🍯 Sauces & Condiments

Best Tomato Paste Substitutes for Chili: Complete Guide

Find the best substitutes for tomato paste when making chili. Learn proper ratios, techniques, and tips for perfect chili results every time.

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Quick Answer

The best tomato paste substitutes for chili are Tomato Sauce + Sugar, Ketchup, and Canned Tomatoes + Sugar. Use 1/2 cup tomato sauce + 1 tsp sugar, or 1:1 ratio for ketchup.

Best Substitutes

Tomato Sauce + Sugar

1/2 cup tomato sauce + 1 tsp sugar

Tomato sauce with added sugar to mimic the concentrated sweetness and thickness of tomato paste. Perfect for chili recipes.

Best for:

chiliwhen you want similar tomato flavorsauceswhen you have tomato sauce availablemost recipes

Mix tomato sauce with sugar to concentrate the flavor. Use 1 teaspoon of sugar per 1/2 cup of tomato sauce for best results.

Ketchup

1:1

Condensed tomato product with similar sweetness and thickness to tomato paste. Good for when you want a quick substitute.

Best for:

chiliwhen you want quick substitutionwhen you have ketchup availablesimple recipesmost recipes

Ketchup has a slightly different flavor profile but works well in chili. Use in equal amounts by volume.

Canned Tomatoes + Sugar

1/2 cup canned tomatoes + 1 tsp sugar

Canned tomatoes with added sugar to mimic the concentrated sweetness and thickness of tomato paste.

Best for:

chiliwhen you want fresh tomato flavorwhen you have canned tomatoes availablesimple recipes

Blend canned tomatoes with sugar to concentrate the flavor. Use 1 teaspoon of sugar per 1/2 cup of canned tomatoes for best results.

Tomato Puree + Sugar

1/2 cup tomato puree + 1 tsp sugar

Tomato puree with added sugar to mimic the concentrated sweetness and thickness of tomato paste.

Best for:

chiliwhen you want smooth texturewhen you have tomato puree availablesauces

Mix tomato puree with sugar to concentrate the flavor. Use 1 teaspoon of sugar per 1/2 cup of tomato puree for best results.

Fresh Tomatoes + Sugar

1/2 cup fresh tomatoes + 1 tsp sugar

Fresh tomatoes with added sugar to mimic the concentrated sweetness and thickness of tomato paste.

Best for:

chiliwhen you want fresh tomato flavorwhen you have fresh tomatoes availablesimple recipes

Blend fresh tomatoes with sugar to concentrate the flavor. Use 1 teaspoon of sugar per 1/2 cup of fresh tomatoes for best results.

Cooking 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

Frequently Asked Questions

Can 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 1/2 cup tomato sauce with 1 teaspoon of sugar.

What's the best ratio for tomato paste substitute in chili?

For tomato sauce + sugar, use 1/2 cup tomato sauce with 1 tsp sugar. For ketchup, use 1:1 ratio. For canned tomatoes + sugar, use 1/2 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.

Summary

Find the best substitutes for tomato paste when making chili. Learn proper ratios, techniques, and tips for perfect chili results every time.