Out of Tomato paste, one case
Tomato paste substitutes for chili
5 options, ranked, with the exact amount
Use Tomato sauce + sugar
½ cup tomato sauce + 1 tsp sugar
The best tomato paste substitutes for chili are Tomato Sauce + Sugar, Ketchup, and Canned Tomatoes + Sugar. Use ½ cup tomato sauce + 1 tsp sugar, or 1:1 ratio for ketchup.
- Verdict —
- Tweak it
- What changes —
- similar taste, different texture
- Best for —
- chili
One casethe full chili paste card
Every option, one card
Ranked| # | Substitute | Instead of tomato paste | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tomato sauce + sugarchili | ½ cup tomato sauce + 1 tsp sugarTweak it | Tweak it |
| 2 | Ketchupchili | Same amountTweak it | Tweak it |
| 3 | Canned tomatoes + sugarchili | ½ cup canned tomatoes + 1 tsp sugarTweak it | Tweak it |
| 4 | Tomato puree + sugarchili | ½ cup tomato puree + 1 tsp sugarWorks | Works |
| 5 | Fresh tomatoes + sugarchili | ½ cup fresh tomatoes + 1 tsp sugarTweak it | Tweak it |
Tomato sauce + sugar
similar taste, different texture
Tomato sauce with added sugar to mimic the concentrated sweetness and thickness of tomato paste. Good for chili recipes.
- Best for
- chili, when you want similar tomato flavor, sauces, when you have tomato sauce available, most recipes
Mix tomato sauce with sugar to concentrate the flavor. Use 1 teaspoon of sugar per ½ cup of tomato sauce for best results.
Ketchup
different taste, similar texture
Condensed tomato product with similar sweetness and thickness to tomato paste. Good for when you want a quick substitute.
- Best for
- chili, when you want quick substitution, when you have ketchup available, simple recipes, most recipes
Ketchup has a slightly different flavor profile but works well in chili. Use in equal amounts by volume.
Canned tomatoes + sugar
similar taste, different texture
Canned tomatoes with added sugar to mimic the concentrated sweetness and thickness of tomato paste.
- Best for
- chili, when you want fresh tomato flavor, when you have canned tomatoes available, simple recipes
Blend canned tomatoes with sugar to concentrate the flavor. Use 1 teaspoon of sugar per ½ cup of canned tomatoes for best results.
Tomato puree + sugar
similar taste and texture
Tomato puree with added sugar to mimic the concentrated sweetness and thickness of tomato paste.
- Best for
- chili, when you want smooth texture, when you have tomato puree available, sauces
Mix tomato puree with sugar to concentrate the flavor. Use 1 teaspoon of sugar per ½ cup of tomato puree for best results.
Fresh tomatoes + sugar
similar taste, different texture
Fresh tomatoes with added sugar to mimic the concentrated sweetness and thickness of tomato paste.
- Best for
- chili, when you want fresh tomato flavor, when you have fresh tomatoes available, simple recipes
Blend fresh tomatoes with sugar to concentrate the flavor. Use 1 teaspoon of sugar per ½ cup of fresh tomatoes for best results.
How it behaves in this recipe
When making chili, tomato paste serves specific functions that require careful consideration. The recommended substitutes work because they provide similar tomato flavor and can be concentrated to match the intensity of tomato paste.
Tips for substituting tomato paste
5 tips- Tomato paste is concentrated, so you'll need more of the substitute to achieve the same flavor intensity
- For best results, cook the substitute longer to concentrate the flavor and reduce the liquid
- Tomato paste adds both flavor and thickness to chili - choose substitutes that can provide both
- Consider adding a pinch of salt to your substitute to enhance the tomato flavor
- Store homemade tomato paste substitutes in the refrigerator for up to a week
Notes on tomato paste
- Make your own tomato paste by cooking down fresh or canned tomatoes with sugar
- Use different types of tomato products based on what you have available
- Combine multiple substitutes for a more complex flavor profile
- Adjust sweetness by using more or less sugar in your substitute
Questions
5 questionsCan I use tomato sauce instead of tomato paste in chili?
Yes, tomato sauce can work as a substitute, but you'll need to add sugar to match the sweetness and cook it longer to concentrate the flavor. Use ½ cup tomato sauce with 1 teaspoon of sugar.
What's the best ratio for tomato paste substitute in chili?
For tomato sauce + sugar, use ½ cup tomato sauce with 1 tsp sugar. For ketchup, use 1:1 ratio. For canned tomatoes + sugar, use ½ cup canned tomatoes with 1 tsp sugar.
Why doesn't my chili taste right with tomato paste substitutes?
Common issues include not adding enough sugar, not cooking long enough to concentrate the flavor, or using too much substitute. Make sure to add sugar and cook the substitute longer to concentrate the flavor.
Can I make my own tomato paste substitute?
Yes, blend fresh or canned tomatoes with sugar and cook until thick. You can also mix tomato sauce with sugar and cook until concentrated for a quick substitute.
What's the difference between tomato paste and tomato sauce?
Tomato paste is much more concentrated and thicker than tomato sauce, with a more intense tomato flavor. Tomato sauce is more liquid and has a milder flavor.