10 Canned Spaghetti Sauces You Might Want To Skip

Not all spaghetti sauces are created equal, especially when they come from a can. Some promise rich, homemade flavor and deliver something closer to watered-down regret.

Whether it’s a weird aftertaste, a sad excuse for seasoning, or a texture that defies explanation, these jars and cans just don’t cut it.

Before you reach for that quick pasta fix, make sure you’re not grabbing one of these flavor letdowns in disguise. Your noodles deserve better.

1. Bertolli’s Basic Marinara: More Sugar Than Grandma’s Cookies

Lurking behind Bertolli’s fancy Italian name is a sauce that might as well be dessert. The sugar content is through the roof, masking any hint of actual tomato flavor.

What’s worse, the texture resembles watery ketchup rather than a sauce that would make any Italian proud. Many customers report an artificial aftertaste that lingers unpleasantly.

2. Prego Traditional: The Sodium Bomb in Your Pantry

Salt lovers, rejoice! Everyone else, beware. A single serving of Prego Traditional contains nearly a quarter of your daily sodium intake, and that’s if you stick to the unrealistically small portion size listed on the label.

The flavor profile lacks depth, relying on salt rather than herbs or quality tomatoes. Your blood pressure deserves better than this one-note wonder.

3. Ragú Chunky Tomato, Garlic & Onion: Where’s the Garlic?

Ragú promises chunks of flavor but delivers tiny specks of vegetables swimming in what tastes like diluted tomato paste.

The garlic mentioned on the label must be hiding – even vampire hunters couldn’t detect it.

The consistency varies wildly between jars, sometimes watery, sometimes oddly thick. For a sauce named after three distinct ingredients, it manages to taste like none of them.

4. Muir Glen Organic: Proof That Organic Doesn’t Always Mean Tasty

Health-conscious shoppers often reach for Muir Glen, assuming organic ingredients translate to better flavor.

Surprise! This sauce packs an overwhelming acidic punch that dominates any dish. The metallic aftertaste comes from the can lining, not the tomatoes.

Despite the premium price tag, it lacks the complexity you’d expect from a sauce costing twice as much as competitors.

5. Classico Tomato & Basil: The Impostor Italian

Classico’s fancy label with Italian scenes tricks you into thinking you’re getting authentic flavor. Reality check: the basil tastes dried out and dusty, not fresh and aromatic.

The sauce contains an odd sweetness that clashes with the herbs. Many home cooks report having to doctor it extensively with fresh ingredients, defeating the purpose of buying pre-made sauce in the first place.

6. Newman’s Own Marinara: Celebrity Name, Cafeteria Taste

Paul Newman’s face may smile from the label, but your taste buds won’t be smiling after trying this sauce. Despite the charitable mission, the flavor profile resembles school cafeteria spaghetti day.

The texture feels oddly processed and uniform, lacking the rustic quality of a proper marinara. For a brand that charges premium prices, the bland, one-dimensional flavor doesn’t justify the extra cost.

7. Carmine’s: Restaurant Fame Doesn’t Guarantee Jar Success

Fans of the famous Carmine’s restaurants might grab this jar expecting the same bold flavors they enjoy at the eatery.

Unfortunately, the jarred version falls flat with a processed taste that bears little resemblance to its restaurant counterpart.

The sauce suffers from excessive oil separation and a strangely sweet undertone. Save your money for an actual visit to Carmine’s instead.

8. Barilla Marinara: Italy’s Pasta Giant Stumbles on Sauce

Barilla dominates the pasta world, but their sauce game needs serious work. Their marinara tastes suspiciously like it was made with tomato paste rather than actual tomatoes.

The herbs seem like an afterthought, added in such minimal quantities you’ll need a magnifying glass to spot them.

The texture alternates between watery and pasty, never hitting that perfect sauce consistency that clings properly to pasta.

9. Botticelli: Premium Price for Economy Taste

Botticelli’s elegant packaging and Italian heritage branding justifies its higher price point, or so they hope. The reality: a surprisingly bland sauce with an artificial tomato flavor reminiscent of cheap pizza places.

The consistency tends toward the watery side, requiring reduction to properly coat pasta.

Given the premium positioning, the lack of depth and authentic flavor makes this one of the most disappointing options on supermarket shelves.

10. Carbone: Celebrity Chef Sauce That Belongs on the B-List

Carbone burst onto the scene with celebrity endorsements and fancy packaging that screams “gourmet” but whispers “mediocre” once opened.

The sauce tastes oddly sweet with an artificial garlic flavor that lingers unpleasantly. For its eye-watering price point, you’d expect fresh-from-Italy quality.

Instead, you get something that tastes suspiciously similar to much cheaper alternatives with a fancier jar and a much higher price tag.