Understanding the Calories in Domino's Marinara Sauce
When ordering from Domino's, knowing the calorie content of your food can be helpful for maintaining a balanced diet. The marinara sauce is a staple, but its nutritional information differs depending on whether you're referring to the dipping cup or the pizza sauce itself. The dipping cup is an incredibly low-calorie option, making it a great choice for adding flavor without significantly increasing your total calorie count. The sauce used on the pizza is even lower in calories per slice, demonstrating how little it contributes to the overall pizza's nutritional profile.
Marinara Dipping Cup vs. Hearty Marinara Pizza Sauce
It's important to distinguish between the two main types of marinara sauce Domino's offers. The Marinara Dipping Cup is a side item, typically ordered for dipping breadsticks or other sides. The Hearty Marinara Pizza Sauce is the sauce used as a base on certain types of pizzas. Their nutritional content, when measured per serving, is quite different.
- Marinara Dipping Cup: This comes in a small, 2 oz cup and is meant for dipping. It contains a higher calorie count per gram than the pizza sauce because of its concentrated serving size. A single cup is around 25 calories and contains 5 grams of total carbohydrates and 270mg of sodium.
- Hearty Marinara Pizza Sauce: When used as a pizza topping, the sauce is spread across the pizza, and its nutritional information is broken down per slice. For example, a slice portion of the hearty marinara on a 14-inch large hand-tossed pizza contains only 15 calories. This difference highlights how portion size impacts calorie intake.
Comparing Marinara Sauce to Other Domino's Sauces
To put the marinara sauce's calorie content into perspective, it's useful to compare it with other sauces available at Domino's. Many other sauces, particularly cheese-based dips, are significantly higher in calories due to their fat content. This comparison can help you make a more informed choice when deciding what to order.
| Sauce | Serving Size | Calories (approx.) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marinara Dipping Cup | 2 oz cup | 25 calories | Very low calorie, fat-free option. |
| Hearty Marinara Pizza Sauce | Per slice (large pizza) | 15 calories | Even lower calorie, per portion, than the dipping cup. |
| Cheesy Marinara Dip | 2 tbsp (45 g) | 70 calories | Higher in calories due to the added cheese. |
| Garlic Sauce | 1 oz cup | 100 calories | High-fat content makes it calorically dense. |
| Ranch Dressing | 1 oz cup | 140 calories | Another high-calorie, creamy sauce option. |
What About the Ingredients?
The low-calorie nature of Domino's marinara sauce is attributed to its simple, tomato-based ingredients. Marinara sauce is fundamentally a tomato sauce seasoned with herbs like garlic, onions, and oregano, without significant added fats or creams. The natural sweetness from the tomatoes accounts for most of the sugar and carbohydrate content, which is still relatively low.
- Tomatoes: The base of the sauce, providing vitamins and fiber.
- Herbs and Spices: Flavoring agents that add depth without adding fat.
- Sugar: A small amount may be added to balance the acidity of the tomatoes, contributing to the carbohydrate count.
- Sodium: While low in calories, it's worth noting the sodium content, which is 270mg in a single dipping cup.
Making Informed Choices
For those watching their calorie intake, the marinara sauce, in both its forms, is an excellent choice. When ordering pizza, opting for a hearty marinara sauce base keeps the overall slice calorie count down. For dipping, the marinara cup is a much better option than a cheese-based dip or a creamy sauce like ranch. Combining it with sides like breadsticks is a tasty option, but remember to account for the calories of the breadsticks themselves.
Conclusion
The short answer to the question, "how many calories are in Domino's marinara sauce?" is that it's a minimal amount. The Marinara Dipping Cup is around 25 calories per serving, while the pizza sauce contains even fewer calories per slice. With its simple, low-fat ingredients, it's one of the healthier and more diet-friendly sauce options on the menu. Making smart choices with your sauce can lead to a more balanced meal, allowing you to enjoy your food while staying mindful of your nutritional goals.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Is Domino's marinara sauce low calorie? Yes, Domino's marinara sauce is considered a low-calorie option, with the dipping cup containing around 25 calories and the pizza sauce even less per slice.
2. How many calories are in a Domino's marinara dipping cup? A single Domino's marinara dipping cup contains approximately 25 calories.
3. Is the hearty marinara pizza sauce the same as the marinara dipping cup? No, they are different products. The hearty marinara is a sauce spread on the pizza, while the dipping cup is a smaller, separate product for dipping.
4. Is there fat in Domino's marinara sauce? No, according to nutritional data, the marinara sauce dipping cup is virtually fat-free, containing 0 grams of total fat.
5. How much sodium is in a Domino's marinara dipping cup? A single marinara dipping cup contains approximately 270mg of sodium.
6. How do the calories in Domino's marinara compare to their ranch sauce? Domino's marinara dipping cup has significantly fewer calories (around 25) than their ranch dipping cup (around 140 calories per 1 oz serving).
7. Can I use marinara sauce on a pizza if I'm on a low-calorie diet? Yes, the hearty marinara pizza sauce is a very low-calorie base, making it a great choice for those on a low-calorie diet.
