Operators have never been more strapped for labor. And yet, consumers are still looking to restaurants to deliver something on-trend and delicious. That means that ingredients that can drive innovation, and be used in a variety of ways, have never been more important.

Take an ingredient like marinara sauce, for example. Offered by Red Gold® or Redpack® in a single easy-to-use pouch, operators are finding more and more ways to use the ingredient, causing tomato sauce to grow on menus—According to Datassential, marinara has grown 6.7 percent since 2018.

Datassential also reports that marinara sauce on chicken sandwiches, specifically, has grown over 7 percent since 2018. This growing usage in a unique flavor combination helps illustrate just one of the combinations that can be created with a single pouch of Red Gold® or Redpack® tomato sauce.

This slideshow will further look at how Red Gold and Redpack tomato sauces can help chefs add flavor to their menus in a variety of ways, and how ultimately, using them will save time and keep the number of ingredients in a kitchen down.

Meat Lovers Pizza Fries

Another combination for operators to take into consideration is pairing marinara sauce with waffle fries, which according to Datassential have grown 20 percent on menus over the past four years.

It’s a great way to create loaded fries, which have also shown great four-year growth, having jumped 65 percent since 2018. Loaded fries can be a profitable, high-margin comfort food item that will attract different types of customers. They are also a fairly manageable item for even the greenest of kitchen employees.

Spicy Meatball Marinara Sliders

Another innovation recommended by the team at Red Gold are spicy meatball sliders, which transcend dayparts and menus. They can function as a snack, appetizer, entrée, or a kid’s menu item.

Spicy Meatball Sliders achieve something many diners seek: something that is both familiar and unique at the same time, making them the perfect way to shake your menu up and make it stand out from the crowd.

Spicy Meatball Sliders require few ingredients, too, keeping food costs down: chefs can use Red Gold® or Redpack® Marinara or Pizza Sauce, some cheese, and a jalapeno slice and a meatball.

Pizza Burger with Truffle Fries

An ongoing and profitable trend is the wide open world of burger innovation. This is another area where marinara is a great option. One example of a fun burger that can be created is the pizza burger, with slices of pepperoni atop cheese and marinara. For extra versatility, operators can use marinara as a dipping sauce for a side of Truffle Fries.

Red Gold® offers marinara in dipping cups for takeout or delivery, saving the time and labor once spent filling plastic ramekins.

Mexican Street Tacos and Salsa

Mexican comfort foods are trending in 2022, with street tacos having grown over 32 percent since 2018, according to Datassential. A particular area of growth within that trend? “Red Sauce” atop street tacos has grown 46 percent since 2018.

Red Gold® or Redpack® Marinara Sauce can be used to deliver on this growing trend. Red Gold also offers salsa in #10 cans, as well as dipping cups.

Chicken Parmesan Strips

Chicken strips have long been a fan favorite on menus, and now it’s easy to make them work double time. Chefs can add grated cheese and garlic salt with a side of marinara for a Chicken Parmesan dipping experience that’s easy and delicious. This menu item is perfect for takeout, dine-in, or drive-thru occasions.

Mexican Chicken Pizza

A Mexican-Italian mash up that’s easy for short-staffed kitchens is our Mexican Chicken Pizza. Tortillas carry the saucy flavor of chicken and marinara or pizza sauce. Sprinkle some grated cheese then sprinkle with a Mexican veggie mix and your menu just got tastier.

For more on ways Red Gold and Redpack Marinara Sauce can add flavor to your menu, visit the company’s website.