Out of Diced tomatoes, one case
Can you substitute tomato sauce for diced tomatoes?
4 options, ranked, with the exact amount
Use Tomato sauce
1 cup for every cup of diced tomatoes
Yes, in soups, chili, stews and braises: use the same amount of tomato sauce, so one 15 oz can for one 14.5 oz can of diced tomatoes. You get the tomato flavor without the chunks, and the dish is smoother and a little thicker. It is not a swap where the pieces are the point, such as salsa or bruschetta.
- Verdict —
- Tweak it
- The tweak —
- Cut the added salt by about ¼ tsp per can, and thin with a splash of water or stock if the pot looks thick.
- Best for —
- chili and stews
- Pantry —
- Likely in your cupboard
One casethe full diced tomatoes card
Every option, one card
Ranked| # | Substitute | Instead of 1 cup diced tomatoes | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tomato saucechili and stews | 1 cupTweak it | Tweak it |
| 2 | Crushed tomatoespasta sauce and shakshuka | 1 cupWorks | Works |
| 3 | Fresh tomatoessalsa and bruschetta | 2 cups chopped per 14.5 oz canTweak it | Tweak it |
| 4 | Tomato sauce plus a chunky vegetablechili | 1 cup sauce + ½ cup diced vegetableTweak it | Tweak it |
Tomato sauce
a little more cooked and concentrated; no chunks
Cooked, strained tomatoes. It carries the same flavor in a smooth form and is usually already salted.
- Best for
- chili and stews, soups and curries, braises and casseroles
- Prep
- Cut the added salt by about ¼ tsp per can, and thin with a splash of water or stock if the pot looks thick.
- Where it fails
- Fresh salsa, bruschetta, salads and any dish that should have pieces of tomato.
Crushed tomatoes
the same; finer texture
The closest canned stand-in: small pieces in a thick puree.
- Best for
- pasta sauce and shakshuka, chili, soups
- Where it fails
- Recipes that need distinct cubes.
Fresh tomatoes
brighter and lighter
About 1 pound of ripe tomatoes, chopped with their juice, matches a can.
- Best for
- salsa and bruschetta, quick sautes, summer soups
- Prep
- Chop and keep the juice. Simmer 10 minutes longer; fresh tomatoes are less concentrated.
- Where it fails
- Out-of-season tomatoes, which are pale and watery.
Tomato sauce plus a chunky vegetable
tomato plus the vegetable you add
Diced bell pepper, zucchini or extra onion puts back the texture that sauce lacks.
- Best for
- chili, vegetable soup, slow-cooker dishes
- Prep
- Saute the vegetable briefly first.
- Where it fails
- Recipes where the flavor should be only tomato.
Tips for substituting diced tomatoes
4 tips- Can sizes: diced tomatoes come in 14.5 oz cans (about 1 ¾ cups), tomato sauce in 8 oz and 15 oz cans. One 15 oz can replaces one can of diced.
- Check the label. Sauce labeled with Italian seasoning, garlic or sugar will change the dish.
- If the recipe says to drain the diced tomatoes, use only ¾ cup sauce per can, since you are replacing the solids alone.
- In a slow cooker, sauce can scorch at the edges sooner than diced tomatoes; stir once or twice.
Questions
4 questionsCan I use tomato sauce instead of diced tomatoes in chili?
Yes, in the same amount. The chili is smoother and thicker. Add a diced bell pepper if you miss the texture.
How much tomato sauce equals a can of diced tomatoes?
One 15 oz can of sauce for one 14.5 oz can of diced tomatoes, or ¾ cup if the recipe drains the tomatoes.
Can I use tomato sauce instead of diced tomatoes in soup?
Yes. The broth turns redder and more uniform. Thin with a little extra stock if needed.
Can I use tomato paste instead?
Yes, diluted. Stir ½ cup of tomato paste into ½ cup of water to make about 1 cup of tomato sauce, then use that as above.