11 Sauz Pasta Sauces, Ranked

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.

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.

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.

There are some awfully strong tomato-based contenders in the Sauz lineup, but understandably, not all of them could be winners. I'd argue that Cracked Pepper & Parmesan was the weakest of the tomato sauces in this lineup, and there are a few key reasons why it didn't manage to impress.

To start, the consistency of the sauce was a bit off. It was somehow watery yet gritty at the same time, and although it's labeled as a tomato and cream sauce, I'm not quite sure where the creaminess factored in. While I didn't hate the flavor, I found it weak all-around, and I kept waiting for stronger notes of black pepper or parmesan (or even just tomato) to shine through. Overall, this is a great example of a Sauz variety that didn't stand out or leave a lasting impression; it's not the absolute worst in the lineup, but it's also one that I wouldn't slather on my pasta again anytime soon.

I know, I know — I was just complaining about not being able to find a good jarred pesto, yet here Lemon Pepper Pesto is in a position where I actually saw some potential. At first glance, you might not guess you're looking at a pesto. Instead of utilizing the typical basil, Lemon Pepper Pesto features lemon peel, Parmigiano Reggiano, and almonds for a unique spin on the classic sauce that, if we're being real, makes it almost a new concoction entirely.

Something I thoroughly enjoyed about this Sauz option is how much the bright lemon flavor shined through. I can't say I necessarily picked up on any almond notes, but I'd argue that the almonds likely contributed to the sort of Alfredo-like creaminess that this pesto had to offer. The parmesan flavor was a bit mild, and I would have liked for that cheesiness to come through a bit more. Overall, I enjoyed this pesto variation a lot more than the basil and jalapeño one, but I'm also not sure how much I can realistically compare the two since they're so incredibly different. Also, while this pesto fared better than some other options on this list, it still had a certain grittiness that I wasn't a huge fan of. Overall, there are simply better options in the Sauz lineup.

Vodka is one of my absolute favorite pasta sauces, and jarred versions can be hit or miss. Sauz's Zesty Italian Vodka ended up being my least favorite of the two vodkas on this list, but nonetheless, it still boasted some strengths worth highlighting. 

When a sauce has the word "zesty" in its name, I certainly expect brightness or zippiness to live up to it. And Zesty Italian Vodka definitely had a distinct brightness, one that complemented the otherwise very rich, savory vodka base nicely. Overall, though, I found myself wanting more complexity from this one. It offered good flavor notes, but after I finished a bite, I wasn't necessarily compelled to go back in for another. For these reasons, this sauce falls somewhere in the middle ground of this ranking.

It's always a good thing when a given sauce brand has a basic marinara in the mix, but it's not necessarily the best of the best. I'd say Sauz's Basic Basil Marinara falls squarely into such a category, and it's a neutral enough pasta sauce to please the whole family while simultaneously being tasty enough to, well, please the whole family.

Much like with the Basil Jalapeño Pesto, the basil in this marinara had a bit of an anise-forward flavor to it. That flavor profile wasn't nearly as overwhelming here, though, and it actually added a welcome herbaceous undertone to the sauce as a whole. Otherwise, Basic Basil Marinara relies strongly on those rich, acidic tomato notes to shine through, and shine they do. This is a very tasty, simple, and straightforward marinara — not my favorite in the lineup, but a good pantry staple nonetheless.

We've reached the top five, and the first sauce to break into such a coveted selection is Wild Rosemary Marinara. The addition of strong herby flavors has been a bit hit or miss in the Sauz lineup, but rosemary proved to be a particular success. This flavor is ultimately quite similar to the Basic Basil Marinara, but there were a few key differences that gave this Sauz a leg-up. 

To start, the rosemary flavor in this marinara was very, very good. It was strong without being overwhelming, and it didn't necessarily feel tacked on. Instead, it tasted infused within the tomatoey goodness, and I loved the richness and smoothness of the tomato base. It was less chunky than the basil marinara one while still offering up a robust flavor profile. Simple as Wild Rosemary Marinara may be, it's one of those staple sauces that you can't go wrong with — the potential pasta pairings are virtually endless.

Of all the Sauz variations on this list, Creamy Calabrian Vodka intrigued me the most. Obviously, the Calabrian chiles are the standout element here, so I went in with cautious optimism, hoping this sauce could truly pull off a spicy infusion. And, considering it's in fourth place on this list, I'd say the sauce pulled it off. There was a nice, sort of tingly heat to this Sauz flavor that wasn't super overt or overbearing. 

The vodka sauce itself also had a uniquely buttery profile to it (I wish Brown Butter Alfredo could have taken a cue from this one), resulting in a genuinely delicious and somewhat unexpected product. If I could change one thing about Creamy Calabrian Vodka, I would amp up that heat a little bit; I think it'd rank even higher if it were spicier from the get-go. But overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this Sauz option and would absolutely return to it for future pasta nights.

Depending on where you land on the hot honey on everything trend, you may feel either quite excited or disgusted by Sauz's Hot Honey Marinara. While I personally find hot honey a tad overrated, I was actually interested to try this sauce, as I'm a big fan of all things sweet, spicy, and savory combined.

Hot Honey Marinara is such a success for a couple of reasons. To start, it's a generally tasty, smooth marinara with lots of savory, acidic, tomato-rich depth. But that hot honey flavor really amps up the whole thing. I absolutely loved how I could distinctly taste both the sweet and the heat, and it didn't necessarily taste like a sugar-infused pasta sauce; it specifically tasted like hot honey. 

Now, I will say that this sauce does end up leaning quite a bit into that sweet territory, so it may not be everyone's cup of tea. For this reason, I decided to put Hot Honey Marinara in third place. It's a delicious sauce that I quite liked, but I can see the argument for it being better if it were a touch less sweet.

Much like trying to infuse fresh herbs into a jarred pasta sauce, it can be tricky to infuse fresh lemon flavor. The reality is that fresh and jarred just don't typically go hand in hand, or at least so I thought. Naturally, I was genuinely surprised (in the best way possible) by how much Sauz managed to make its Lemon Zest Marinara taste impeccably fresh and positively loaded with bright, citrusy flavor.

The consistency and texture of this marinara alone could have driven it to a high spot on this ranking, as it was so incredibly smooth and silky. You can even see in the picture just how much it coated the pasta, without any grittiness or chunkiness. But that lemony flavor, of course, was the ultimate selling point. It was incredibly bright, vibrant, and zesty, yet somehow nicely balanced with the generally rich, acidic undertone of the marinara itself. Between a luscious texture and impeccably citrusy flavor profile, Lemon Zest Marinara was an easy pick for the No. 2 spot (and, truthfully, I considered putting it in first place). 

While Lemon Zest Marinara may have put up a good fight for the first-place spot, in my heart of hearts, I knew such a title truly belonged to Savory Garlic Marinara. From the first moment, I could tell there was something special going on here, and this sauce stayed genuinely tasty with every bite.

What stood out about this Sauz flavor was its complex, umami-rich depth. This sauce is infused with miso paste, which does quite a bit of heavy lifting in transforming an otherwise tasty but plain marinara into something truly spectacular. I can't overlook the black garlic, though, which provided a slightly sweeter, mellower depth than you would get from something infused with regular garlic. 

As much as I enjoyed other sauces on this list for their potential herby, zesty, or possibly sweet notes, nothing could compare to one boasting a classic, tried-and-true savory formula. Plus, factor in that miso twist, and this is one marinara that truly feels like it transcends beyond being something you'd buy in a jar.

To get a comprehensive feel for the taste and texture of each of these Sauz pasta sauces, I opted to try them both on their own and paired with pasta. When it came to trying them alone, I just dunked a spoon into each jar and tasted the sauce. Sure, it's not the way most people eat such a product, but it helped me get a concentrated taste of each one. For the pasta pairing, I didn't follow any super specific measurements. I cooked up 1 pound of cavatappi and paired a small portion of the pasta with a small portion of sauce. Both of these sampling methods helped me get a feel for the sauce itself and for how it might work in a setting that most people would be enjoying it (as in, with some sort of pasta). 

As for determining which Sauz variations were better than others, it mostly came down to the sauce's flavor strength, whether it actually tasted like the supposed ingredients it contained, and whether it had an enjoyable texture. There were only a couple of sauces that I downright didn't like on this list, but otherwise, each variation had at least something promising to bring to the table. Those that truly stood out surpassed my general expectations of what a jarred sauce might taste like and offered something particularly special, like umami depth from miso or a bright citrus-inspired note.