If you are planning to cook Italian for your next meal, chances are you may get confused between two popular pasta tomato-based sauce brands available at the supermarket that are Ragu and Prego. They look similar and are made of the same base ingredient but they don’t taste the same.
So, what’s the difference between Ragu Vs. Prego? Ragu and Prego are Italian sauce brands that have made a big name for themselves in the U.S. market.
But there is a significant difference in their taste and consistency. While Ragu tomato sauce offers a full-body flavor with sweeter notes, Prego is a slightly spicier and chunkier sauce.
Both sauces are delicious in flavor and can be used with different types of pasta. But between the two, Prego classic tomato sauce can be used in many Italian recipes.
Continue reading to learn more about how Ragu differs from Prego sauce.
What's In The Post
Ragu Vs. Prego | Difference Table
| Basis Of Difference | Ragu | Prego |
|---|---|---|
| Origin/ Native | American brand | Campbell Soup Company, U.S. |
| Taste | Slightly sweeter with balanced spiciness and tanginess. | Complex flavors. Tangy, sweet, and spicy. |
| Texture | Smooth and homogenized. | Chunky. Contains bits and pieces of tomatoes, onions, and visible spices. |
| Variety | Multiple variations in each category. | Multiple variations in each category. |
| Aroma | Tomato, mildly spicy | Strong tomato aroma with aromatic spices. |
| Usage | Pasta, meat sauces, pizza, and more. | Pasta, meat sauces, pizza, and more |
What Is Ragu?
Ragu is an American brand whose origins are rooted in traditional Italian cuisine.
This brand was started by an Italian couple who left Italy for America from the port of Naples and came into existence in 1937. According to the company website, it was the first pasta sauce in a jar available in the United Kingdom.
The popularity of this brand grew in the U.S. for the authentic Italian flavors it delivers. It became a centerpiece on family dinner tables across the United States.
Ragu’s traditional pasta sauce is made with flavorful ingredients like tomatoes, onions, and spices. It has no added sugar and is made with olive oil.
Today you can find many varieties of traditional and contemporary sauces under the Ragu brand that can be used in many Italian dishes.
What is Prego?
Like Ragu, Prego is also an Italian sauce brand the Campbell Soup Company started.
With 150 years of experience making condensed soups and other canned products, Campbell launched a tomato-based product apart from ketchup.
Launched in 1981, Prego garnered a lot of attention for its unique flavors and for mastering the art of thick consistency. The brand gained popularity for acing a flavor palette suitable for the American market.
Prego’s classic Italian tomato sauce is made with sweet vine-ripened tomatoes and savory Italian seasoning.
According to the website, “this pasta sauce has a taste everyone loves and a thick texture that doesn’t water out, making it a perfect pairing with any pasta.
Prego® pasta sauce is gluten-free, vegan, and made without artificial colors or added MSG.”
This brand also makes many varieties of sauces that can be used in different Italian dishes.
Ragu Vs. Prego | What’s The Difference?
Now that you know some information about the famous brands ruling the market with their traditional pasta sauces. Let’s lay out the differences between the two.
1. Ingredients
When we compare Ragu to Prego, one of the most notable differences lies in the quality of their ingredients. Both sauces are made with more or less the same ingredients.
Ragu’s tomato sauce is made with tomato puree (Water, Tomato Paste), olive oil, salt, onions, carrots, dehydrated onions, garlic powder, onion powder, and spices.
Prego tomato sauce is made with tomato puree (water, tomato paste), diced tomatoes in tomato juice, and sugar and contains less than 1% of salt, canola oil, dried onions, dried garlic, spices, basil, citric acid, onion extract, and garlic extract.
However, Ragu is known for using premium quality tomatoes ripened to perfection before processing. Its natural flavors and freshness have the customers coming back for more.
In addition to the quality tomato products, the brand also uses high-quality spices and other seasoning ingredients to flavor the sauce. Ragu is among the most trustworthy brands for Italian sauces in the U.S. and worldwide.
In comparison, Prego also uses premium-grade tomato sauce. The parent company’s, Campbell, reputation for canned goods has ensured that customers receive a good quality product.
2. Flavor
Ragu and Prego are both great-tasting Italian sauces. However, there is a noticeable difference in taste between the two. Ragu has sweeter tasting notes.
Prego doesn’t focus on sweetness and brings complex flavors to the table. The flavor of Prego is on the tangy side. You can also taste the fresh flavors of herbs and seasoning.
The two sauces are entirely different in taste, so before you purchase a jar, be sure of the flavor profile you are looking for.
3. Consistency
Texture and consistency are the two most important aspects when choosing sauces for pasta. Therefore, it is important to note the difference between the two.
Ragu has thinner sauces as compared to Prego. So, if you are looking for a sauce that makes its presence and coats the pasta well, Ragu would be a good choice. If you like a chunkier sauce, you can have a look at the other sauces from this brand.
In comparison to Ragu, Prego brand sauces are thicker in consistency. You can also find chunks of onions and tomatoes. However, you can also find other consistency of sauces according to your choice.
4. Variety
If we look at the varieties available in both brands, you will be left spoilt for choices. You can find tomato sauce for every type of pasta, pizza, and meat-based recipe.
Top Ragu Sauces To Use For Pasta
1. Ragu Traditional Pasta Sauce
Ragu traditional pasta sauce contains authentic Italian flavors with flavorful ingredients like tomatoes, onions, and spices.
2. Ragu Chunky Marinara Pasta Sauce
If you enjoy plump tomatoes in every bite, you can opt for the chunky marinara pasta sauce featuring plump tomatoes, onions, garlic, and spices.
3. Ragu Chunky Garden Vegetable Pasta Sauce
If you enjoy chunky veggies in your pasta, you can try Ragu chunky garden vegetable pasta sauce. This sauce features ingredients like tomato puree, diced tomatoes in puree, onions, carrots, sweet potato, and olive oil. It also has celery, green bell peppers, zucchini, salt, spices, and garlic powder.
4. Ragu Tomato, Garlic, Onion Sauce
Ragu tomato, garlic & onion sauce features chunky tomatoes with a garlic and onion pairing. This combination is the core flavor of any traditional Italian meal.
Top Prego Sauces To Use For Pasta
1. Prego Traditional Pasta Sauce
If you enjoy pasta with a thick sauce that doesn’t water out, you can opt for Prego traditional pasta sauce. It is made with vine-ripened tomatoes, flavorings, and herbs.
2. Prego Italian Tomato Sauce Flavored With Meat
You can savor a kick of meaty flavors with Prego’s Italian tomato sauce flavored with meat. This will make for an amazing Bolognese sauce base for your pasta.
3. Prego Creamy Tomato Basil Italian Sauce
Nothing compares to pasta with cheese and the freshness of herbs. To make the most of these flavors, you can opt for a classic red sauce featuring a rich blend of tomatoes, aged Parmesan cheese, sweet basil, fresh cream, and a touch of olive oil.
4. Prego Spicy Marinara Sauce
If spicy and thick textured sauce pasta makes you happy, you can try Prego spicy marinara sauce.
Ragu Vs. Prego | Which Is Healthier?
If you look at the nutritional profile of the sauces by both brands, you will find a balance of nutrients. At the same time, Ragu offers some organic and healthier sauce alternatives.
Prego sauces are also gluten-free and vegan-friendly and are made without artificial colors or added MSG.
However, if you are looking for a healthier sauce to choose from, Ragu has fewer calories and slightly less sugar than Prego sauce.
Ragu Vs. Prego | Which Is Tastier?
Ragu and Prego are both iconic sauce brands. They have been making customers happy with their unique taste profiles.
While one sauce has sweeter notes and thinner consistency, the other has complex and spicier flavors with a thick consistency.
Therefore, to say which one tastes better depends on personal choices. But to pick one, I would go with Ragu for its balanced flavors and thinner consistency.
Ragu Vs. Prego | Which Is More Versatile?
My love for pasta is never-ending, so keeping the pantry stocked with good pasta sauce is a must.
If we look at what both brands offer, you will be happy to see their variety of options. However, if you look at their consistency, Ragu is more versatile.
Between the two brands, Ragu has a thinner consistency than Prego. But if you like a thicker consistency, you can also opt for chunkier sauces from their range. At the same time, Prego sauces are mostly on the thicker side.
Ragu Vs. Prego | Which Is Better?
Both Prego sauce and Ragu sauce are fantastic in their own ways. But they differ from one another slightly.
Ragu sauces are sweeter, whereas Prego sauce is a mixture of herbs that gives an herby and spicy fragrance and taste. To say which one is better is a personal choice.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Do Ragu and Prego pasta sauce taste the same?
Ragu and Prego pasta sauce don’t taste the same. One is sweeter and thinner than the other.
How many pasta sauces does the Ragu brand have?
Ragu has 15 varieties of pasta sauce.
How many pasta sauces does the Prego brand have?
Prego brand has more than 15 varieties of pasta sauces.
Which is sweeter, Ragu or Prego?
Ragu is a sweeter-tasting sauce.
Conclusion
We have reached the end of the article. I hope you are quite clear about the taste profiles of both sauce brands. This understanding will help you pick the right sauce of your choice.
While there lies a difference between the two sauces in terms of taste and texture, you can use them interchangeably if you don’t have the brand of your choice. You can be assured of their quality.
