Hot sauce is a staple condiment in the culinary world, found in countless restaurants, bars, and food trucks. Whether serving up spicy wings, mouth watering BBQ, or crispy fried appetizers, hot sauce brings the perfect balance of heat, flavor, and color to your signature dishes. From mild and tangy to bold and fiery, there is a hot sauce for every customer. To help you curate the perfect sauce selection and elevate your menu, we have compiled a list of the best hot sauces based on different applications.
Shop All Hot Sauces
Check out our top choices for the best hot sauces:
Best Hot Sauce Overall: TABASCO® Original Hot Sauce
Best Buffalo Sauce: Frank's RedHot Original Buffalo Wing Hot Sauce
Best Habanero Sauce: TABASCO® Habanero Hot Sauce
Best Louisiana Hot Sauce: Firey Louisiana Style Hot Sauce
Best Mexican Hot Sauce: Cholula Original Hot Sauce
Best Sriracha Sauce: Huy Fong Sriracha Hot Chili Sauce
Note: All prices are current to time of publication. See product page for updated pricing.
TABASCO® Original Hot Sauce has been a staple in restaurants for generations. Made with fully aged red peppers, distilled vinegar, and a pinch of salt, this simple yet fiery recipe has stood the test of time since its introduction in 1868. With a maximum of 5,000 Scoville Heat Units (SHU), it offers a perfect balance of heat and flavor. A few drops of this classic hot sauce can take sandwiches, soups, chicken dishes, and burger sauces to a new level. For brunch offerings, consider adding a dash to Bloody Marys, eggs, or creamy hollandaise sauce for a zesty kick that your customers will love.
Shop TABASCO® Original Hot Sauce | $37.99
Read customer reviews for TABASCO® Original Hot Sauce.
- Versatile product ideal for eggs, soups, and burgers
- Just a few drops adds bold flavor
- Acts as a perfect secret ingredient to enhance sauces and marinades
- Great for tabletop use
- Can overtake other flavors if used as an ingredient in larger recipes
- High heat isn't for everyone
Frank's RedHot Original Buffalo Wing Hot Sauce is one of the most popular and beloved buffalo sauce brands. Made from fully aged red cayenne peppers, savory vinegar, salt, and garlic, it offers an iconic and instantly recognizable flavor profile. The sauce is ready to use straight out of the container, making it a convenient option for busy commercial kitchens. Whether creating boneless buffalo wings or experimenting with new menu offerings like Buffalo mac and cheese, Buffalo grilled chicken sandwiches, or Buffalo chicken nachos, this hot sauce delivers on taste and consistency.
Shop Frank's RedHot Original Buffalo Wing Hot Sauce | $62.49
Runner Up: Sweet Baby Ray's Buffalo Wing Sauce
Read customer reviews for Frank's RedHot Original Buffalo Wing Hot Sauce.
- Made from cayenne peppers
- Great for Buffalo chicken wings
- Convenient handle and resealable cap
- Traditional, timeless taste
- Flavor can be overpowering
If you want to add a fiery kick to your dishes, TABASCO® Habanero Hot Sauce is a top contender. This Jamaican-style sauce combines tropical fruits and fiery peppers, infusing your creations with a hot Caribbean flair. Even hotter than the original TABASCO® hot sauce, this habanero sauce packs a serious punch with a heat unit rating exceeding 7,000 SHU. Whether you're looking to spice up a marinade, sauce, or dish, the intense and sizzling flavor of this habanero sauce is a perfect addition to any meal.
Shop TABASCO® Habanero Hot Sauce | $49.99
Runner Up: Cholula Sweet Habanero Hot Sauce
Read customer reviews for TABASCO® Habanero Hot Sauce.
- Jamaican-style pepper sauce with fiery heat
- Versatile product ideal for grilled steaks, ribs, or chicken
- Acts as a perfect secret ingredient to enhance sauces and marinades
- Great for tabletop use
- Some report a strong aftertaste
- Distinct flavor isn't as versatile
Firey Louisiana Style Hot Sauce delivers just the right amount of heat to complement your customers' favorite dishes. The slightly tangy and spicy flavor profile, achieved through the perfect blend of cayenne peppers, vinegar, and salt, ensures a satisfying taste. The bold red color of this Louisiana-style hot sauce not only enhances the visual appeal of your dishes but also signifies its fiery flavor. Whether you're looking to create signature hot wings that pack a punch or add a kick to your barbecue and burgers, this versatile sauce is a go-to ingredient. Additionally, you can infuse the essence of Cajun cuisine into your menu by incorporating this hot sauce into classic dishes like gumbo and crawfish.
Shop Firey Louisiana Style Hot Sauce | $33.49
Read customer reviews for Firey Louisiana Style Hot Sauce.
- Made from aged red cayenne peppers
- Great for hot wings, Cajun cooking, barbecue, and dressings
- Adds a tangy and spicy flavor to make dishes more flavorful
- Packaged in a convenient bulk 1 gallon container
- Poor bottle design
Crafted using a generations-old recipe, Cholula Original Hot Sauce features a blend of arbol chiles, piquin peppers, spices, and a touch of vinegar. This unique combination results in a distinct, multi-dimensional flavor and mouthwatering aroma. Free from preservatives and artificial ingredients, this hot sauce offers a pure and authentic taste that elevates a wide range of dishes. Whether you're preparing fish tacos, burritos, rice bowls, breakfast sandwiches, pasta dishes, salads, or pizza, this condiment adds depth of flavor and just the right amount of heat to your creations.
Shop Cholula Original Hot Sauce | $72.99
Runner Up: Valentina Black Label Mexican Hot Sauce
Read customer reviews for Cholula Original Hot Sauce.
- Delivers a balanced, mellow heat and earthy sweetness with a smooth, even texture
- Made with arbol chiles, piquin peppers, and a signature blend of spices
- Mild to medium heat makes it the perfect hot sauce for every customer to enjoy
- Wooden cap and iconic yellow label provide an attractive tabletop presence
- Low heat level
- Sauce can oxidize once opened, causing it to change color
Huy Fong Sriracha Hot Chili Sauce is a staple in the culinary world, known for its iconic bottle and exceptional quality. This sriracha sauce is a popular choice in bars, in restaurants, or on food trucks. Made from sun-ripened chilies that are ground into a smooth paste, it is a favorite in Thai and Vietnamese cuisine. Its bold flavor profile adds a kick to dishes, including pho and spicy-sweet peanut sauces. You can also get creative and blend it into signature barbeque or hot sauces for wings, hot dogs, and hamburgers.
Shop Huy Fong Sriracha Hot Chili Sauce | $65.49
Runner Up: Underwood Ranches Premium Sriracha Chili Hot Sauce
Read customer reviews for Huy Fong Sriracha Hot Chili Sauce.
- Made from sun-ripened chilies ground into a smooth paste
- Great for Thai and Vietnamese dishes
- Adds hot, bold flavor to any snack, noodle dish, or soup
- Naturally bright red color
- Higher price compared to other sriracha sauce
- Original recipe has changed
How to Choose Hot Sauces
When selecting hot sauces for your commercial kitchen, you must choose the right products that align with your menu offerings and customer preferences. By evaluating these key considerations - heat level, type of hot sauce, and package type - you can confidently select the hot sauces that best suit your commercial kitchen needs and enhance the dining experience for your patrons.
Heat Level
Hot sauces are rated based on different levels of the Scoville scale, a measurement system that determines the spiciness of different types of peppers and pepper products. The heat intensity of a hot sauce is measured in Scoville Heat Units (SHU), which can range from zero to well into the millions. Lower SHU ratings indicate milder flavors, making them suitable for individuals with a lower tolerance for heat. On the other hand, sauces with higher SHU ratings are incredibly spicy and are ideal for those who enjoy a fiery kick in their dishes.
Hot Sauce Type
Hot sauce comes in different flavors and styles, each complementing a different type of cuisine. Exploring these different types can help you find the perfect hot sauce for your culinary creations.
- Buffalo sauce: Buffalo sauce is primarily made with vinegar, cayenne pepper, and melted butter. It is famously used for buffalo wings, giving them a tangy and spicy kick.
- Habanero sauce: Made with habanero peppers, this sauce is known for its fiery, intense heat and bold flavor that can elevate any dish.
- Louisiana-style hot sauce: Louisiana-style hot sauce offers a strong vinegar flavor with a kick. Typically made with aged cayenne peppers, this sauce adds a zesty and spicy touch to your dishes.
- Mexican-style hot sauce: If you prefer a blend of chili peppers, Mexican spices, and additional ingredients like tomatoes or garlic, Mexican-style hot sauce brings a balance of heat and flavor to your dishes.
- Sriracha: Originating from Asia, sriracha is a popular hot sauce with a thick texture and tangy taste. It is versatile and can be used as a dipping sauce or to add a kick to various dishes.
Package Type
Hot sauce is available in various containers and package sizes to accommodate different serving applications. Understanding the options available will help you choose the most convenient packaging for your establishment.
- Packets: Hot sauce packets are ideal for on-the-go and take-out scenarios. They are compact, easy to store, and ensure portion control, making them a popular choice for fast-food establishments, food trucks, and catering services.
- Bottles: Hot sauce bottles are a versatile packaging option that allows guests to use the sauce at their convenience. Placing hot sauce bottles on dining tables or condiment stations allows guests to customize their dishes according to their spice preferences. Bottles are refillable, making them a sustainable choice for restaurants, diners, and cafes.
- Bulk Sauce: Bulk hot sauce containers are a practical choice for high-volume usage in busy commercial kitchens. These larger containers are cost-effective and efficient for establishments that require a steady supply of hot sauce for cooking, marinating, or seasoning dishes. Bulk hot sauce is often available in gallon jugs or larger containers, making it a suitable option for restaurants, hotels, and catering businesses with high-demand menus.
Back to Top
Elevate your menu and tantalize taste buds by selecting the best hot sauces for your establishment. Finding the right type of hot sauce depends on the foods you want to serve, the preferences of your guests, and your foodservice concept. With our guide, you can confidently curate a diverse and enticing hot sauce selection that will enhance the flavor profiles of your dishes and keep customers coming back for more.
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