How Much Sugar Is in Pasta Sauce?
A half-cup of jarred marinara has about 7 g of sugar — some from the tomatoes themselves, some added to balance the acidity.
in 1/2 cup marinara (125 g) · about 1.7 teaspoons
- Per serving
- 7 g
- Per 100 g
- 6 g
- Type
- Mostly natural
- In teaspoons
- ≈ 1.7 tsp
Fine in a portion — worth keeping an eye on.
A half-cup of jarred marinara sauce carries about 7 g of sugar — part of it is naturally in the tomatoes, and part is added sugar many brands use to round out the acidity. Like ketchup, it's a savoury food with a quiet sugar habit, though marinara is far milder than a sweeter sauce like BBQ.
Sugar content swings a lot by brand — some marinaras have none added, others, especially sweeter 'family recipe' styles, run closer to 10–12 g per half cup. Checking the ingredient list for added sugar, or making a simple sauce from crushed tomatoes, herbs, and garlic, keeps it close to the tomato's own natural sugar.
Lower-sugar swaps
- A marinara labeled no-added-sugar, or one made from plain crushed tomatoes
- Add extra vegetables to the jar to stretch it and dilute the sugar per serving
Frequently asked questions
- Does pasta sauce have added sugar?
- Many jarred sauces do — some to balance tomato acidity, others use noticeably more. Checking the label for sugar in the ingredients tells you which.
- Is BBQ sauce or pasta sauce higher in sugar?
- BBQ sauce, by a wide margin — about 36 g per 100 g versus marinara's roughly 6 g. Marinara's sugar is mostly the tomatoes themselves.
More foods
Learn more
Sugar values from Typical nutrition label; actual amounts vary by brand, ripeness, and recipe. Last updated 2026-08-09.