The Jarred Pasta Sauce That Tastes Even Better than Rao’s (It’s That Good!)

I’ve been a staunch loyalist to a single well-known brand of tomato sauce for years. That is until I picked up a new jar on the shelf with a cheeky name that caught my eye. Yo Mama’s Marinara quickly became a staple in my fridge (and there are always a few jars stashed in the pantry for an emergency pasta night).

What’s So Great About Yo Mama’s Marinara Sauce?

I love a jarred sauce for quick meals, and there’s an overwhelming array of options at the grocery store (see: spicy arrabbiatas and veggie-fortified vodka sauces). However, I’ve found that most are full of sugar and some have a strange, syrupy flavor. I was intrigued by the short ingredient list on the Yo Mama’s jar.

This sauce is made with the usual suspects — fresh tomatoes, onions, and garlic seasoned with white wine, basil, oregano, and parsley.

Even if I’m making marinara sauce from scratch, I like to keep it simple, so I appreciated Yo Mama’s minimalism. I feel that holding back on strong seasonings or chunky additions makes a sauce much more versatile. You can always dress it up further or use it as a mild backdrop to pizza toppings.

Intrigued by the ingredients, I tried a jar of Yo Mama’s marinara and fell in love with the flavor. This sauce tastes vibrant, zippy, and fresh. It has a nice subtle acidity and is well seasoned, but not overly salty. I love it on pasta with plenty of Parm, but it can do much more than coat ziti or spaghetti.

Yo Mama's Foods Original Marinara

Yo Mama's Food

$9

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What’s the Best Way to Use Yo Mama’s Marinara Sauce?

This is an all-purpose marinara for practically everything — dunking garlic bread, stirring up an elegant bloody mary, you name it. Well beyond pasta, I love to smear it on pizza dough or a halved baguette for a makeshift pizza with whatever toppings I have. I’ve simmered eggs in the sauce for an Italian-inspired shakshuka, and I’ve dumped the jar in my slow cooker with chicken thighs for a hands-off dinner (later topped with plenty of melty mozzarella). 

Buy: Yo Mama’s Marinara Sauce, $5.99 (on sale!) for 25 ounces at Kroger

This article originally published on The Kitchn. See it there: The Jarred Pasta Sauce That Tastes Even Better than Rao’s (It’s That Good!)

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