dishes using these pasta sauces. Explore the different flavors and textures of the different brands we discussed. This will help you choose the right marinara sauce for your specific needs.

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