11 Best Low-Sodium Pasta Sauce Brands

Our picks
Why choose low-sodium?
How to choose
Key takeaways

Many people think the biggest contributor of sodium in the diet is from the salt shaker. 

The reality is that salt added at the table typically only accounts for 5% of daily sodium intake. Studies suggest the majority of sodium in the average American’s diet actually comes from processed food and restaurant or takeout meals (1).

Store-bought pasta sauce is no exception. Though some are more processed than others, many brands are laden with sodium. Despite this, there are several low-sodium pasta sauces on the market today.

Here is our breakdown on why to opt for lower sodium varieties, how to choose the best low sodium pasta sauce, and 9 of the best brands you can buy.

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Why choose low-sodium?

Sodium — a term often used interchangeably with salt — is an essential mineral. In the body, sodium is used for important body functions such as muscle contractions and fluid balance (2).

Though it’s essential, too much salt in the diet can lead to chronically high blood pressure, a known risk factor for heart disease. Most health professionals agree the average person should limit sodium intake to no more than 2300mg (1 teaspoon of salt) per day. Unfortunately, many Americans are far from achieving this goal. In fact, it’s been estimated that 90% of Americans consume too much sodium (3).

Knowing that processed products are one of the biggest contributors of salt in the average person’s diet, homemade pasta sauce can be a great option to reduce your sodium intake.

However, if you don’t want to sacrifice the convenience of a store-bought pasta sauce, your best bet is to choose lower sodium varieties. 

How to choose a low sodium pasta sauce

There are countless different types of store-bought pasta sauces to choose from. When choosing a low-sodium pasta sauce, here are some things to look for and some things to limit:

What to look for:

• Potassium. Potassium is an essential mineral involved in many of the same functions as sodium. Unlike sodium though, studies show that higher intakes of potassium are associated with better heart health and reduced risk of stroke (4). 

• Other vitamins, minerals, and beneficial nutrients. Some pasta sauces are rich in beneficial nutrients such as iron, calcium, and fiber. Check the nutrition facts label — if there is 10% of the recommended daily value (DV) or more of any of these nutrients, you can consider it a good source.

What to limit:

• Sodium. Some varieties of pasta sauce contain over 600mg of sodium (25% of the DV) in a single serving. To put that into perspective, a product must contain less than 140mg per serving (~5% of the DV) to claim “low sodium” on the label by FDA labeling standards (5). 

• Added sugar. Added sugars are concentrated forms of sugar, introduced to food during processing. These sugars are often hidden in store-bought foods, including pasta sauce. Because added sugars provide energy but offer little to no other nutritional value, The American Heart Association recommends limiting them to 25 to 36 grams (6 to 9 teaspoons) per day (6).

• Saturated fat. Saturated fat is a type of fat mainly found in animal-based foods such as meat and dairy. For heart health, strong scientific evidence supports reducing saturated fat in the diet (7). The amount of saturated fat in pasta sauce depends on the type you choose — for example, there is likely to be more saturated fat in a cream-based sauce such as Alfredo than in a tomato-based marinara sauce.

• Ultra-processed products. Ultra-processed foods are made with ingredients you typically wouldn’t use in your own kitchen, such as high-fructose corn syrup, dyes, preservatives, emulsifiers, and other industrial additives. Studies have linked high intakes of ultra-processed foods to a number of chronic diseases, likely due to their low nutritional value (8).

Our picks

The products included in this article were selected based on the following:

Very few pasta sauces contain less than 140mg sodium (5% of the DV), unless they’re homemade.

Nonetheless, all the products on this list are sorted from lowest sodium content to highest. We also highlighted our top picks based on sodium and processing, as well as environmental impact.

• Best overall
• Most nutritious
• Least processed
• Best for a heart-healthy diet

Best overall:

1. Delallo Pizza Sauce Pizzeria Style

This low sodium tomato sauce is packed with vine-ripened Roma tomatoes, garlic, and other spices.

1/4 cup of serving provides:

Added sugar: 1g — 2% of the DV

Saturated fat: 0g

Sodium: 50mg — 2% of the DV

Potassium: 300mg — 6% of the DV

Allergen info: Not listed

Least processed:

2. Gustare Vita Sweet Pepper Pasta Sauce

This low sodium pasta sauce is packed with sweet peppers, tomato sauce, extra-virgin olive oil, sweet peppers, and spices.

1/2 cup of serving provides:

Added sugar: 0g

Saturated fat: 1.5g — 8% of the DV

Sodium: 85mg — 4% of the DV

Potassium: 8% of the DV

Allergen info: May contain traces of tree nuts and milk

Most nutritious:

3. Silver Palate Low Sodium Marinara San-Marzano Tomato Pasta Sauce

This low sodium marinara sauce is made with tomatoes, extra-virgin olive oil, onions, garlic, and pear concentrate.

1/2 cup of serving provides:

Added sugar: 0g

Saturated fat: 0g

Sodium: 115mg — 5% of the DV

Vitamin A: 280mg — 6% of the DV

Vitamin C: 20% of the DV

Iron: 15% of the DV

Allergen info: Not listed

Best for a heart-healthy diet:

4. The Vine Organic Marinara Sauce Original

This low sodium pasta sauce is made with extra-virgin olive oil, fresh basil, tomatoes, and garlic.

Allergen info: Not listed

Best wine sauce:

5. Yo Mama’s Foods Keto Burgundy Wine Pasta Sauce

This low sodium pasta sauce is made with French wine, fresh tomatoes, garlic, olive oil, and basil.

Allergen info: Not listed

Best pesto:

6. Harris Teeter Organics Green Pesto Sauce

This low sodium pesto sauce is made with basil, extra-virgin olive oil, cashews, and parmesan cheese.

A 2 tablespoon serving provides:

Added sugar: 0g
Saturated fat: 2g — 10% of the DV
Sodium: 170mg — 7% of the DV
Potassium: Not listed

Allergen info: Contains dairy.

7. Rubinelli Pesto Basil Sauce

This low sodium pesto sauce is made with fresh basil, extra-virgin olive oil, parmesan cheese, pine nuts, and cashews.

Allergen info: Contains cashews, wheat, tree nuts, and dairy.

Best marinara:

8. Cucina Anticapasta Sauce Tomato Basil

This low sodium pasta sauce is made with Italian tomatoes, fresh onions, extra-virgin olive oil, and basil.

Allergen info: Not listed

Best organic:

9. Organico Bello Organic Tomato Basil Pasta Sauce

This low sodium pasta sauce is made with Italian tomatoes, extra-virgin olive oil, onions, basil, and pepper.

1/2 cup of serving provides:

Added sugar: 0g

Saturated fat: 0g

Sodium: 230mg — 10% of the DV

Potassium: 340mg — 8% of the DV

Allergen info: “Our facility uses and stores the following ingredients: milk, egg, fish, peanut, tree nut, wheat, and soy.”

Best spicy:

10. John Zidian Gia Russa Select Pasta Sauce Hot Sicilian

This low sodium pasta sauce is made with plum tomatoes, olive oil, fresh onions, and hot peppers.

Allergen info: Not listed

Best vodka sauce:

11. Primal Kitchen No Diary Vodka Sauce

This low sodium vodka sauce is made with avocado oil, garlic, basil, organic tomatoes, vodka, and cashew butter instead of heavy cream.

1/2 cup of serving provides:

Added sugar: 0g

Saturated fat: 1g — 5% of the DV

Sodium: 300mg — 13% of the DV

Potassium: 3% of the DV

Allergen info: Contains cashews.

How to make homemade low sodium pasta sauce

Since you have better control of the ingredients used, preparing food at home can help you reduce the amount of sodium in your diet.

Here is a quick and easy recipe for a homemade low sodium marinara sauce with just 130mg of sodium per 1/2-cup serving:

Ingredients:

– 2 tablespoons olive oil

– 2 garlic cloves (minced)

– 2, 28-ounce cans tomatoes (peeled, crushed or diced, no salt added)

– 1 tsp dried oregano

– 3/4 tsp salt

– 1/2 cup fresh basil (chopped)

– 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes (optional, for added spice)

Instructions:

1. In a large pot, heat the olive oil over medium heat.

2. Saute the minced garlic for 1 minute, stirring frequently.

3. Add the tomatoes, oregano, salt, and optional red pepper flakes.

4. Reduce heat to low and simmer uncovered for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally.

5. Stir in the chopped basil and simmer for an additional 5 minutes.

6. Remove from heat, and enjoy!

Key takeaways for choosing a low sodium pasta sauce

Though it’s an essential mineral, too much sodium in the diet is associated with high blood pressure and an increased risk of health problems such as heart disease and chronic kidney disease (2).

Most store-bought pasta sauces contain excessive amounts of sodium. Instead, opt for low sodium varieties — ideally brands that contain less than 140mg of sodium per serving.

For a more nutritious low sodium pasta sauce, also consider choosing brands low in saturated fat that contain no added sugars. Aim for brands that are good sources (10% of the DV or more per serving) of one or more beneficial nutrients such as iron, calcium, potassium, and fiber.

There are 1,000s of food products that won’t be right for you

Let GreenChoice find the ones that are

Tell us your dietary needs & values and we’ll show you foods that match!

***

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Makayla Meixner, MS, RDN

View all posts by Makayla Meixner, MS, RDN