Finding the perfect pasta sauce while sticking to a keto lifestyle can feel like a challenge, but it doesn’t have to be. The right sauce can transform your meal into a flavorful, satisfying experience without compromising your goals. This article explores the best keto-friendly tomato sauce brands and homemade options, helping you enjoy carb-reduced pasta nights without the guilt.
The Importance of Keto-Friendly Pasta Sauce
Pasta sauce is an important ingredient since it can be used in a variety of dishes like chili, ground beef dishes, or tomato soup. However, traditional pasta sauces are often loaded with sugar and high-carb ingredients, making them unsuitable for a ketogenic diet. Keto-friendly sauces, on the other hand, are crafted to be low in carbs while maintaining delicious flavor.
What to Avoid in Pasta Sauces
When selecting a keto pasta sauce, it's crucial to avoid certain ingredients that can kick you out of ketosis. Be mindful of the following:
- Added Sugars: Many commercial sauces contain added sugars, which significantly increase the carb count.
- High-Carb Thickeners: Ingredients like flour or cornstarch are sometimes used as thickeners, adding unnecessary carbs.
- Artificial Sweeteners: Some brands use artificial sweeteners, which can have adverse health effects and may still impact blood sugar levels.
Top Keto-Friendly Tomato Sauce Brands
Several brands offer keto-friendly tomato sauces that are low in carbs and free from added sugars. Here are some of the top contenders:
1. Rao’s Homemade Marinara Sauce
Some say Rao’s is the best jarred pasta sauce there ever was. It tastes just as good as homemade sauce (or almost as good, depending on the chef). Plus, it's one of the lowest in carb pasta sauces that's made with simple, high-quality ingredients like tomatoes, olive oil, onions, garlic, and basil. Rao's is a popular choice due to its simple, high-quality ingredients and delicious flavor.
Read also: Easy Low-Carb Cheese Crackers
I love Rao’s! It makes me feel like I am eating at a high-class Italian restaurant but from the comfort of my own home! I also love the one that is spicy and has a kick to it!
It’s on the pricier side, but it doesn’t have the fillers that a lot of other sauces do and tastes closer to homemade than other name brand sauces. I LOVE Rao’s - it is my favorite go-to pasta sauce right now! Even though it is a more expensive option, the ingredients are on point and it is tasty!
2. Victoria Marinara Sauce
Victoria is another high-end brand of pasta sauce that is made with imported Italian tomatoes and other clean, quality ingredients. Victoria Marinara Sauce has a nice natural flavor, but we didn't think it was as flavorful as Rao's Homemade Sauce. However, it's still a great tasing sauce that is low in carbs (5 grams net carbs per half cup) and uses quality ingredients. It's also slightly lower in calories and fat compared to Rao's Homemade Sauce.
3. Mezzetta Marinara Sauce
Mezzetta is a popular brand in the condiment aisle as it also sells jarred peppers, olives and pickled veggies. The Mezzetta Marinara Sauce has a more herby flavor with small chunks of tomato. Although it doesn't have a vibrant tomato flavor like Rao's or Victoria, it's still quite natural tasting and flavorful. It's made with quality, clean ingredients and is less expensive than Rao's and Victoria.
4. Barilla Marinara Sauce
In addition to pasta noodles, Barilla also sells a line of pasta sauces. You can find Barilla sauces at many grocers and they're affordably priced. Barilla Marinara is a thicker sauce that isn't as natural in flavor as the above-mentioned brands (like Rao's, Victoria and Mezzetta). However, the marinara sauce is more flavorful than the below-mentioned Prego Marinara Sauce.
Read also: Keto Calorie Counting: A Detailed Guide
5. Prego No-Sugar Added Pasta Sauce
Prego recently added a no-sugar added pasta sauce to its array of pasta sauces that are typically abundant at grocers. Even though it's a no-sugar sauce, it seems to taste sweeter than the other sauces in this review. That said, it has a vibrant tomato flavor, which isn't too bad. However, the ingredients include canola oil (although less than 1 percent) and extracts instead of the actual ingredients.
6. Hoboken Vodka Sauce
Hoboken sauce differs from the other sauces on this list since it's a vodka sauce (but they also have a marinara sauce, which we hope to try soon). Since we've seen Hoboken sauce advertised on Amazon as keto-certified, no-sugar added, and gluten-free, we just had to get. It's a sweeter, thinner sauce that has a different flavor. Overall, we weren't as satisfied with the flavor compared to other brands on the list.
7. Yo Mama's Marinara Sauce
Yo Mama's is another popular low-carb marinara sauce we've seen on Amazon that's advertised as low-carb, no-sugar added, low-sodium, and gluten-free. Although this sauce gets good reviews on Amazon, we found the marinara sauce not as flavorful and natural-tasting as other brands on this list. It's a thinner marinara sauce (almost watery) that even tastes a little sweet.
Homemade Keto Pasta Sauce Recipes
While pre-made keto pasta sauces offer convenience, making your own at home allows for greater control over ingredients and flavors. Homemade low carb pasta sauces typically cost less. Here are a few delicious and easy-to-make keto pasta sauce recipes:
1. Rich Sugar-Free Marinara Sauce
Craft a rich, sugar-free marinara using crushed tomatoes, fresh basil, garlic, and olive oil.
Read also: Magnesium Supplements for Keto
2. Creamy Keto Alfredo Pasta Sauce
Our creamy keto alfredo pasta sauce combines heavy cream, parmesan cheese, garlic, and butter.
3. Dairy-Free Keto Sauce
This dairy-free keto sauce blends ripe avocados, fresh basil, garlic, and olive oil.
4. Spicy Keto Arrabbiata
Amp up the heat with crushed red peppers in a spicy keto arrabbiata.
5. Parmesan Cream Sauce
Our parmesan cream sauce is simple yet flavorful, mixing parmesan, cream, and a hint of garlic.
6. Olive Oil Pasta Sauce
This olive oil pasta sauce elevates simplicity, combining garlic, butter, and parsley.
Cost Considerations
The cost of keto pasta sauces varies based on ingredients and brands. Pre-made options, such as sugar-free marinara or creamy keto alfredo, range between $5 and $10 per jar. Dairy-free keto sauces and high-fat pasta sauces using coconut cream or olive oil are generally around $6 to $12, whether purchased or prepared at home. To save money, buy ingredients like canned tomatoes, olive oil, or herbs in bulk.
Pairing with Keto-Friendly Noodles
The best keto pasta sauces pair perfectly with keto-friendly noodles, making it easier than ever to enjoy a full keto-friendly meal without compromising on flavor. Whether you’re in the mood for a rich Alfredo, a zesty marinara, or a creamy avocado pesto, these sauces complement the texture and taste of keto pasta beautifully.
Meal Prepping with Keto Pasta Sauce
A rich sugar-free marinara or a creamy Alfredo sauce is ideal for meal prepping.
Taste Test Results
FOUR pasta sauces were taste tested by six of our team members! After tasting all four of these pasta sauces, we discovered that Rao’s pasta sauce was the most popular for us with three out of six votes! However, Ragu Simply came in second with two out of six votes.