Trader Joe’s Pizza Sauce is back! And we tried it. But before we dive into the review, let’s dive into why it went away in the first place.
Like Domino’s before them, Trader Joe’s knows to admit when they screwed up. According to the brand, Trader Joe’s Pizza Sauce got the boot because they “could do better.” According to folks on Reddit, the sauce was way, way, way too oniony and garlicky. Whatever the complaints, Trader Joe’s discontinued the sauce in order to rejigger the formula. And now, they’ve put it back on shelves, promising that it has a “more subtly seasoned profile than its predecessor.”
I slathered it onto some bread, popped it into the toaster oven, and gave the newly improved Trader Joe’s Pizza Sauce a try.
A lot of pizza sauces just end up tasting like marinara. Why would I buy a tiny jar of marinara masquerading as pizza sauce when I could buy a big jar and use it for everything? Trader Joe’s new pizza sauce proves that there is a difference between the two tomato sauces.
Pros: I didn’t taste the old Trader Joe’s Pizza Sauce but I can honestly say that the new Trader Joe’s Pizza Sauce is great. (So great that I will need to revisit our best pizza sauce ranking). It’s deep and rich with umami flavor. It tastes like there’s way more tomato paste in the mix for a thick, spreadable sauce (that’s what sets it apart from marinara sauce). And it’s not sweet like some pizza sauce can be. But it’s not salty, either. It’s straight-up concentrated tomato flavor. They definitely dialed back the aromatics, too. There’s no overwhelming onion, garlic, or herbs. And it’s only $2.
Cons: When I say Trader Joe’s dialed back the aromatics, I mean they really dialed them back. This sauce is pure tomato. I didn’t detect any garlic, onion, oregano, or basil. So, if you like your pizza sauce to be seasoned, you might be a bit disappointed. Personally, I’m happy to sprinkle on my own oregano and top a pizza with fresh basil. But I’m a huge homemade pizza snob. It’s my one fault.
Hi! I’m the editor-in-chief of Sporked. I will never turn down a fresh-shucked oyster but I’ll also leap at whatever new product Reese’s releases and I love a Tostitos Hint of Lime, even if there is no actual lime in the ingredients.
Why you should trust me: I have been writing about food and beverages for well over a decade and am an avid at-home cook and snacker. I began my career writing about fine dining and recipes, moved into cocktails and spirits, and now I talk about groceries. If you can eat it or drink it, I’ve probably written about it.
What I buy every week: Trader Joe’s dried okra. Appleton Farms prosciutto from Aldi. Some sort of Trader Joe’s cheese (I’m into the aged gouda at the moment). Frozen waffles (usually the Eggo Cinnamon Toast Minis). Spindrift water (loving the Cosmopolitan right now).
Favorite ranking: Smoked salmon. Imagine me as Scrooge McDuck but instead of coins I’m diving into a vault of slippery smoked salmon slices. Pure joy. I also found some real steals in that taste test!
Least favorite ranking: Canned oysters. I had such high hopes for this but it quickly became a chore. The kitchen smelled like an uncleaned aquarium.
Thoughts? Questions? Complete disagreement? Leave a comment!
Justine Sterling
Jessica Block
Luke Field
Thoughts? Questions? Complete disagreement? Leave a comment!