Social media is obsessed with Rao’s pasta sauce. Influencers can’t stop sharing how much they love this authentic-tasting sauce, but how does its nutrition compare to other pasta sauces on the market? Our expert dietitian breaks down the ingredient list and nutrition facts in this Rao’s Pasta Sauce Dietitian Review to help you make an educated choice at the grocery store.
About Rao’s Pasta Sauce
Rao’s has a line of pasta sauce described as “homemade…simmered slowly and made in small batches with only the best ingredients – no pastes, starch, filler, added colors or sugar”. It is available in 14 flavors: Arrabbiata, Tomato Basil, Bolognese, Vodka, Italian Sausage and Mushroom, Roasted Garlic, Creamy Alfredo, Four Cheese, Mushroom & Bell Pepper, Sensitive Marinara, Tomato Herb, Roasted Garlic Alfredo, Caramelized Onion, and Spicy Vodka Arrabbiata.
Rao’s Pasta Sauce Dietitian Review – Ingredients
| Rao’s Marinara | Rao’s Spicy Arrabbiata | Rao’s Tomato Basil | Rao’s Bolognese | Rao’s Vodka | Rao’s Italian Sausage and Mushroom | Rao’s Roasted Garlic | Rao’s Creamy Alfredo | Rao’s Four Cheese | Rao’s Mushroom and Bell Pepper | Rao’s Sensitive Marinara | Rao’s Tomato Herb | Rao’s Roasted Garlic Alfredo | Rao’s Caramelized Onion | Rao’s Spicy Vodka | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ingredients | Italian Whole Peeled Tomatoes, Olive Oil, Onions, Salt, Garlic, Basil, Black Pepper, Oregano. | Italian Whole Peeled Tomatoes (peeled tomatoes, tomato puree, salt, basil leaf), Olive Oil, Onions, Salt, Garlic, Basil, Red Crushed Pepper, Black Pepper, Oregano. | Italian Whole Peeled Tomatoes, Olive Oil, Onions, Basil, Salt, Garlic, Black Pepper, Oregano. | Italian Whole Peeled Tomatoes, Italian Style Meatball Crumbles (beef, pork, Romano cheese [pasteurized cow’s milk and sheep’s milk, cheese cultures, salt, enzymes], water, salt, soy flour, spices, garlic, natural flavorings, parsley), Onions, Carrots, Olive Oil, Celery, Uncured Pancetta Crumbles (pork, salt, water, spices, cultured celery powder, sea salt, natural flavorings- no nitrites or nitrates added except for those naturally occurring in cultured celery powder and sea salt), Garlic, Salt, Citric Acid, Black Pepper, Thyme, Parsley. | Italian Whole Peeled Tomatoes, Olive Oil, Parmesan Cheese (Cow’s Milk, Salt, Rennet), Whey, Romano Cheese (Pasteurized Sheep’s Milk, Rennet, Salt), Onions, Salt, Garlic, Basil, Black Pepper, Vodka, Oregano | Italian Whole Peeled Tomatoes, Mushrooms, Cooked Italian Sausage (pork, spices, water, salt, sugar, paprika, garlic powder, flavoring), Olive Oil, Onions, Salt, Garlic, Basil, Citric Acid, Black Pepper, Oregano. | Italian Whole Peeled Tomatoes, Italian Cherry Tomatoes, Olive Oil, Roasted Garlic, Carrots, Salt. | Light Cream (cream, milk), Water, Parmesan and Romano Cheese (pasteurized part-skim cow’s milk, cheese cultures, salt, enzymes), Butter (cream, natural flavorings), Salted Egg Yolk, Modified Food Starch, Disodium Phosphate, Sea Salt, Xanthan Gum, Cracked Pepper, Ground White Pepper. | Italian Whole Peeled Tomatoes, Olive Oil, Parmesan Cheese (Cow’s Milk, Salt, Rennet), Carrots, Whey, Salt, Romano Cheese (Pasteurized Sheep’s Milk, Rennet, Salt), Grana Padano Cheese (Cow’s Milk, Salt, Rennet), Asiago Cheese (Cow’s Milk, Salt, Rennet). | Italian Whole Peeled Tomatoes, Onions, Mushrooms, Red Bell Peppers, Green Bell Peppers, Olive Oil, White Wine, Garlic, Salt, Basil, Black Pepper, Oregano, Crushed Red Peppers. | Italian Whole Peeled Tomatoes, Olive Oil, Carrots, Salt, Celery, Basil. | Italian Whole Peeled Tomatoes, Olive Oil, Carrots, Onions, Salt, Oregano, Garlic, Basil. | Light Cream (cream, milk), Water, Parmesan and Romano Cheese (pasteurized part-skim cow’s milk, cheese cultures, salt, enzymes), Butter (cream, natural flavorings), Salted Egg Yolk, Modified Cornstarch, Disodium Phosphate, Sea Salt, Garlic, Puree, Granulated Roasted Garlic, Xanthan Gum, Cracked Pepper, Ground White Pepper. | Italian Whole Peeded Tomatoes, Caramelized Onion, Olive Oil, Salt, Garlic, Basil, Oregano. | Italian Whole Peeled Tomatoes, Olive Oil, Parmesan Cheese (Cow’s Milk, Salt, Rennet), Whey, Romano Cheese (Pasteurized Sheep’s Milk, Rennet, Salt), Onions, Salt, Garlic, Crushed Red Pepper, Basil, Black Pepper, Vodka, Oregano. |
Ingredients for Rao’s Marinara flavor are detailed below. See the Rao’s Pasta Sauce ingredient chart above to compare all flavors.
Italian whole peeled tomatoes: the main ingredient in Rao’s Marinara.
Olive oil: an oil rich in oleic acid (omega-9).
Onions: used for flavor.
Salt: source of added sodium used for flavor.
Garlic: used for flavor.
Basil: used for flavor:
Black pepper: used for flavor.
Oregano: used for flavor.
Priority Allergens
There are no priority allergens listed on Rao’s Marinara sauce. Some flavors contain dairy and eggs. Always check the nutrition label and ingredient list for up-to-date ingredient and allergen information.
Rao’s Pasta Sauce Dietitian Review – Nutrition Facts
| Rao’s Marinara | Rao’s Spicy Arrabbiata | Rao’s Tomato Basil | Rao’s Bolognese | Rao’s Vodka | Rao’s Sausage and Mushroom | Rao’s Roasted Garlic | Rao’s Creamy Alfredo | Rao’s Four Cheese | Rao’s Mushroom and Bell Pepper | Rao’s Sensitive Marinara | Rao’s Tomato Herb | Rao’s Roasted Garlic Alfredo | Rao’s Caramelized Onion Sauce | Rao’s Vodka Arrabbiata | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Calories | 100 | 100 | 80 | 110 | 90 | 110 | 110 | 100 | 90 | 80 | 130 | 90 | 100 | 120 | 100 |
| Fat (g) | 7 | 7 | 5 | 8 | 6 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 6 | 5 | 11 | 6 | 9 | 8 | 6 |
| Saturated fat (g) | 1 | 1 | 0.5 | 2 | 1.5 | 1.5 | 1 | 6 | 1.5 | 0.5 | 1.5 | 1 | 6 | 1 | 1.5 |
| Cholesterol (mg) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 | <5 | 5 | 0 | 50 | <5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 50 | 0 | 0 |
| Sodium (mg) | 420 | 420 | 420 | 350 | 310 | 390 | 330 | 410 | 440 | 480 | 330 | 350 | 410 | 330 | 340 |
| Carbohydrates (g) | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 6 | 7 | 2 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 2 | 9 | 7 |
| Fiber (g) | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Sugar (g) | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Added sugar (g) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Protein (g) | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 3 |
| Calcium (mg) | 20 | 20 | 20 | 30 | 60 | 20 | 20 | 80 | 60 | 20 | 10 | 20 | 80 | 10 | 60 |
| Potassium (mg) | 370 | 370 | 370 | 360 | 400 | 340 | 400 | N/A | 390 | 340 | 360 | 370 | N/A | 310 | 420 |
The nutrition facts below represent Rao’s Marinara, with ranges for other flavors in parentheses. See our Rao’s Nutrition Facts Comparison chart above for details.
Calories: 100 (80-130)
Fat: 7g (5-11g), from olive oil.
Saturated fat: 1g (0.5-6g), from olive oil.
Sodium: 420mg (310-480mg), from added salt.
Carbohydrates: 6g (2-9g), trace amounts found in tomatoes.
Sugar: 4g (1-7g), trace amounts found in tomatoes.
Fiber: 1g (0-2g), trace amounts found in tomatoes.
Protein: 2g (2-3g), trace amounts found in tomatoes.
Potassium: 370mg (340-420mg), from tomatoes.
Is Rao’s Pasta Sauce a Healthy Choice? Our Dietitian Explains
We gave Rao’s Pasta Sauce a nutrition score of 86 out of 100. I love that Rao’s pasta sauce is made with simple ingredients. I also love that it contains olive oil, an excellent source of heart-healthy fats. A general rule I like to follow when grocery shopping is to find products that have similar ingredients compared to what you would add yourself if you were making the same thing at home. Rao’s pasta sauce is made with tomatoes, olive oil, onion, garlic, and spices, making it a very similar option to a homemade sauce, with the convenience of being pre-made!
The only negative consideration about the nutrition content of Rao’s Pasta Sauce is that it is high in sodium, with 420mg per 1/2 cup serving (310mg-480mg, depending on the flavor). Store-bought pasta sauce contains anywhere from 85-850mg of sodium per 1/2 cup serving, so Rao’s is average compared to others on the market. For this reason, Rao’s may not be suitable for those following a low-sodium diet.
If this is the case for you, be sure to check out our roundup of low-sodium pasta sauce options here.
