I know what you’re thinking: “Carbone sauces? Really? The economy is in shambles, Ariana! I can barely afford rice, and you want to tell me which $8 jar of pasta sauce to buy?” Yeah, okay, you’re not wrong. But if you’re going to splurge on a fancy pasta night at home, wouldn’t you want to make sure you’re getting the best Carbone sauce and not something lackluster? Also, the economy really is in shambles, because I can easily spend $8 in the produce section alone trying to make a really nice pasta sauce.
How we tried the Carbone sauces
We weren’t just about to taste these straight out of the jar on a spoon (tempting, but not very helpful). So we stole a giant stockpot from our neighbors over at Mythical Kitchen, cooked about eight servings of classic spaghetti, and got work. I tossed each Carbone pasta sauce in its own bowl of noodles and tasted them side-by-side. Don’t even take my word for it! We recorded the whole taste test for your viewing pleasure:
What we looked for in the best Carbone sauces
The best Carbone sauces are bold and oily, with a farm-to-table freshness to them. I’ve said this before about Carbone’s pizza sauce, but their sauces really taste like something out of a trendy new Italian spot. I’m talking exposed brick, moody lighting, and chefs that all look like Carmy from The Bear. I have no idea if that’s true to what their actual restaurants are like, but it’s definitely the vibe I get from this brand, and I love it. So without further ado, here are the seven best Carbone pasta sauces we recommend, from pretty darn good to “where the hell have you been all my life?”
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- Carbone Marinara Delicato
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For a “sensitive marinara” sauce—AKA, marinara sauces made for more sensitive stomachs—Carbone’s Marinara Delicato has a lovely flavor. It’s actually our current runner-up for the best sensitive marinara we’ve tried. It’s bright and fresh without being acidic. Like many of the Carbone sauces we tried, it’s also very oily in a good way. Also, the name is so cute! I know it’s just “delicate marinara” in Italian, but still! Cute!!
Credit: Liv Averett / Instacart
- Carbone Arrabbiata
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Carbone Arrabbiata sauce isn’t the spiciest arrabbiata I’ve ever tried, but it’s definitely one of the freshest. Which is fine by me—you can always add more red pepper flakes, but you can’t fix bad ingredients. As the spicy cousin to Carbone’s marinara (which, as you’ll see, we also loved), this has vibrancy, depth, and a light heat. It’s a very traditional arrabbiata and a nice canvas for any spicy meats you want to add, but on its own, it won’t wow you like some of the other best Carbone sauces on this list.
Credit: Liv Averett / Walmart
- Carbone Four Cheese
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If you’re feeling too lazy to make a lasagna from scratch (and you don’t want to wait for a frozen lasagna to heat up in the oven), good news: Carbone Four Cheese pasta sauce tastes like lasagna in a jar. It blends Carbone’s signature imported Italian tomatoes with parmesan, Romano, asiago, and ricotta. It’s rich, tangy, a little creamy, and egregiously cheesy (that Romano is working overtime, let me tell you) in the best way. All you need are some flat noodles (fettuccine will do), and you could close your eyes and picture yourself having a forkful of lasagna.
Credit: Liv Averett / Target
- Carbone Roasted Garlic Alfredo
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As an alfredo freak, I’ve been burned by many store-bought garlic alfredos. Now I usually just make my own, because the garlic always has a tendency to just taste off, weak, or astringent. But Carbone really gets that roasted garlic flavor just right. We liked their regular alfredo, too, since it clings to the noodles with the perfect fatty thickness, but the garlic here helps keep every bite interesting.
Credit: Liv Averett / Walmart
- Carbone Spicy Vodka Sauce
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Hey, not to start on a negative note, but I was surprised this one didn’t snag our #1 spot. It’s their “World Famous Vodka Sauce,” after all. (If you’re confused, that’s what Carbone calls their spicy vodka sauce. Their classic, non-spicy vodka sauce doesn’t have the same dramatic moniker—but honestly, we think it should!) To be clear, this definitely has superb flavor thanks to the vodka, which you can taste pretty strongly, even through all those chilis. But we’re not wild about the bits of Calabrian pepper skins floating around. They’re not the most texturally pleasing to eat (or digest). The heat definitely works with the flavor, but we’re not sure if it’s necessary, since the classic is so good on its own! Still, spicy pasta lovers will absolutely devour this. It is one of the best Carbone sauces in the line-up. We get the hype.
Credit: Liv Averett / Walmart
- Carbone Marinara
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This is my love letter to Carbone’s marinara sauce. It’s short, because I’ve had about two metric tons of pasta today and I’m getting pretty tired, but here goes: Once upon a time, I only ever bought Rao’s marinara sauce. And rightly so—it’s incredible. But Carbone, you’ve seduced me against my better judgment. Like Rao’s, you have that deep, slow-cooked, savory thing going for you. Some marinaras will balance the acidity by making the sauce sweeter, but Carbone doesn’t do that. Because the tomatoes taste so fresh, the natural acid just brightens everything without making it sharp or tinny. I’m not saying I can choose you over Rao’s forever, Carbone. But I am saying that you’ve turned me into a red sauce floozy. I’ve lost all loyalty. If I’m standing in the sauce aisle, my choice going forward will come down to price.
Credit: Liv Averett / Walmart
- Carbone Classic Vodka Sauce
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Okay, that’s a wrap, everyone. This is my new favorite jarred pasta sauce of all time. Yes, I’m biased—vodka sauce is my favorite pasta sauce. But as the whole Sporked team agrees, this is an exceptional vodka sauce. It’s boozy and cheesy and luxuriously rich. It’s better than most restaurant vodka sauces I’ve tried. We were actually a little dubious when we read the instructions on the jar, which suggest adding heavy cream separately. It’s a little confusing—you can actually serve this vodka either way, with added cream or without. (We know, because we tried it both ways and liked it both ways). We prefer this classic over the spicy version, because the Calabrian peppers honestly just distract from what is the quintessential perfect pink sauce. “World Famous” or not, this is the best Carbone sauce, hands down.
Credit: Liv Averett / Instacart
Best Carbone Sauces
Best Carbone Sauces
Best Carbone Sauces
Best Carbone Sauces
Best Carbone Sauces
Runner Up
Best of the Best
Other Carbone sauces we tried: Carbone Roasted Garlic Sauce, Carbone Mushroom Sauce, Carbone Alfredo Sauce, Carbone Tomato Basil Sauce
Thoughts? Questions? Complete disagreement? Leave a comment!