New Fave Jarred Marinara (+ Mom’s Lasagna)

A few weeks ago I gave a talk at the Museum of Food and Drink in Brooklyn, and during the Q&A period at the end, someone asked the million dollar question: What’s for dinner tonight?

Because I’m a faithful follower of the dinner-in-the-morning religion (for the uninitiated: The practice of taking a few seconds to decide what’s on the menu later and thaw or prep a few things accordingly) nine times out of ten, this is an easy question to answer. On this particular day, it just so happened I had a bunch of freezer meatballs thawing. I had baked them on the weekend, popped them in a Ziplock and into the freezer, then transferred them to the refrigerator earlier that day.

“We’re having meatballs tonight. I’ll probably just heat them up in some jarred tomato sauce or something. With some good bread.”

Later, when I was signing books, the question-asker said to me, “I can’t believe you use jarred tomato sauce. I just assumed that you made yours from scratch.”

“I do make mine from scratch,” I said. “But when I don’t have time to make it from scratch, I have no problem using sauce from a jar.”

I couldn’t tell if this piece of information made my stock skyrocket or plummet in her mind. I hope it was the former, because I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, without store-bought assistance, weeknight dinners (and after school snacks, see above, #growthspurt) would be a disaster. And also: When there are sauces as fresh and beloved as Ooma Tesoro’s out there in the world, it hardly feels like cheating. (Note to Grandmas Turano and Catrino: This does not mean I love you any less.) The stuff is so good, so pure and tomato-y, my daughters eat it straight from the jar with a spoon. We use it on pizzas, pastas, spread on mozzarella sandwiches in the lunch box, as a dip for grilled cheese sandwiches, whirled into white bean soups.

And as book owners might have noticed, I’m even completely shameless about using it in my mom’s world-famous (ok, Rosenstrach-famous) lasagna recipe if I don’t have time to make the family marinara. Lucky for us — this got the attention of the nice people at Ooma Tesoro’s, who, as a thank you to me, want to offer a giveaway to you: Three jars of their classic marinara so you can see for yourself what I’m talking about. Just in time for Sunday Dinner, a regular old Tuesday night meatball meal, or a Super Bowl Lasagna, the recipe for which I’ve included below. Leave a comment to be eligible to win; contest ends Sunday 1/29 at noon ET. Good luck! UPDATE: The winner has been chosen. (Congrats Janie!) Thanks to everyone for playing.

Grandma Jody’s Lasagna
My mom has never messed around with the traditional béchamel when making lasagna. Her recipe is a strict assembly job, which can be fun for the kids.

4 cups homemade marinara sauce or good-quality store-bought marinara like Ooma Tesoro’s
2 tablespoons good-quality olive oil
1 clove garlic, halved
1⁄4 cup finely chopped onion
1 cup frozen spinach, thawed (or one 9-ounce bag or bunch spinach, trimmed, rinsed, and cooked) and squeezed dry
pinch of freshly grated nutmeg (about 1⁄8 teaspoon)
kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
2 links (about 8 ounces) good-quality sweet Italian sausage (or to taste, or omit to make this vegetarian), skins removed
1 1⁄4 cups fresh ricotta cheese
1 egg, lightly beaten
3⁄4 cup freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano
2 cups grated fresh mozzarella cheese (from an 8-ounce ball mozzarella)
1 pound no-cook lasagna noodles

Preheat the oven to 350°F.
If you are making your own marinara, do that first. If you’re not, place your Ooma Tesoro’s on the counter. It is the first ingredient in your Lasagna Assembly Line. (No need to heat it up.)
Add the olive oil to a skillet set over medium heat. Cook the garlic halves cut side down to infuse the oil, about 2 minutes. Remove. Add the onions and cook until wilted, about 2 minutes. Add the spinach, the nutmeg, and salt and pepper to taste, and cook until the spinach is warmed through (or wilted if you’re using fresh). Transfer to a bowl and set on your assembly line. To the same skillet, over medium-high heat, add the sausage, breaking it up into crumbles with a fork, and cook until brown, about 5 minutes. Remove from the skillet to a bowl. Add the bowl to your assembly line.
In a medium bowl, stir together the ricotta, egg, 1⁄2 cup of the Parm, and all but about 1⁄4 cup of the mozzarella. Season generously with salt and pepper. Add the bowl to your assembly line.
Now, time for the fun part. Scoop about 1⁄2 cup of the marinara into the bottom of a 9 by 13-inch baking dish and “paint” the bottom completely with the back of a spoon. Place lasagna noodles on top, trimming the noodles if you have to in order to cover the sauce completely. Add another layer of sauce on top, then top with sausage crumbles and dollops of both the cheese mixture and the spinach mixture, flattening them a bit with your spoon. Repeat with the remaining noodles and toppings, finishing with only a thin layer of sauce, the remaining mozzarella, and the remaining Parm.
Cover the dish with foil and bake for 40 minutes, until everything looks bubbly. Remove the foil and bake for another 10 minutes.
Allow to cool slightly, which will make it easier to cut.

Print Friendly, PDF & Email
Filed under: Dinner, Pasta

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

What is 15 + 10 ?
Please leave these two fields as-is:
IMPORTANT! To be able to proceed, you need to solve the following simple math (so we know that you are a human) :-)

361 Comments

jenny

I have to admit that my homemade marinara can be a bit hit or miss. Never awful, but I certainly could use a good jarred variety.

Reply
Jen

This sounds like a great companion to some freezer meatballs! I highly recommend the Meatball Shop cookbook – the recipes in there are all pretty easy and very tasty. (I have not attempted any of the sauce recipes yet, as I am mostly a jarred sauce kind of person. This contest is right up my alley.)

Reply
Gloria Lau

I’d love to try these jarred sauces, after your description. Thank you for your Web site and cookbooks. Our family loves so many of your recipes. Please keep writing! Thank you so much!!

Reply
Susan

I’ve been using the Silver Palate jarred sauce lately. Will be interested to try this one.

Reply
Katie

Free sauce or not this recipe looks delicious and like the perfect thing to have on hand for weeknight meals. Maybe mashed white beans in the ricotta mixture for extra protein? I might try it! Thank you!

Reply
Rebecca

Yum! I just went to their website and it’s not available in my area, but I’d love to try it (and order online in the future if it’s that good!).

Reply
Jess

I want to try this! I’m on a “journey” towards cooking more/better, but not quite at the make-my-own-marinara level just yet…

Reply
Dawn Rockett

I have yet to find a jarred marinara sauce that is worth using. I look forward to trying this one to see if this is it!

Reply
Lisa

I use Wegman’s store brand jarred sauce with frozen ravioli or just spaghetti for a quick dinner.

Reply
Kathleen

The grandma’s pomodoro sauce is my favorite from wegman’s for a basic but tasty sauce

Reply
Mary

Never seen this brand available or tried it before, but with your endorsement, I’ll look for it! Thanks for the recommendation! In what store do you find it? THANKS for the giveaway!! 🙂

Reply
Christine OBoyle

I would love to try this sauce. They don’t sell it in Georgia so would love to win some!!!

Reply
SJ

I just made lasagne last night. I haven’t seen this sauce, will have to be on the look out for it.

Reply
--anu

I love that your lasagna is assembly job! I’ve side away from traditional kind for the past couple years because it just takes so long and on the days that I crave the comfort of lasagna there just isn’t enough brain power. But this, my 11-year-old could do that if I chop the onions (one bridge we haven’t crossed yet, she can do it but I can’t quite live with the complaints and too large chunks 🙂
I used to have a favorite jarred sauce but then it disappeared, I’m guessing the little company went out of business. Excited to have something new to try !

Reply
Amy

I love that your books and blog inspire me to cook while giving me permission to go easy on myself. Your books have replaced the ones I taught myself to cook with as my most-loved.

Reply
Meg

Yum! I love a good red sauce, I love the Penzeys recipe. I would love to find a good sauce to have in the pantry!

Reply
Katie Hill

I haven’t found a jarred marinara that I love so I would be thrilled to give Ooma Tesoro’s a try!

Reply
Barbara Knowles

My parents are friends with the owner’s in-laws. They rave about Ooma Tesoro’s, but I’ve never tried it and it’s hard to find around here

Reply
Angela

I will look for this sauce! Your recommendation is huge!
I’m obsessed with that salad dressing from whole foods you posted eons ago….

Reply
Mag

Can’t believe this is the first time I’m seeing this sauce! Curious to try and see how it stacks up with my beloved Rao’s (when I can afford it).

Reply
Kristi Mutnick

I’m adding this lasagna to our Super Bowl menu! And I definitely need to try that sauce! Thanks!

Reply
Rohini

Jenny – where do you buy this in Westchester? I didn’t see a store location up here. Or, do you buy it online

Reply
Sue

I don’t think I’ve ever seen Ooma’s sauce in the store but maybe I’ll start seeing it now that I’ve heard such positive things. I just found it on Amazon so at least that’s an option–I would love to see what the hype is about! A jarred sauce is always something I like to keep in the pantry. Thanks for sharing your fave & the recipe! 🙂

Reply
Jen

I’ve never heard of this brand before, but if you’re recommending it this strongly, I’ll look for it in my local market!

Reply
Cortney

This is very coincidental timing as I’m preparing to make your Great Grandma Turano’s Meatballs and sauce for dinner tonight. Would love to try a sample of Ooma Tesoro’s!

Reply
Carla Tesoro

I’ve never heard of this sauce…and I’m a Tesoro, which by the way, is Italian for treasure. I’d love to try it and compare to my own momma Tesoro’s sauce.

Reply
JoLyn

I’d love to try it. It’s not available in my market, but looks like it’s available on Amazon.

Reply
Tonya Youker

Yum!
From scratch is a beautiful thing, but thank goodness we have the option to cut a corner once in a while.
I always appreciate your candor, Jenny!

Reply
hayley

I’m always on the lookout for a good jarred sauce! I’ll have to keep an eye out for it in stores.

Reply
Suzanne

I can’t wait to try your lasagna recipe – lasagna is my husbands all time favorite dinner!

Reply
jennifer m

We had spaghetti and meatballs last night and I had nooooo problem using jarred sauce. I would love to try this one and see if it would kick things up.

Reply
Jennifer

The sauce looks delicious. And it’s not available in NJ. Will have to find a way to give it a try.

Reply
Gretchen

I’m so excited to see this post, I’ve been looking for a good jarred sauce. I usually need it most for pizza night. It just gets so busy cooking up all the toppings and getting the dough made etc that the sauce is something I’m willing to use a jar. I haven’t seen this brand anywhere here, I’ll be on the lookout now.

Reply
Lora

Quality pre-made foods are the key to weeknight survival – and great for weekends that feel busier than a work day!

Reply
Tina

I would love to try this sauce. I am a recent follower of your blog and cookbooks and have found so many things I’ve already tried and loved (your Greek chicken soup!) and so many on my list!

Reply
Debbie

I don’t see the sauce at store near me but would love to try it. Lasagna is my favorite – I always picked it for my birthday meal!

Reply
Katie B.

Ooh! Ooma’s isn’t available in my area, so I’d love to give it a try before taking the plunge and purchasing online. Fingers crossed!

Reply
Marie

I am with you on this one! Jarred marinara is the way to go when you just don’t have time for the homemade. 🙂

Reply
Awads

I have to admit, i’ll make my own pasta noodles of lasagna, but then use jarred sauce…only b/c i’m too exhausted after rolling out dough!! Would love to try this jarred sauce!

Reply
Shannon Simpson

Would love to try this! So far the best I have tried is Rao’s but I have never heard of Ooma’s before! Would love to try on meatballs for a quick weeknight supper.

Reply
Kristy

Always on the hunt for good marinara (especially with no sugar added) when I don’t have time to make my own!

Reply
Laura Cole

I would love to try Ooma Tesoro’s sauce. Please count me in for the chance to win some of their sauce. Our family also tries to cook from scratch on a regular basis, but we appreciate the occasional shortcut, such as jarred marinara sauce!

Thank you for sharing your tips and recipes on the blog. I’m a longtime DALS follower.

Reply
Dana

My husband makes big batches of sauce to keep in the freezer, but this sauce sounds too good to pass up!

Reply
Bea

Thanks for the giveaway! Your mom’s lasagna recipe looks delicious. I use Rao’s jarred sauce so I’d love to see if this is just as tasty!

Reply
Susan

I would love to win this sauce and use it on a lasagna for Sunday dinner. After years of trying to get my kids to eat lasagna they finally love it. How did I get them to love it? They help make it!

Reply
Beth

I skew 80/20 homemade marinara versus jarred but moreso due to lack of a proper jar. Would love to try out Ooma Tesoro’s!

Reply
Dana

My almost three-year-old has just decided he likes tomato sauce on his pasta, so I’d love to win some of this for all of us!

Reply
Anna

Jenny! I live locally…and have never seen this before. Where do you (usually) find it? I looked on their site but it looks like I’d need to go to NYC? Thanks!

Reply
Marisa

I would love to try this sauce! Pasta is an absolute standby at our house, but I have found it so difficult to find a sauce we all love. Most have been too fake-tasting and watery. I want something that can stand up without too much additional doctoring.

Reply
Allison

I would love to try some new jarred sauce! I’m pretty Prego loyal these days but I know there are better ones out there.

Reply
Leslie

I am forever hunting a good, affordable jarred marinara to keep on hand. Sadly, Trader Joe’s leaves something to be desired. I’d love to try this one!

Reply
Lin O Heaney

I have been looking for the jar that will absolve me from making my scratch sauce.
love your entire scene, here. and I would love the free jar of sauce
(security ? is a little like an unfair voting test. not all humans can do simple math.)

Reply
Laurie Mobley

Excited to try and appreciate your short cut tips – especially flattened zip locs in the freezer and homemade salad dressing. Please include me in the drawing – this will be the next one to try!

Reply
Kaitlin

I’m always on the hunt for a good jarred sauce. I’ll have to look for this brand next time I shop!

Reply
Samantha S.

Yum! Good quality jarred marinara is such a time saver for getting healthy meals on the table fast!

Reply
MM

“. . . eat it straight from the jar with a spoon”
Heh, what I do a lot, standing up over the sink, of course!

Reply
Laura

YUM! I’d love to try it! Thank you for being real about not always making homemade sauce and viewing store-bought as totally acceptable! I’ve actually been judged for making homemade instead of buying sauce. Women can be silly! We put so much pressure on ourselves and take our own insecurities out on other people. I’m all for doing whatever it takes just to EAT – takeout, storebought, homemade, whatever!

Reply
Jenn

We use a good amount of jarred marinara in our house. We tend to purchase Rao’s, but I’ll be keeping my eye out for this brand now!

Reply
Julie R.

I would love to try a new jarred marinara. There are some good ones out there, but to find a favorite would be wonderful!

Reply
Roxanne

I find most supermarket jarred sauces too sweet with added sugar, so my quick answer to a weeknight pasta sauce is a 28 oz. jar of San Marzano or plum tomatoes cooked with sauteed onions, garlic, salt and oregano, then pureed with an immersion blender. If I start the sauce first it only takes about 10 minutes longer than the pasta.
Your description of the marinara sounds exactly like what I’m after – pure, tomato-y goodness!

Reply
Elizabeth

I’m always on the hunt for a jarred sauce that is worthy! Can’t wait to try this one!

Reply
jenn in GA

my MIL makes sugu (homemade sauce) but i do not. i’d love to find something that would be as authentic as hers! thanks for the opportunity to win, especially since i haven’t seen this brand here in GA.

Reply
Bethany ONeill

No shame in using jarred sauce as long as you know how to make a good homemade one. Cannot wait to try this one.

Reply
Heather

I’m with you! Homemade is great, but sometimes fast and easy is exactly what’s called for – no shame in that! The sauce sounds so good!

Reply
Kim C

ooh I’m intrigued. I too make my own when I have time, but I don’t always have time! In those cases, I swear by Rao’s but am always ready to try something new…perhaps I’ll be an Ooma’s convert

Reply
Ivy

Don’t have to tell me twice! Having a few VERY easy things around is so critical to making food happen in the trenches.

Reply
Caitlin

I love any meal that has both home-made and quick involved, especially when ‘quick’ is really excellent pre-made. meatballs are also a recent discovery for me of make-ahead food, thanks to DALS, the book!

Reply
Pam-ella

The lasagna sounds amazing. And I assume you can freeze portions for later, right? I’d love to try this sauce I don’t think I’ve seen it in the Boston area. Your blog and books are all great. Thanks

Reply
Nancy

Trader Joe’s Tuscano Marinara (in a can) is our house sauce. If I’m feeling fancy I tip a bit of my “chopping glass” of wine into it.

Reply
Alyssa

Jarred marinara saves weeknight dinners over and over again. Just last night we used some to make mini naan bread pizzas!

Reply
Celia

Pretty pretty please with some parmesan on top? We have a war in our household with my husband advocating for sanity in the form of jarred sauce, and me resisting because they just taste like sour tomatoes + sugar in a horrible mashup. So vast swathes of dishes are left out of our reach most of the time. If you’ve found a way out of this mess, I need to know it.

While you’re at it, does TJs sell any sandwich bread you approve of? I’ve struck out on every kind I’ve tried so far.

Reply
McKenzie Cunningham

Confession: I have never made marinara from scratch. Oddly enough, this blog post encouraged me to do so one day soon!

Reply
Trisha

We make sauce in the summer and use jarred sauce when that runs out. I haven’t tried this kind, sounds great.

Reply
Carl Fischer

Ooma Tesoro’s is hands down the best sauce I have ever had. I served it to my Italian mother and she even agreed. It’s really that good. And I love that it’s purchase supports artisanal and local food crafters and a small business.

Can’t wait to try it in this recipe.

Reply
Joni

I pretty much always use jarred sauce, but then my husband is not a big fan of tomatoes, so I’m always looking for a new one that will work for him. I don’t think I’ve ever seen this brand before though.

Reply
Holly Sharp

I just thrifted your first book and read it cover to cover in 2 days. Now to get my mitts on the other two! Thanks for the marinara tip (and for the giveaway)!

Reply
Beth S

I would love to try this sauce. We discovered another sauce (Victoria or Rao’s) via your blog, so I’m sure this sauce is fantastic.

Reply
Lindsey R.

Love your site, Jenny! I was reading through your new cookbook in a local bookstore and got a little teary-eyed (in a good way!) while reading one of the passages. Always looking for a good pasta sauce — I’ll have to give this one a try. Thanks for the tip!

Reply
Amber

I would love to try the sauce! I used to make my own pre-kids but nowadays Victoria and Paesano brands are staples for us (I find them at Costco). I feel no guilt or sadness about this, especially since I would rather use a jarred sauce with good ingredients than deal with the whole BPA issue with canned tomatoes.

Reply
Emily

Would love to try it! I totally depend on jarred sauce; we use way too much of it to make it all from scratch.

Reply
Elise V

I usually just make my own sauce because I’m cheap but also because I need to limit my pasta consumption ( we never have leftover pasta)

Reply
Kathy

I’ve never seen this sauce before. I wonder if it’s available in Charlotte, NC. I am going to check!

Reply
Kate

When I make red sauce from scratch, I do it the Marcella Hazan way, with butter and an onion; when I buy it, I try to get Rao’s, because that’s our favorite (but $$$!). I would love to try an alternative.

Reply
Mei

It would be so nice to have a jarred sauce to like! I’ve never been completely happy with anything I’ve tried.

Reply
Linda F.

I would love to try this sauce! I’m always on the lookout for something better…I use at least one jar a week!

Reply
Kath the Cook

Lasagna sounds good. Very similar to what I tend to make. Would love to try the marinara you recommend.

Reply
Erin

I rarely make my own marinara. I usually just buy Ragu! Gasp! Maybe it’s time I class it up a bit!

Reply
Madeline

I’m always looking for a good jarred sauce! Homemade sauce is wonderful, but it’s hard to do when it’s an hour past dinner time and my daughter is hungry (and me too;) Thanks for the giveaway!

Reply
Kelly

Ooh I’ll be making that lasagna recipe soon! Thanks j you for publicly affirming that not all food shortcuts are evil (or, realistically, avoidable!)

Reply
Kristen

This sounds delicious! I’d love to try this one of these busy week nights in my single-working-girl home (channeling Mary Tyler Moore tonight).

Reply
Tina

Thanks for the new one to try! I will be looking at my local Publix and Whole Foods – wish me luck!!

Reply
M

Oooh this is one I’d actually really like to win. I’m a total marinara sauce snob and would love to find one that can substitute for homemade in a pinch!!

Reply
Amy

So glad to know that you incorporate high-quality storebought ingredients into your cooking. We working moms have to be smart about how we spend our time, and we’ve got to sleep sometime! Can’t wait to try the lasagna recipe!

Reply
Margot

Whenever I make your meatballs (so many times that I think it is one of the few things I could make without a recipe in front of me), I make the sauce that goes with it, but use jarred sauce for other things. It’s always good to have a jar of it around.

Reply
emily

i’d love to try the sauce! my husband is super skeptical of jarred sauces… but maybe for a busy worknight we could add this to the rotation.

Reply
Dale Hitchcock

Ooma Tesoro’s is a great sauce. I bought a jar of it at our Whole Foods here in Providence, RI. It was yummy. It compares favorably to Rao’s sauces. I understand it is produced at a converted elementary school building in Cummington, MA where I remember playing basketball for a team from a neighboring western Mass. town. I went back to Whole Foods to buy a couple of jars but it was gone. Bummer! -Dale H.

Reply
LORI H

That sauce looks amazing! It is good to hear that you also use jarred sauce, although this sauce seems like it would be better than my homemade. Pinning your lasagna…

Reply
Angela

My Italian mom would be so mad if knew, but I totally use jarred sauce sometimes. I’ll have to try this! I usually use Raos!

Reply
Bearsmama

Hi Jenny. Love your newest book, but I truly love ALL of your books! 🙂 Thanks for the Giveaway. I’d love to try Ooma Tesoro’s sauce!

Reply
Megan

Our family favorite jarred sauce used to come from bjs! They no longer carry it and I’ve been searching ever since for a new family favorite. Maybe this is it?

Reply
Marissa

Looks delicious! I haven’t found a good jarred sauce – I’ll keep a look out for this!

Reply
Melissa

I would love to find a good jarred sauce! Haven’t found one in 33 years of looking and with our second kid due beginning of March this would be a lifesaver!

Reply
Kerry-Ann Warren

Love the sausage & spinach in the lasagna-nice change from a basic (ground beef) meat sauce.

Reply
Jennifer Palmquist

I make my from scratch marinera in my stockpot and freeze it in quart ziploc freezer bags, but I would love to try this jarred sauce. I’ve never seen it here on the west coast

Reply
Colleen Fox

Mm mm love good jarred sauce…. Would make quick chicken parm with this, or healthy spaghetti squash with meatballs for me and whole wheat pasta for the kids!

Reply
Maegan

I love that marina recipe with butter and onions simmered with the tomatoes but it is super rich. I’d like to taste your favorite marinara as perhaps it is a bit easier on the waistline:)?

Reply
Alyssa

I saw this brand at the grocery store on Sunday. I’ll have to pick some up. A jar of pasta sauce in the pantry is my weeknight savior!

Reply
Matt Rosenberg

Love this. I’ve found a great place in Thornwood – Trotta Pasta – where you can buy sheets of fresh pasta that fit very nicely into our pan. Dealing with strips of lasagna noodles had made me never want to deal with lasagna before but for anyone with a place nearby that makes fresh pasta: this is a great solution and tastes better than anything you can buy in a box.

Reply
Rosie Lucchesini-Jack

Raos is my go-to in a pinch. During the late summer and early fall when tomatoes are plentiful, I will make batches of roasted tomato sauce that I will freeze to use in the depths of winter. If I forget to thaw one or when we run out, its usually jarred as I never make marinara on the fly or any other time of year.

Reply
Wendy

I’ve tried Rao’s which was good but would love to try this one! And I just saw someone’s comment that it’s not sold in NJ!

Reply
Amy M

Thanks for the tip. Just ordered some directly from their website – free shipping!

Excited to try it. When in a pinch I do love Trader Joe’s Three Cheese Pomodoro Pasta Sauce

Reply
Kim

Pick me, pick me! I’m thinking meatballs and this sauce will be the perfect preface to our next It’s Wednesday Cake!

Reply
Tina

Can’t wait to try this lasagna and looking to work a new jarred sauce into our dinner rotation! Been in a bit of a jarred sauce rut as of late.

Reply
Heidi Aronson

it gives me the shivers to remember my sauce-from-a-jar college days. but i’m willing to take a chance.

Reply
Rachel

Baby #2 is arriving shortly so this is a great reminder to make some lasagna for the freezer. I’m definitely not above using jarred sauces!

Reply
ronya

There is nothing I love more than any iteration of tomato with cheese. I’m always trying new sauces!

Reply
Kristin Moomey

I would love to try these out! We have a friend that makes fresh pasta locally, and it’s so fantastic that I’m really, really picky about the sauces that we pair with it!

Reply
Nicole Bell

This past year I’ve been trying to be better at making my own enchilada sauce and marinara but with three kids, sometimes it’s going to come from a jar…Would love to try this!

Reply
Kelly P

I have to admit, I don’t typically do a homemade marinara. Bolognese – yes. Alfredo – yes. But not marinara. I’ll have to get on that.

Reply
Katie

While homemade sauce sounds amazing, as a working mom, not always an option! Always looking for new good sauces!

Reply
Stephanie

I love making homemade marinara but often don’t have time, so very happy to have this recommendation! I hope it is sold in more stores in Massachusetts (Boston-area) soon!

Reply
Barbara Bliley

I too have no problem with quality jarred sauce when we run out of our homemade stock! The only thing I look for is the sugar/sodium content. A really good jarred sauce shouldn’t have ridiculously high levels of these and I feel good about serving it to my kids. I’d love to try some Ooma’s!

Reply
Aubrey

We have lasagna every Christmas. My parents have suggested switching it up the last few years and with phrases like ” there will be mutiny”, “how will Santa find us?” and “Baby Jesus wants us to have lasagna” being thrown around, they’ve opted to keep lasagna as a tradition.

Reply
Ruth in VT

I would love to try this! And thanks for giving us permission to take these shortcuts. 🙂

Reply
Ruth in VT

I would love to try this! And thanks for giving us permission to take these shortcuts. 🙂

Also – tried to click over to their web page but the link you provided doesn’t seem to be working.

Reply
Mavi

I was just thinking of making lasagna! Will def try this recipe. And more often than not, I use a jarred sauce. Thanks for the tip about Ooma’s. Love DALS!

Reply
Lydia Clarke

Love your site, love your recipes, love your books, love a good marinara sauce! I tend to buy what’s on sale at the store (or in big batches at Costco) so would love to have a special jar or two for more high-end endeavors. 🙂

Reply
Shannon

Oooh I’ve never tried this brand before! There’s no shame in jarred sauce, so many good options available now.

You’ve inspired me to prep and freeze some meatballs this weekend!

Reply
Maria

My parents are from Italy and my mom would be horrified to find out that I sometimes use jarred tomato sauce. With a full time job, it’s either that or take out. I’m always on the lookout for good brands.

Reply
Christina

Yum. I find I go through phases of making my own sauce or buying jarred, depending on how old my kids are. Lately I’ve been making the Marcella Hazan sauce with butter and onion; but with my youngest just becoming mobile, I think we’re moving back toward jarred sauce.

Reply
Michele Jacques

Thanks so much for such an inspiring website! The lasagna is going on next week’s dinner lineup.

Reply
Heather

Thanks for the tip – I swear by the “make it when I can and don’t stress when I can’t” approach to dinner. Otherwise it would all be too much! I checked the website and now know that I can buy this near me.

Reply
bschus

store-bought shortcuts are the only way to survive! Not every night, but at least once a week for us (2 working parents with 2 kids under 5!)

Reply
Jami

I’d love to try that marinara sauce! I’m with you, I typically make homemade but not on weekdays!

Reply
Miriam Kligerman

I totally agree about Ooma Tesoro’s jarred sauce. I stumbled on it at the Wayland Winter Farmer’s Market a couple of years ago and have been buying it ever since. It’s now the only brand I use. I don’t even bother trying other brands any more.

Reply
Julie

If we’re having pasta for dinner, that usually means I need a quick and easy meal. Thus, jarred sauce is a no-brainer! Would love to give this one a try.

Reply
Barbara

Jarred sauce can be very useful! I have a trick for making it taste more like homemade that I will share here. Brown some ground beef or sausage (I haven’t found a jarred sauce with meat that I like) and after the meat is browned, add a glassful of red wine and cook until the liquid is gone — then add the jarred sauce and heat through.

Reply
Susi

Would love to try some of the sauce – especially with your glowing recommendation! Thanks for all you do to keep me inspired in the kitchen!! 🙂

Reply
Tiffany Martinelli

I’m always open to a store bought option when time is just not there!! I’d love to try.

Reply
Katy

Yum! Lasagna! I’ve been needing to try to make one. We like Molly of Orangette’s easy tomato sauce recipe. I’ve recently used the immersion blender after cooking it to make a smooth and thick sauce for our spaghetti and meatballs. Thanks for sharing a good jarred tomato/marinara sauce. I’d love to try it.

Reply
Jane B.

I have tried and tried and tried sauce from a jar and STILL have NOT found one that is as rich and flavorful as what I’m looking for. Maybe, just maybe, Ooma Tesoro’s will be THE ONE!!!! Fingers crossed!

Reply
Jessica

My husband and I don’t agree on jarred tomato sauces- he likes smooth pureed sweet ones and I like chunkier less sweet sauces. I’d like to try these to see if we could find some common ground.

Reply
Lindley

Delicious! After a January diet reboot sans gluten. I will gladly be adding lasagna back to the menu planning!

Reply
Linda

Would like to try this sauce. Have not seen it in my local stores. Will check on line to see if I can get locally.

Reply
Cay

I just made Grandma Turino’s sauce and meatballs tonight! Always pasta the night before a track meet…

Reply
Cay

I just made Grandma Turino’s sauce and meatballs tonight! Always pasta the night before a track meet…and I came home early enough (for once) not to use jarred sauce. Thanks, Grandma T!

Reply
Heather Alarcon

I’d love to try these! My family goes through one or two jars of marinara a week and it would be nice to have an upgrade from Aldi sometimes!

Reply
Dana Fumiko Matsunami

Looks absolutely delicious! I’m a college student who reads your blog religiously for simple-yummy-quick meal inspiration, and jarred tomato sauce is right up my alley!

Reply
Annette

Well, since I probably never would’ve given it a try without some kind of recommendation, I’d be happy to give it a go on your say-so!

Reply
Barbara

Will try this sauce… whether I win or not! Your recommendations, recipes and inspiration are spot on…. Made your Cola braised pork carnitas for football games last weekend. Big hit at our indoor tail-gater

Reply
Heather Lemoine

I love lasagna so much I might be Garfield 🙂 I am so curious about ooma tesoro’s because a good marinara is worth all the gold in Fort Knox.

Reply
sabrina

I’d love to enter the sauce contest. Your blog is my number one source for meal time and family inspiration. Shout out to my baby sister Heather who gave me the “Make Dinner Not War” bumper sticker in my stocking years ago getting me started on DALS lifestyle!

Reply
Reynaul

This looks yummy!!! I always like to have a good jarred marinara sauce in the pantry for those nights that making it from scratch just isn’t happening.

Reply
Hilary

I love a good jarred marinara, but I’ve never tried Ooma Tesoro! I’ll have to give it a try!

Reply
Emma Waller

Thank you for all the great recipes… love the website and your book! Would love to win the sauce thank you for the giveaway!

Reply
Stephanie

I confess to jarred sauce…and Im ok with it. If everything had to be from scratch (#growthspurt at our house as well) I think I might lose my mind.

Reply
Millie Wamsted

I would love to try this! I’m curious to know their ingredient list. Wondering if there’s added sugar after your description of the yum factor…

Reply
Robin Tesoro

Hi Millie, this is Robin from Ooma Tesoro’s chiming in to say that we do not add any sugar. There are 6 grams of sugar that come from the whole plum tomatoes and sweet onions. We don’t add any preservative. Thanks!

Reply
Michelle Pervaiz

Yum! I have been looking for a great jarred pasta sauce for easy week night meals.

Reply
Danielle

I would love to try that marinara sauce! I’ve never found a packaged product that tasted as good as homemade and have honestly given up trying. Of course this brand isn’t even sold in my state (MI), but I just saw that they ship for free – ?! – so even if I’m not a winner, I’m definitely going to give them a try. Thanks for the tip!

Reply
Christine Evans

Would love to try the marinara – as a soon to be mom of three, I’m collecting all the dinner tricks I can!
Thank you!

Reply
Beth

I love your website so much! Thank you for the much needed permission to take delicious shortcuts as much or little as needed. I have used SO MANY of your recipes for dinners for my family. Thank you!!

Reply
Justine Powell

I’m working my way through your cookbook, and everything has been so delicious! Appreciate the recommendation for a delicious jarred sauce for quick weeknight meals.

Reply
Sally M

I too believe jarred is good on a quick night when you are exhausted. I tend to add some extra flavor by throwing in some garlic and red pepper flakes, but would love to try a sauce so good it doesn’t need any extra prep.

Reply
The Mess Hall Momma

I live in a rural area so a lovely, well made, jarred marinara would be a simple, albeit odd, treat!!

Reply
Gail

I’m always on the lookout for good jarred sauce. Have been using Vistoria for a bit, it’s ok but would love to try this one.

Reply
Ann

I am TJ lo-salt marinara. Pretty much all the time. I will try this brand though. I think they have it in our local fancy grocery store.

Reply
Sasha

How many servings does this make? Is it enough for 6 people? Also, have you tried doubling the recipe?

Reply