Pizza sauce is super easy to make at home, but you can also buy it prepared in cans from the store. However, not all store-bought pizza sauce is created equal.
The tasting panel here has run a few taste tests, and this list of the 8 best store-bought pizza sauces contains just a fraction of those tested.
In these instances, we highly recommend Rao’s Homemade Classic Pizza Sauce because it has high-quality ingredients, and the flavor isn’t compromised.
Other brands may be good or bad for your particular needs, but this list contains some of the best jars made with quality ingredients you should look out for when buying a jar of sauce.
Table Of Contents
Best Store Bought Pizza Sauce Reviews
- Best Overall: Rao’s Homemade Classic Pizza Sauce
- Best in a Jar: Don Pepino Pizza Sauce
- Best Value: Chef Boyardee Pizza Sauce
- Best Budget: bibigo Gochujang Sauces
1. Rao’s Homemade Classic Pizza Sauce
Rao’s Homemade is one of my favorite pizza sauces in the world. It is made with Italian whole peeled tomatoes packed with vitamins and natural herbs, including basil and oregano.
It is one of the most popular store-bought pizza sauces in the world right now.
This sauce contains olive oil that adds flavor and gives this sauce a very smooth texture. The smoothness, combined with Rao’s signature blend of herbs, makes Rao’s Homemade Pizza Sauce one of the most versatile pizza sauces you can buy.
Rao’s, made with Italian whole peeled tomatoes, is probably the best choice if you like your pizza sauce with a bit of sweetness.
In addition to its smooth texture, Rao’s Homemade Pizza Sauce has a thick consistency that clings to any pizza dough or crust you put underneath it.
Who Is It For?
This sauce made with Italian whole peeled tomatoes is suitable for normal pizza lovers, but Rao’s Homemade is excellent for traditional fussy eaters.
It can go on a thin or a thick crust, but it does not stick to the pan and does not burn during cooking.
If you are a traditionalist and want your pizza sauce to be thick and sticky, this store-bought pizza sauce from Rao’s is worth trying.
Pros
- This sauce tastes very good and is made with high-quality ingredients that bring out the flavor of your pizza every time you use it.
- The thick consistency of this sauce makes it stick to any pizza crust, so you don’t have to worry about leaks or spills while handling this jar.
- Rao’s Homemade Pizza Sauce has a very smooth texture that makes your pizza taste wonderful and not too spicy or hot.
- Rao’s Homemade Pizza Sauce has no preservatives or additives, and you will not find any added sugars in this jar. Everything in this sauce is 100% natural and wholesome, so you can feel good about putting it on your pizza every time.
- Rao’s Homemade Pizza Sauce has no artificial flavors or other enhancements that can make your pizza taste bland or different from what you want to achieve with your toppings.
Cons
- This sauce has a very thick consistency, so you may have to use less of it than you would if you used a different brand or pizza sauce.
- Rao’s Homemade Pizza Sauce is not available in the size of a can and only comes in the jars mentioned here.
2. Don Pepino Pizza Sauce
Don Pepino brand pizza sauce is a small batch sauce that comes in an easy-to-use container. This large 14.5-ounce container is ideal for a family dinner and will make about 5 pizzas.
The nice thing about this jar of sauce is that it has a long shelf life and can be used for other cooking needs, such as pastas. The classic taste of this pizza sauce also makes it a great choice to pair with your favorite homemade crust or even the store-bought variety.
The sour flavors in this sauce also make it stand out from the rest and revive a dish quickly, making it great to use when you have limited time to prep dinner.
Who Is It For?
This pizza sauce is for anyone who likes to make homemade pizzas at home and needs a nice jar of sauce to use. The jar is ideal for families who make pizzas a few times a week and need something that can be used sparingly.
Pros
- High-quality ingredients
- Easy to use and better than other jars of sauce
- Long shelf life
- Comes in individual serving sizes
Con
- This sauce is for those that like to spice it up, a little more may be okay, but some people may find this too much.
3. Chef Boyardee Pizza Sauce
Chef Boyardee has a long history of making quality sauces and pasta. However, this pizza sauce is the best that they have to offer.
This sauce has an overall flavor profile that is simply amazing, with a spicy tomato flavor that captures your mouth and sticks to it.
There is a nice amount of marinara on the backside of each packet that should go well with any grilled or baked pizzas. There are also some chunks of pepperoni in there as well as some extra cheese.
This is one excellent pizza sauce that almost every consumer should look out for when buying a jar of sauce at their local grocery store.
Who Is It For?
This sauce is perfect for cooking pizzas at home or simply putting on your favorite grilled pizza. It has some great flavor and only contains a few additives that will not harm the flavor of your food.
Pros
- Spicy tomato flavor.
- Comes with extra cheese and pepperoni.
- Great size for families.
- Nice and thick sauce.
Con
- The smell is a bit strong for some.
4. Boboli Traditional Italian PIZZA SAUCE
The Boboli Traditional Italian pizza sauce is very high in tomato flavor. It is pretty strong and not watered down like most store-bought tomato sauces.
This is a traditional vine-ripened tomato sauce. It has a nice full-bodied flavor with the right amount of spice and sweetness one is looking for when eating a slice of gourmet pizza.
The sauce has a pleasant aroma that makes you smile after smelling it for the first time. What makes this sauce different from others on the market is its high-quality ingredients and tomatoes grown organically and lovingly picked from California or Italy in season.
This sauce has a rich, robust tomato flavor. It is not overly sweet nor too spicy. It’s smooth and creamy with just the right amount of thickness for pizza.
It is unmistakably tomato based, but it does have a little sweetness to it as well, which adds some balance to the overall flavors.
It has been made with care and passion by an Italian chef in the pizza business for 56 years, making only pizza sauce and other menu items that people love to eat.
Who Is It For?
This sauce is for those looking for a product sourced from the best ingredients and made fresh with love. It is best served on Pizza, Flatbreads, Sandwiches, and other dishes where it can be used as an ingredient.
Pros
- This product is made with only fresh, whole tomatoes, nothing else.
- It is all-natural and has no chemicals or preservatives.
- The texture is thick and creamy like a traditional sauce should be.
- The consistency of the sauce is perfect for pizza toppings and doesn’t run all over the place when you’re trying to cook it on your pizza stone.
- You can taste the fresh tomatoes. It has a good depth of flavor that tastes very natural.
Cons
- It is a bit too sweet for some people.
- The jar is not very large, but we found it does not last very long either.
5. Dei Fratelli Pizza Sauce
Dei Fratelli is a trendy brand in the canned pizza sauce world and is owned by Clif Bar and Company. They make a wide range of different-flavored pizza sauces, but this review focuses on the one with vine-ripened tomatoes, zesty balsamic vinegar, and no added water or paste.
It has a unique level of flavor – very reminiscent of tomato paste and dried herbs, with a tangy aftertaste of balsamic vinegar.
The texture is smooth and silky; you won’t find it sticky or thick like many store-bought pizzas with more tomato paste. It is a medium thickness and can be used as a pizza sauce, marinara sauce, or salad dressing.
The company prides itself on using natural ingredients, including vine-ripened tomatoes from Italy, balsamic vinegar from Modena, and olive oil from California. It is also gluten-free, non-GMO, and without MSG.
Who Is It For?
The company recommends it for those who need a substitute for gluten, tomato paste, and cheese.
This sauce is not for all tastes: it has a tangy aftertaste that many people will find increasingly off-putting as they take a second bite.
If you can appreciate the flavor and texture of this sauce, you’ll discover that this is among the best store-bought pizza sauces available in stores.
Pros
- Good natural ingredients
- Smooth, silky taste, not sticky or thick like many store-bought sauces made with more tomato paste.
- Some kudos for being gluten-free and non-GMO
Cons
- A bit too tangy for some tastes, with a long aftertaste after the first bite.
6. Mrs Wages Pizza Sauce
This is a simple jar of sauce with a high amount of tomato paste. This sauce contains no added sugar.
There are a couple of different options here, the Mrs. Wages brand has been around for many years, and they have some new flavors, including Roasted Garlic and Tomato & Basil, Carolina BBQ, and Mild Caribbean Jerk.
They also have another brand called Zesty Italian which contains tomatoes and herbs similar to this sauce.
Mrs. Wages also makes an Italian seasoning with their cans of sauce and some other products, which can be found online at Amazon in all their different flavors, sauces, and seasonings for sale.
Who Is It For?
If you like spicy, then this is your brand of choice. It has a nice sweet flavor with a more savory flavor.
This sauce is a good choice if you’re looking for something that isn’t super sweet but still has some sweetness. It’s also made with no added sugar, which can be very important to some people.
Pros
- All natural ingredients – This product has no added preservatives or artificial flavors.
- A long shelf life – Once opened, you can keep this jar for about a month. If you seal it up tight, it will last for years with no issues.
- An easy mix – This is one of the simplest mixes we have tested in the taste test. All you need to do is add warm water and stir until mixed.
Con
- The taste of this sauce is good, but it doesn’t have a bold flavor.
7. bibigo Gochujang Sauce
The bibigo Gochujang Sauce is a unique and versatile sauce that works well on pizza.
It’s made with soybean paste, garlic, and chili peppers for a spicy kick for pizza. Many customers like that this sauce does not taste too salty or oily.
Instead, it has a good balance of flavors, making it easy to use alone or as a dip for chips or other foods. But be forewarned: This is not ordinary ketchup.
The sauce tastes the same as some store-bought pizza sauces made with tomatoes but without the sourness.
This is for you if you live in a particularly hot area and want a spicy pizza.
Who Is This For?
This sauce is excellent for people who like to create and enjoy different kinds of food. It’s very flavorful, but sometimes you may want a little something extra to mix with it.
Pros
- Strong and versatile
- Easy to use on a variety of foods
- Ideal for dips and snacks too
- Delicious and tastes like it’s made from soybeans, not chemical additives
Con
- While it’s great for pizza, the heat can be a bit too much for some people
8. Pizzaiolo Pizza Sauce
This is another favorite packaged pizza sauce we’ve tasted so far. It’s an award winner and flavor-packed but doesn’t make lots of sauce, a powerful 8.2 out of 10 points on our rating scale.
The can have a classic logo and metallic tin pull ring with a lid that fits perfectly, making it easy to open and pour from the can with no spills. The sauce is made in California, where the laws for canned food are very strict, so ingredients are always top-notch.
The ingredients don’t contain any off-flavors or preservatives that might prevent your pizza from tasting fresh on your next slice of pie.
On a side note, no extra salt is added, so only use 1/2 teaspoon to 3/4 teaspoon when you taste test with your hand. You wouldn’t have to use much sauce when making one of their many excellent recipes.
Who Is It For?
This is an excellent sauce for making your pizza dough with cheese. If you don’t want to use the whole can, you could freeze the leftover pizza sauce in small containers or ice cube trays to have some on hand when needed. You can also use this to make pasta if you like your sauces on the thinner side.
Pros
- Flavorful classic pizza sauce
- Quality ingredients
- A real winner for the price
- Makes an excellent product for pizza
- The best store-bought sauce we tested so far
Con
- It may not thick as the others
Things To Consider Before Buying Pizza Sauce
Most store-bought sauce needs to be refrigerated after opening, but some brands are designed to keep for a long time without refrigeration. So make sure you look out for this before you buy.
It’s also essential to find out how long the sauce will keep at room temperature because even with refrigeration, it can go bad pretty fast if it doesn’t stay cold enough.
Most top-rated brands were designed for home use and intended to stay good for up to 3 weeks. The ones with a tight window should always be refrigerated after opening.
If enzymes are not an issue, we recommend you buy pizza sauce in small quantities so it doesn’t spoil before consumption.
FAQs About Pizza Sauce
Is marinara pizza sauce?
No, and you shouldn’t be using the marinara sauce to make pizza.
Marinara sauce is a thick tomato-based sauce similar to spaghetti sauce but has no herbs or spices. It’s a fine choice for pasta dishes or as a dipping sauce for breadsticks, but you’ll need extra ingredients if you want the same pizza experience that many pizzerias provide.
How long is pizza sauce good for in the fridge?
The refrigerator is a safe place to store pizza sauce for up to a week. After that, you should throw it out because it will have spoiled.
Can you use pizza sauce for pasta?
Absolutely. Most people use the marinara sauce for their pasta dishes, but you can also use plain pizza sauce.
However, if you’re trying to save money, you may want to stick with using marinara instead of buying a jar of plain pizza sauce.
Why Trust Us?
We’ve got a lot of experience in food and wine. We’ve reviewed hundreds of wines, craft beers, kitchen appliances, and gourmet cheeses.
What I also find most important is that we test every product we review in a blind taste test under the supervision of our certified tasting panel. We’ve also interviewed many chefs to get their thoughts on our favorite products.
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