What Makes a Pasta Sauce Low-Carb Friendly
When you're following a low-carb or keto diet, standard pasta sauces can be a hidden source of sugar and vegetable oils. The key is to look for sauces that use whole-food ingredients, skip added sugars, and rely on a healthy fat base like avocado oil instead of canola or soybean oil.
Primal Kitchen offers several pasta sauces that fit these criteria. All are made with California-grown organic tomatoes and avocado oil, and none contain gluten, soy, or canola oil. Below, we compare two popular marinara options to help you decide which one belongs in your pantry.
Two Low-Carb Marinara Options Compared
- Tomato Basil Marinara Sauce: Primal Kitchen Tomato Basil Marinara Sauce is made with avocado oil, California-grown organic tomatoes, and basil. It has no added sugars, gluten, canola or soybean oil. It is Paleo-certified, Non-GMO Project verified, and Whole30 Approved. For keto and low-carb eaters, the absence of added sugar and the use of avocado oil (a healthy fat) make this a clean, versatile sauce that works with zucchini noodles, chicken, or as a pizza base.
Tomato Basil Marinara Sauce - Roasted Garlic Marinara Sauce: Primal Kitchen Roasted Garlic Marinara Sauce is made with avocado oil, California-grown organic tomatoes, roasted garlic, basil, and sea salt. It is gluten-free, soy-free, canola oil-free, Paleo-certified, and Whole30 Approved. If you prefer a bolder, savory flavor without extra sugar, the roasted garlic version delivers hearty taste while keeping carbs low. It's ideal for those who want a richer sauce without compromising their diet.
Roasted Garlic Marinara Sauce
How to Use These Sauces on a Low-Carb Diet
Both sauces work well beyond traditional pasta. Use them over spiralized zucchini, shirataki noodles, roasted vegetables, or as a quick simmer sauce for chicken or shrimp. Because they contain no added sugar, they won't spike your blood sugar or add unnecessary carbs.
For a complete low-carb meal, try the Tomato Basil Marinara with grilled chicken and sautéed spinach, or use the Roasted Garlic Marinara as a dipping sauce for low-carb garlic bread made from almond flour.
What About the Sundried Tomato Option?
Primal Kitchen also offers a Sundried Tomato Pasta Sauce inspired by the viral Marry Me Chicken recipe. It combines organic California sundried tomatoes with garlic and herbs. While its ingredient profile is also clean, the sundried tomato base may have a slightly different carb count due to concentrated tomatoes. If you're strictly tracking net carbs, compare the labels of all three sauces to see which fits your daily limits. This sauce is a good choice when you want a richer, more decadent flavor for special meals.
Final Tips for Choosing a Low-Carb Pasta Sauce
Always check the ingredient list for added sugars, canola oil, soybean oil, and artificial additives. A truly low-carb pasta sauce should have a short list of whole foods. Primal Kitchen's marinara sauces meet these criteria, giving you two solid options: the classic Tomato Basil Marinara for everyday use, and the Roasted Garlic Marinara when you want extra depth. Both are priced at $5.00, making them an affordable staple for a keto or paleo kitchen.
