Ranking The 9 Best Condiments And Dipping Sauces Fast Food Restaurants Have To Offer

Every fast food chain boasts a sizable list of menu options that serve the main attraction, and they tend to offer an array of condiments and sauces that help take those items to the next level. That includes some places with accoutrements that have managed to amass a bit of a cult following while emerging as the best of the best.

These are the best fast food sauces currently on the market

Before we dive in, I should note I’m limiting every fast food restaurant on this list to a single entry, but I will give honorable mentions to contenders that probably could have earned a spot of their own in situations where that issue arises.

I’m also only listing sauces that are currently available, which means limited-time and extinct options like McDonald’s Szechuan Sauce, Taco Bell’s Volcano sauce, and Wendy’s Ghost Pepper Ranch aren’t eligible for consideration.

Finally, I am not going to attempt to evaluate a sauce that I have not actually tried, so if you feel like I’ve overlooked a regional delicacy that’s escaped my attention, feel free to bring it to shout it out in the comments.

9. Zesty Sauce: Burger King

Much like competing in the Olympics is an honor in and of itself, making it onto this list in the first place is a sign you’ve done something right. However, someone still has to come in last, and in this case, that’s going to end up being the Zesty Sauce from Burger King.

I respect any fast food restaurant that’s bold enough to incorporate horseradish into a sauce, and that’s what Burger King has done with this one. However, I’ve found that it has a tendency to be a bit too overpowering.

8. Spicy Ketchup: Whataburger

Heinz ketchup is justifiably viewed as the gold standard among consumers who have helped make it the go-to offer at many fast food restaurants, but there are some major players who’ve harnessed a different approach.

That includes Whataburger, which offers a “Fancy Ketchup” that can’t hold a candle to the jalapeno-infused “Spicy Ketchup” that was first added to the menu in 2011 and has since become a permanent fixture for a reason.

7. Horsey Sauce: Arby’s

Arby’s has two signature sauces: the smoky, tomato-based Arby’s Sauce and the creamy Horsey Sauce that I would argue is firmly the superior choice.

The roast beef chain sticks the horseradish landing that Burger King failed to nail, as Horsey Sauce it offers the perfect amount of punch while meshing with the flavor of the sandwiches it elevates.

6. Hot Mustard: McDonald’s

I turn into a sauce merchant whenever I treat myself to some McNuggets, as I will not only request a menagerie of dipping packets but channel my inner Karen if I’m greeted with an omission after opening up the bag.

I know a lot of people would give the nod to Sweet N’ Sour, but as someone who appreciates a kick (I’m also big on Spicy Buffalo), I have to go with the Hot Mustard that manages to wake up your sinuses while still allowing the flavor of the condiment to shine through.

5. Ranch: Wingstop

I have not spent a lot of time in the Midwest, and I’m not sure if I’d feel very at home there thanks to my general disdain for the ranch dressing that seems to be one of the main food groups in that part of the United States.

I subsequently respect any dining establishment that’s able to win me over on that front, and that’s the case with the perfectly executed ranch at Wingstop.

4. Fire Sauce: Taco Bell

There isn’t a single restaurant on this list that gave me more options to choose from than Taco Bell, and whittling down the list of contenders was easier said than done.

However, I found myself gravitating toward the hot sauce packets that are a virtually required aspect of every order, and Fire earned the crown for living up to its name in more ways than one; it not only provides a ton of pleasant heat but has the most well-rounded flavor.

3. Blackened Ranch: Popeyes

Popeyes also left me fairly conflicted, as the fried chicken giant has a lineup of dipping sauces that can firmly hold their own against any other chain to challenge it.

Mardi Gras Mustard ended up in a very close race for first place, and I can’t fault anyone who argues it deserves it. However, as someone who has already admitted to not being a Ranch Guy, I’ve been firmly won over by the Blackened Ranch, which takes things to the next level with the Cajun seasoning that makes it a must-have when I get a meal there.

2. Cane’s Sauce: Raising Cane’s

Raising Cane’s has built an empire on the back of the chicken fingers that serve as the main attraction, which is impressive when you consider those signature items leave a bit to be desired on the seasoning front.

However, it’s easy to overcome that issue when you have Cane’s Sauce at your disposal, as I’m pretty sure wet cardboard would taste good if you covered it in the condiment that’s a mixture of ketchup, mayo, Worchestershire, and some spices.

Cane’s Sauce would be near the top on its own merits, but I have to give it bonus points for the pivotal role it has played in turning the chain into a sensation.

1. Polynesian Sauce: Chick-fil-A

I know I’m setting myself up to get yelled at by people who swear by the flagship Chick-fil-A Sauce, and as was the case with Popeyes, I can absolutely understand why its evangelists think it should reign supreme.

However, I simply have to give credit where credit is due to the Polynesian sauce that represents the Platonic ideal of sweet and sour to the point where I find it difficult to resist the urge to raid the ” Save Our Sauce” container and head home with a personal stash if people were foolish enough to put their packet up for grabs.