Spaghetti is one food Filipinos get to enjoy. We could it at almost any given time of the day - lunch, merienda, dinner, there are even some who eat leftover spaghetti from handaan for breakfast. Besides having al dente noodles and flavorful cheese, spaghetti's ultimate make-or-break is the sauce.
Traditionally, Filipino spaghetti has a sweet flavor profile. It is meaty, cheesy, and of course, we can’t forget about the hotdog slices! Now, white sauce and oil-based pesto have become popular over the years. In this article, we are here to help you level up your spaghetti by providing a buying guide, fact-checked by registered nutritionist-dietitian Samantha Morales, and a list of recommended sauces.
Quick List - Top Spaghetti Sauces
Cascina San Cassiano
Authentic Pomodoro for Any Italian Food
Samantha began her career in clinical nutrition and weight management at a tertiary hospital in Manila, Philippines. Her practice allowed her to give nutrition counseling and plan modified diets for patients with medical conditions. Presently, she does private practice to focus on true holistic wellness - an approach that believes in aligning one's mind, body, and spiritual well-being.
Our recommendation articles are carefully researched and crafted by the mybest Philippines team of writers and editors. To stay true to our company’s mission and vision to help users’ selection process easier, we also collaborate with experts from various fields to ensure that our content stays factual and useful.
The expert oversees the Buying Guide only, and does not determine the products and services featured.
Table of Contents
Here are some key points to consider:
For more detailed information, read through our buying guide below.
The base is the primary ingredient that we get to look at when selecting a spaghetti sauce. There are three common pasta sauces known in the country: red, white, and olive oil.
If there would be a popularity contest among spaghetti sauces, red spaghetti sauce is the hands-down winner. It is very traditional and festive for the eyes and palate. Red sauces are usually made up of fresh tomatoes, either imported or inspired by the pasta sauces from Italian cuisine.
Red sauces can still be classified by their texture and process methods. Marinara has bigger chunks because tomatoes are chopped, while Pomodoro has minced tomatoes. Also, Pomodoro is simmered longer, resulting in a thicker consistency than Marinara. Adding meat or seafood to the sauce is optional.
Other red sauces include meat, such as ragu and Bolognese. They will be a hit for meat lovers and can be used as an alternative to pizza sauces. Meanwhile, Arrabiata has the kick of chili flakes and other spices. Which one is the best? The choice is yours!
Olive oil is widespread in Italy and is one of the healthiest oils in the world. No wonder olive oil-based sauces are more commonly used in cooking Mediterranean pasta dishes and usually paired with garlic for strong flavor and aroma. The most popular olive oil-based sauce in the Philippines is pesto.
Pesto is mainly made from crushed basil leaves, which give off a green color. It is often mixed with parmesan cheese, garlic, olive oil, red pepper flakes, pine nuts, and lemon zest to give earthy and nutty flavors. Another variant is the red pesto, which uses sun-dried tomatoes and dried basil as the main ingredients.
Olive oil-based sauces tend not to have meat or dairy in their recipes. Hence, they are perfect for vegetarians. You can also try to add ground meat, tuna, or bacon bits as toppings for added flavors. There are also olive oil-based gourmet fish products like tuyo that can be used as spaghetti sauce.
Bechamel sauce, commonly known as the white sauce, is usually made up of either all-purpose, whipping cream, or heavy cream. For packed white spaghetti sauces, additional ingredients including milk, garlic, seasonings, and a lot of cheese add to the flavor and creaminess.
Since they have a neutral taste, they can be used in many ways. They are usually meant to cook creamy carbonara, Alfredo, or even cream-based dishes like Chicken a la King.
If you find the white sauce to be bland, you can add salt and cheese to the sauce. You can also add other ingredients like meat and vegetables like broccoli, mushrooms, or carrots.
Styles can also define the flavor profile of your pasta sauce. The Italian-style sauce is on the sour side because of its processed, rich, freshly-picked tomatoes. The kids mostly love Filipino or sweet-style sauce because of its added sweetness, cheesy, and meaty taste.
Most available pasta sauces have added ingredients that enrich the sauces' flavor, creating different variants. Meat sauce variants ground meat or processed foods like Italian sausage or hotdog bits. There also variants such as Three or Four-Cheese, and Herbs-and-Spices like garlic, basil, truffles, and pesto, to name a few.
It is important to note how the spaghetti sauce is packed. Some packages come in handy pouches and tin cans, while others are fragile since they are in glass bottles and jars. Ensure that pouches are tear-free, tin cans are rust-free, and glass bottles are not broken or cracked to avoid contamination.
Net weight defines the number of servings you can make using the spaghetti sauce. Of course, they will still vary if you are going to add other ingredients. They are generally measured by grams or ounces. However, some brands give an estimated number of servings - typically, 2 ounces or 56g for a person per plate.
Expiration dates are critical to check in any products. Make sure to look at the product details or ask the seller. We don't want you to eat spoiled foods, or worse, it may lead to food poisoning.
There are kinds of people who are allergic to certain food ingredients, so careful research will be of big help. Though very rare, some people are allergic to tomatoes. If it is the case, opt for the oil-based or even the cream base sauce for safety.
The most common issue in the cream-based sauces is that it is a dairy product, which is a big no for the lactose-intolerant. It results in to upset stomach, excess gas, and worst-case scenario diarrhea. In olive oil sauces, the common allergen is the nuts that can be found in pesto.
For vegetarians, there are available spaghetti sauces for you as well. Check for vegan-friendly products and recipes online, and you're good to go.
Products | Image | Click to purchase | Key features | |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Del Monte Filipino-Style Spaghetti Sauce | ![]() | Well-Loved by Pinoys, Enriched With Lycopene | |
2 | Del Monte Contadina Pesto Alla Genovese Sauce | ![]() | A Healthy Mix of Earthy Aroma and Nutty Flavor | |
3 | Bertolli Alfredo Sauce with Aged Parmesan Cheese | ![]() | A Classic Creamy, Restaurant-Quality White Sauce | |
4 | Cascina San Cassiano Italia Pomodoro Tomato Sauce with Basil | ![]() | Authentic Pomodoro for Any Italian Food | |
5 | Barilla Ricotta Sauce | ![]() | A Full-Flavored Red Sauce With a Cheesy Trio Twist | |
6 | RFM Foods Fiesta 3-Cheese Spaghetti Sauce | ![]() | Enjoy Celebrations with Creamy and Cheesy Spaghetti Package | |
7 | Mazza Black Truffle Cream | ![]() | Enjoy Rare Find Truffles With Your Adventurous Taste Buds | |
8 | Filippo Berio Sun Dried Tomato Pesto | ![]() | A Delectable Combo of Tomatoes and Basil | |
9 | Hunt's Classic Pasta Sauce Italian Sausage Flavored | ![]() | Classic Spaghetti Red Sauce With Smoky Flavored Sausage | |
10 | Royal Rich and Thick Four Cheese | ![]() | Royal Quality But Budget-friendly Spaghetti Sauce |
Del Monte Filipino-style Spaghetti Sauce is that one product Filipinos grew up with! It is made with rich, freshly-picked tomatoes that, when processed, releases Lycopene, a rich chemical compound that helps maintain heart health. This package can serve up to 20 plates with the basic Pinoy spaghetti ingredients.
Through the years, the brand keeps on innovating to have different variants, and of course, the Filipino-style has captured the hearts and tummies of most Filipinos. This sauce is mixed with meat bits, cheese, and sugar for that sweet-and sour-taste. It has no MSG or preservatives - yummy and healthy!
Contadina is a product line of Del Monte Company, another popular brand manufacturing spaghetti sauces. Pesto Alla Genovese Sauce is the healthy mix of olive oil and fresh green basil leaves that stayed true to the traditional classic recipe. Also, pine nuts, grana padano cheese, and cashews enhance the sauce flavor.
Squeeze a little lemon juice to give a little citrusy hint. This is a healthier alternative to what we used to have as a spaghetti sauce. But, you can add tuna and chili flakes or bacon bits for extra flavor. Aside from pasta, you can use as dips, spreads or salad dressing.
This is the best entry among the white spaghetti sauces available on the market. While Bertolli maintains minimal key ingredients, it ensures to bring out the best of the dairy milk flavors to produce a rich, fresh cream and savory aged Parmesan cheese, inspired by the authentic Alfredo sauce in Tuscany, Italy.
It has no preservatives added, so you can experience hearty and restaurant-quality dishes. Besides Alfredo sauce, you can also create creamy carbonara, white lasagna, and even the Chicago White Pizza. It can be cooked as is, or use this as your secret ingredient for your signature white pasta.
Joining the pack is the Pomodoro sauce from Cascina San Cassiano, a trusted brand from Italy where pasta is a staple food. Made fresh 100% Italian tomatoes, this variant is blended with basil leaves to add extra aroma and flavor. Get to taste the typical sour Italian taste with hints of herbs and spices.
It suits any pasta, and you can also use it as pizza sauce. Great news for those with dietary restrictions - it is vegan-friendly and gluten-free! But meat lovers need not frown because you can also mix pepperoni into the sauce or serve it with grilled chicken on the side for a sumptuous meal - definitely a must-try!
If you do not have time to grate cheese, then this pasta sauce is for you! It is made with fresh tomatoes from one of the pioneers of Italian food manufacturing brands, Barilla. This red sauce is mainly mixed with ricotta flakes, a type of cream cheese from quality Italian dairy farms.
It is also blended with Pecorino Romano and Grana Padano Cheeses, making it tastier and creamier. Enjoy its delicate flavor in any pasta recipe. You can also grate another cheese, like cheddar, to make it four-cheese, or experiment with a fusion of Italian and Filipino spaghetti by adding ground meat, condensed milk, and hotdog slices.
Fiesta is real in every sense of the word with this spaghetti sauce! It has the Filipino sweet flavor that kids and adults will surely love with rich tomato sauce; plus the sweet and sour cheddar, and the flavorful Romano and Parmesan cheeses - perfect to serve 8 to 10 plates!
With its versatility, you can enjoy it with seafood, tuna, or meatball spaghetti; name it, and it will still give a great taste. To top it all, its selling point is the package comes with 800 grams of noodles - hitting two products for the price of one. Should you have leftover sauce, spread it on pan de sal and toast it for an instant pizza.
Truffles are fungi relatives of mushrooms and are a rare find in the Italian forests. This spaghetti sauce is olive-oil based that is made creamy with black summer truffles. These truffles have the woodsy taste of garlic, wild mushrooms, and mellow hazelnut flavor - making them a sought-after product.
Using truffles in exchange for tomatoes is a unique and brilliant idea for its aromatic fragrance. Mixed with other herbs and spices, this product is thick, so it can easily coat your pasta, pizza, and risotto. Cook this along with red, white, and pesto sauces, and organize the ultimate Italian pasta party on any occasion!
One of their flagship products, this Filippo Berio is a red pesto sauce made of sun-dried tomatoes and a little basil to achieve the best of both red sauce qualities and a typical pesto. With grana Padano cheese, it is definitely a thrill worth trying for another spaghetti recipe.
It also offers a flavor fit for other international cuisines like dips and sauces for Mexican tacos, tortillas, and quesadillas. It is also delicious on salads and sandwiches. It has the smallest net weight among the list, but it can actually serve a relatively large quantity.
Hunt's is an established brand of tomato and spaghetti sauces in the Philippines. It has so many variants available in the market. Still, we recommend this product because of its smoke-flavored European and Italian sausage bits, giving its unique sweet-sour-salty combination, which you will surely love.
Made up of fresh and vineyard-cultured tomatoes, herbs, and spices, it is perfect not only for pasta but also for pizza and dips for chips. Do you need to serve in a large quantity? Mix a can of it with other more affordable spaghetti sauces, and rest assured, you will still taste its smoky flavor.
Royal has been popular in manufacturing spaghetti noodles, but now, it is making waves in venturing with spaghetti sauces too! Like a typical red spaghetti sauce, it is made from fresh richly-flavored tomatoes and basil, mixed with salt and sugar to capture the Filipino sweet-sour-salty palate.
The ultimate highlight is the delightful combination of cheeses without the umay factor: Cheddar, Romano, Parmesan, and Blue Cheese! Add the ground beef, pork, or chicken, seasonings, and the hotdogs to pull off the Filipino style spaghetti that we always crave!
With only few days left before Christmas and New Year, complete you holiday party menu now! Here are some of our articles that can help you celebrate with a sumptuous Noche Buena or Media Noche.
Author: Roel Pillas Malubay
Our buying guide was carefully researched and crafted by the mybest team of writers and editors, in collaboration with the expert featured in this article. We used the buying guide as a basis for choosing and ranking the product recommendations, and we looked at reviews and ratings from different E-commerce sites like Lazada, Shopee, and more.
No. 1: Del Monte|Filipino-Style Spaghetti Sauce
No. 2: Del Monte Contadina|Pesto Alla Genovese Sauce
No. 3: Bertolli|Alfredo Sauce with Aged Parmesan Cheese
No. 4: Cascina San Cassiano|Italia Pomodoro Tomato Sauce with Basil
No. 5: Barilla|Ricotta Sauce
View Full RankingThe descriptions of each product are referenced from content available on manufacturer, brand, and e-commerce sites.
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