We asked 7 chefs to name the best store-bought marinara sauce, and it wasn't even a competition
One ready-made pasta sauce brand emerged as the clear favorite.
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Few meals are more comforting than freshly cooked spaghetti coated in hearty homemade tomato sauce — or gravy , if you prefer the meatier variety. But making sauce from scratch isn't always practical, especially on a busy weeknight. According to pasta expert Dan Pashman, host of The Sporkful podcast and inventor of Cascatelli pasta , it isn't necessary, either.
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"I think there are a lot of great jarred tomato sauces on the market today to choose from," says Pashman. "In fact, there are so many good options that I don't really understand why anyone makes tomato sauce from scratch unless you have a family recipe you're especially loyal to."
To identify the best store-bought pasta sauces, we asked chefs and other food pros which jars they reach for at home, and also rounded up a few helpful tools and kitchen supplies for mastering Italian cooking at home.
Best store-bought pasta sauce, according to chefs
Most of the chefs we surveyed singled out the brand Rao’s, particularly Rao’s Homemade Marinara Sauce, for its straightforward ingredient list and balanced flavor. The large 32-ounce jar may also leave you with enough extra sauce for dipping bread. Here's why the pros say they love it:
✅ Ideal for quick meals:Steve Hamilton, executive chef at Alma San Diego , says Rao’s requires little extra work. “Their sauces are made in small batches with quality ingredients, and they have a huge selection, which makes it easy to pair with any dish,” he says. “I find that Rao’s also needs the least amount of doctoring, which makes it great for a quick meal.”
✅ Versatile:Chef George Guzman of Carta Wine Bar reaches for Rao’s when he doesn’t have time to make sauce from scratch. “It’s got a great balance of flavors and simple ingredients,” he explains, “and it works well for pasta or as a base for other dishes.”
✅ Simple ingredient list:Yumna Jawad, recipe developer and founder of Feel Good Foodie , likes that Rao’s sauces are made with olive oil rather than seed oil and contain no added sugar or preservatives. “In a pinch, I use Rao’s with ground beef and onions and serve it with any flat ribbon-like pasta like fettuccini or pappardelle, or Rao's Marinara in my Creamy Tomato Cottage Cheese Pasta .”
✅ There's a version for those who don't want onions or garlic:Renato Poliafito, a James Beard-nominated restaurateur, pastry chef, cookbook author and co-owner of Pasta Night , prefers the brand’s Sensitive Marinara . “It's pure in tomato flavor, made with celery and carrot and lightly seasoned,” he says. “It makes a great base to add additional flavorings to, or just to have on its own.”
The ultimate endorsement, though, comes from Ina Garten, who is also a fan of the classic marinara. For those who prefer a little heat, former professional baker and Yahoo Senior Writer Britt Ross also recommends Rao’s Arrabbiata .
Peter Som , recipe developer, lifestyle expert and author of the cookbook Family Style , says his go-to jarred sauce is Carbone Marinara, from the restaurant group behind the popular New York City restaurant Carbone . In addition to Rao's, Pashman also recommends Carbone's marinara. Here's why they love it:
✅ Simple ingredients:Som appreciates that the ingredient list resembles a sauce made from scratch. "The ingredients are exactly what one would use if making it at home — nothing else added," Som explains. "And there's a great balance of acidity, depth of flavor and that touch of herbaceousness from the basil and oregano. You can definitely taste that fresh tomato-forward, acidic-yet-sweet flavor above all. It's rich but also bright — perfect for pasta, fish and so many other dishes.”
✅ Fresh tomato-forward flavor:"Traditionally, jarred tomato sauces have been more similar to an Italian Sunday gravy — slow simmered so they're thick. Those are generally marketed as 'tomato and basil,'" Pashman says. "But this sauce has a ton of fresh tomato flavor, which is what I love in a good marinara."
If you're cooking for a crowd, this sauce is available on Amazon in a 4-pack; the brand also makes a version without onions or garlic .
For a less traditional take on marinara, Michael Johnson , chef and co-owner of Moreish , recommends Sauz, which offers unexpected flavors.
✅ Bold flavor with less acidity:"Their flavors are anything but ordinary — think Summer Lemon and Hot Honey," says Johnson. "The best part? They’re not as acidic as most store-bought sauces, which is a game-changer for me."
✅ Get multiple meals from one jar:Johnson says a little goes a long way, with one jar stretching across two to three meals. "It’s my go-to when I want something quick but flavorful. Perfect for tossing with pasta on lazy nights or spreading on homemade pizza when I’m skipping the from-scratch sauce routine. Seriously, so good!"
I’m also a big fan of the brand’s Hot Honey Marinara in particular. In addition to tossing it with pasta, I use it to coat chicken parm and as a dipping sauce for mozzarella sticks.
More pasta must-haves
A strainer is another pasta-making essential, and this clip-in version from Kitchen Gizmo couldn't be more convenient: There's no need to transfer the pasta to another bowl, and its compact size makes it easy to store.
"Where has this been all my life?" questioned one reviewer . "Such a simple little thing that works so well and makes my life a lot easier. I love this strainer. It fits all my pots perfectly, holds tight, no lost pasta." For a fancier pasta pot and strainer, this 4-piece set from Cook N Home is also worth a look.
If you're going to be tossing or removing longer noodles from a pot, you're going to need utensils with a good grip, which is where these top-rated tongs from Gorilla Grip come in. "I really like that this is a matching set, both sizes the same color," wrote one five-star reviewer . "The price was good, the quality is excellent and I never knew how badly we needed small tongs! They work very well."
Making spaghetti? There's a dedicated spoon for that, and this one from DaiRen Kitchen comes top-rated for its heat resistance (up to 446°F) and durable silicone design. It also comes with a pasta tong for serving.
"Why did I wait so long to get these pasta tongs? I already had a spaghetti spoon, but it's not made of silicone, so I came across this set and absolutely love them both," wrote one satisfied customer . "No issues with washing them in the dishwasher so far."
A spider strainer helps you remove shorter, smaller noodles from traditional pots and woks without draining excess water with every scoop (and potentially losing noodles in the process). These Swify spider strainers scoop, skim, and rescue food like tiny stainless‑steel superheroes," shared one reviewer . "They’re sturdy, easy to clean, and make me feel like I know what I’m doing even when I absolutely do not." For a more traditional option, a slotted spoon is another cooking standby.
After a rigorous stirring, a pasta spoon needs a good place to rest (at least, if you want to avoid a mess). This budget-friendly ceramic version comes in a cornucopia of hues and is oven-, microwave- and dishwasher-safe. (There's also this ravioli-themed spoon rest for those looking to add a playful touch to their kitchen.)
Last but not least, serve your pasta to perfection with these wide pasta bowls from Le Tauci. They make room for longer noodles, plus heartier helpings, and the shallow depth means your full pasta creations — and any garnishes — will be on display.
"These bowls are perfect for pasta and many other items," confirmed one reviewer . "The size and depth couldn’t be better (so nicely manufactured). They're a little heavier than expected but beautiful."
If you need some recipe inspo for pasta night, pick up this cookbook from Italian chef Nadia Caterina Munno , aka the "Pasta Queen" on TikTok. Inside, she shares dozens of recipes as well as helpful techniques and tips.
"The book is easy to read, and the recipes are quite simple — nothing complex," wrote one reviewer . "No outlandish ingredients or complicated instructions."
Update, Sept. 1, 2026: We checked all product prices and availability. Our No. 1 pick for best store-bought pasta sauce remains unchanged.
The reviews quoted above reflect the most recent versions at the time of publication.
