Julia Duda/Tasting Table Add Tasting Table on Google: Preferred Source Google Discover Store-bought pasta sauce isn't exactly known for being a high-end ingredient. In fact, it's typically pretty obvious when you're eating a jarred pasta sauce rather than a homemade version; most of the time, those store-bought variations can't compare in flavor. They are incredibly convenient, though, so the search for a good jarred pasta sauce that's actually tasty and packed with high-quality ingredients is a worthy one.
In the realm of high-end jarred pasta sauces, Sauz is a top name in the conversation. You've possibly seen a few of the brand's pasta sauce options in stores like Target or Whole Foods, and if so, you might've noticed that it's a bit pricier than your average jar. But just how good are Sauz pasta sauces, and which ones are the best of the best? This is the very question I set out to answer by tasting and ranking 11 different Sauz flavors.
I didn't factor in pricing here (although it's worth noting that these are pricier sauces, coming in at $12.49 per jar when you buy a two-pack). Instead, I focused on flavor and whether it actually lived up to its name — for example, whether or not Hot Honey Marinara actually tasted like hot honey, or whether there was a whisper of brown butter in Brown Butter Alfredo. My ranking is also largely based on which flavors tasted genuinely good, which actually tasted like they had high-quality ingredients, and those that truly managed to transcend the standard jarred pasta sauce formula.
Some recommendations are based on firsthand impressions of promotional materials and products provided by the manufacturer.
Julia Duda/Tasting Table After years of searching, I still have yet to find a go-to store-bought jarred pesto sauce. It's a difficult formula to crack, as it turns out, since freshness is so paramount to pesto. And, well, jarred sauce isn't exactly the freshest thing on the market. When I ranked Aldi pasta sauces, for example, the pesto came in last place. And, alas, the curse continues as Sauz's Basil Jalapeño Pesto is last here, too.
The biggest issue I had with this pesto is that it tasted overwhelmingly like licorice. It's true that fresh basil can have sort of an anise-like flavor, but it was almost unbearably overwhelming in this particular pesto. Also, jalapeño was supposed to be a star player here, but I wasn't picking up on any notes of heat or pepper. I have to give this sauce a little bit of texture credit, as it coated my pasta nicely. But the flavor was all off here, way too licorice-forward without any true freshness or spicy relief, and I had absolutely no desire to keep eating this one.
Julia Duda/Tasting Table In a similar vein to how I've struggled to find a good jarred pesto sauce, I've also struggled to find a good jarred Alfredo. Maybe I'm too picky, or maybe that distinct creaminess doesn't translate well to a shelf-stable, jarred format. Either way, I was disappointed to discover that Sauz's Brown Butter Alfredo was a letdown, but for reasons that somewhat surprised me.
The thought of a nutty brown butter-laced Alfredo sauce was intriguing, but I genuinely couldn't even taste a hint of brown butter in the mix, or much regular buttery flavor in general. I also wasn't a huge fan of the consistency and texture of this Alfredo, as it had a slight grittiness that felt a bit out of place. I did appreciate, however, the sage undertone, which provided a unique herbal edge that one might not necessarily expect from an Alfredo. Overall, though, the lack of brown butter flavor alone was enough for this one to rank pretty low, but it just wasn't a strong jarred Alfredo in general.
