Out of Diced, one case
Can you substitute crushed tomatoes for diced?
5 options, ranked, with the exact amount
Use Crushed tomatoes
1 cup for every cup of diced
Yes, in soups, chili, stews, braises and pasta sauce: use the same amount of crushed tomatoes, so half of a 28 oz can, about 1 ¾ cups, for one 14.5 oz can of diced. The dish is smoother and a little thicker, because crushed tomatoes are small pieces in puree instead of cubes in juice. It is not a swap where the recipe drains the tomatoes or needs distinct pieces, such as fresh salsa, bruschetta or a taco topping.
- Verdict —
- Works
- The tweak —
- Use the same amount. If the pot looks thicker than the recipe describes, add a splash of water or broth.
- Best for —
- chili, soups and stews
- Pantry —
- Likely in your cupboard
One casethe full diced tomatoes card
Every option, one card
Ranked| # | Substitute | Instead of 1 cup diced | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Crushed tomatoeschili, soups and stews | 1 cupWorks | Works |
| 2 | Whole peeled tomatoes, choppedany recipe that calls for diced tomatoes with their juice | 1 can per canWorks | Works |
| 3 | Fresh tomatoesfresh salsa, bruschetta and salads | 2 cups chopped per 14.5 oz canTweak it | Tweak it |
| 4 | Stewed tomatoessoups, stews and casseroles | 1 can per canYou'll taste it | You'll taste it |
| 5 | Tomato saucesoups and chili | 1 cupTweak it | Tweak it |
| Not a swap | Crushed tomatoes for drained diced tomatoes | not a swapNot for this | Not for this |
Crushed tomatoes
the same tomato flavor; smoother and thicker, with no chunks
The same canned tomato, broken down further and packed in puree. It melts into the dish where diced tomatoes stay in cubes.
- Best for
- chili, soups and stews, pasta sauce and braises, slow cooker recipes
- Prep
- Use the same amount. If the pot looks thicker than the recipe describes, add a splash of water or broth.
- Suits
- vegan
- Where it fails
- Recipes that drain the can, and dishes where the pieces are the point: fresh salsa, bruschetta, salads and taco toppings.
A 14.5 oz or 15 oz can of crushed tomatoes replaces a 14.5 oz can of diced. From a 28 oz can, use half.
Whole peeled tomatoes, chopped
the same, and the pieces soften a little faster than diced
The closest thing to diced tomatoes if you want pieces. Cut them up and use the juice from the can.
- Best for
- any recipe that calls for diced tomatoes with their juice, chunky sauces and stews
- Prep
- Snip them with kitchen scissors in the can or chop them on a board, to about ½ inch.
- Suits
- vegan
- Where it fails
- Nothing specific. Pieces cut by hand are less even.
Fresh tomatoes
brighter and less cooked
Ripe tomatoes, chopped, with their juice. They keep their shape in short cooking and taste brighter.
- Best for
- fresh salsa, bruschetta and salads, quick sautes, summer cooking, when tomatoes are ripe
- Prep
- Chop to about ½ inch and keep the juice. In a cooked dish, add a pinch of salt and a few extra minutes, since they are raw.
- Suits
- vegan
- Where it fails
- Out-of-season tomatoes are pale and watery; canned crushed tomatoes are the better choice then for a cooked dish.
Stewed tomatoes
sweeter, with onion and pepper in the background
Tomatoes cooked soft with sugar, onion, celery and bell pepper. The pieces are large and tender.
- Best for
- soups, stews and casseroles, rice and bean dishes
- Prep
- Cut up the large pieces, and leave out or reduce any sugar in the recipe.
- Suits
- vegan
- Where it fails
- Recipes where the added sugar and vegetables are unwelcome, such as a plain marinara or a salsa.
Tomato sauce
smooth and a little more seasoned
Thinner than crushed tomatoes, completely smooth and usually seasoned.
- Best for
- soups and chili, when it is the only can left
- Prep
- Cut the recipe's salt and taste; canned tomato sauce is often salted.
- Suits
- vegan
- Where it fails
- Anything that wants pieces of tomato. It is a step further from diced than crushed tomatoes are.
Crushed tomatoes for drained diced tomatoes
Some recipes drain the diced tomatoes and use only the pieces: tacos, dips, casseroles, omelets and salads.
- Best for
- nothing in this case
- Suits
- vegan
- Where it fails
- Crushed tomatoes cannot be drained. There are no pieces to keep, only puree, so the dish turns wet and saucy. Use chopped fresh tomatoes or chopped whole peeled tomatoes there.
Tips for substituting diced
5 tips- Can sizes: one 14.5 oz can of diced tomatoes is about 1 ¾ cups. A 28 oz can of crushed tomatoes is about 3 ½ cups, so use half of it.
- Crushed tomatoes cook down faster than diced, which are firmed to hold their shape. Start checking a sauce about 10 minutes early.
- To put pieces back, add one chopped fresh tomato in the last 10 minutes of cooking.
- Slow cooker chili and stew: swap the cans one for one and change nothing else.
- Refrigerate the unused half of a 28 oz can in a covered glass or plastic container and use it within 5 to 7 days.
Questions
4 questionsCan I use crushed tomatoes in place of diced tomatoes in chili?
Yes, in the same amount. The chili comes out a little thicker and smoother, without cubes of tomato. Many chili recipes call for crushed tomatoes to begin with.
Are crushed tomatoes the same as diced tomatoes?
No. Diced tomatoes are cubes packed in juice and treated so they hold their shape through cooking. Crushed tomatoes are broken into small pieces and packed in puree, so they are thicker and turn into sauce. The tomato itself is the same.
Can I use crushed tomatoes in place of diced in pasta sauce or lasagna?
Yes, cup for cup. A sauce made with crushed tomatoes comes together faster and coats pasta better, because there are no firm cubes to break down.
Can I use crushed tomatoes in salsa?
Not in a fresh, chunky salsa or pico de gallo, where you need distinct pieces: use chopped fresh tomatoes. In a smooth, blended restaurant-style salsa, crushed tomatoes work in the same amount as the diced.