Whether you like mild or super spicy varieties, whether you prefer commercial brands or artisanal options, hot sauce is a condiment that many of us simply can't live without.
We chatted with salsa experts, and based on their recommendations, editors' favorites, and best-selling products, we rounded up some of the best options you can find online.
Feeling adventurous and ready to experiment with making your own hot sauce?
We also have some suggestions for that.
If you're new to spicy sauces, you may not know where to start or what types of the beloved seasoning go best with certain foods.
In that case, you are in the right place.
And if you consider yourself a hot sauce aficionado, looking for new bottles and interesting flavors to add to your collection, this roundup is for you too.
Best sauce for most
Spice tolerance and flavor preferences obviously vary from person to person, but if you're throwing a party and looking for a sauce that is likely to please a wide range of palates, there are some solid options to choose from that should work.
"Tabasco sauce was the standard across the country for more than a century, and its vinegar and fermented red pepper flavor remains a classic," says Robb Walsh, three-time Beard Award winner and author of "The Hot Sauce Cookbook «.
“But these days Huy Fong's Sriracha Chili Sauce is hugely popular.
Slightly sweet and not terribly spicy, it comes out of its squeeze bottle like ketchup, and that's part of its appeal.
My teenage boys like to decorate individual fries with a serving of sriracha. "
Steve Seabury
PHOTO: Lisa Seabury
Already stocked up on Tabasco and sriracha and looking for something a little less popular?
Steve Seabury, owner of High River Sauces and founder of the annual New York Salsa Show, is a fan of Hoff sauce, an award-winning brand with a wide range of flavors, as well as Gator Hammock sauce and Cajohns Firehouse sauce.
He views all of these as great "introductory" hot sauces to spice up whatever you're drizzling them, noting that "any one of these sauces will make any meal so much better."
Tabasco Sauce 4 Variety Pack ($ 11.95;
amazon.com
)
Pack of 4 varieties of Tabasco sauce
PHOTO: Amazon
Sample four popular flavors of the ubiquitous hot sauce with this pack of 2-ounce bottles of classic pepper, garlic pepper, green pepper and habanero.
Or buy some large 12-ounce bottles of the original flavor (prices vary).
Huy Fong Sriracha Hot Chili Sauce, 3-Pack ($ 12.94;
amazon.com
)
Huy Fong Sriracha Chili Sauce, 3-Pack
PHOTO: Amazon
Perfect when paired with everything from stir fries to French fries, this slightly sweet, not terribly spicy option is popular these days, and for good reason.
And if you can't bear to be without your Sriracha on the go, these keychains ($ 13.99; amazon.com) are guaranteed to always have it close at hand.
Mean Green - Hoff Green Jalapeño Sauce ($ 14.99;
amazon.com
)
Medium Green - Hoff Green Jalapeño Sauce
PHOTO: Amazon
Seabury is a fan of Hoff's entire line of hot sauces, but this flavor, made with green jalapenos and lemongrass, provides a summery twist that works well in just about everything from breakfast tacos to seafood.
Gator Hammock Sauce ($ 10.25;
amazon.com
)
Gator Hammock Sauce
PHOTO: Amazon
With a medium level of spiciness, Gator Hammock is loved by its fans for its balanced spicy flavor and a hint of garlic that lends itself well to being a versatile hot sauce.
You can also find it as a pack of three ($ 21.74; amazon.com).
Cajohns Firehouse Salsa ($ 6.95;
sonoranspice.com
)
Cajohns Firehouse Sauce
PHOTO: Sonoran Spice
Another of Seabury's favorite hot sauces, Cajohns Firehouse is an award-winning option made with cayenne, caribbean chili, and habanero pepper that makes for a great hot sauce every day.
The best sauce for wings
Like peanut butter and jelly, chicken wings and hot sauce are a match made in culinary heaven.
"For chicken wings, I love traditional buffalo-style sauces, but I'm also a fan of the sweet spiciness in my chicken," says Seabury.
"Any spicy fruit-based sauce goes great with chicken wings."
"The classic hot sauce for wings is Frank's RedHot, long a regional favorite in upstate New York," says Walsh.
“Anchor Bar's original Buffalo Chicken Wings were mixed in a sauce made from nothing but melted butter and Frank's RedHot.
Frank's now sells a 'wing sauce' in addition to their hot pepper sauce. "
Frank's RedHot Buffalo Wings Sauce ($ 4.12;
amazon.com
)
Frank's RedHot Buffalo Wing Sauce
PHOTO: Amazon
There's nothing more classic than pairing the original Frank's RedHot ($ 1.36; amazon.com) with your wings, though the brand also makes this version spicier for those with a bolder palate.
Made with a natural, dairy-free flavor but mimicking the flavor profile of butter, this hot sauce is also a great choice for dipping or drizzling on a burger or veggies.
And if you're ready to get serious, you can buy it by the gallon ($ 11.98; amazon.com).
Tiger Sauce, 6-Pack ($ 11.94;
amazon.com
)
Tiger Sauce, 6-Pack
PHOTO: Amazon
Walsh recommends Sweet and Sour Cayenne Tiger Sauce as a classic topping for both grilled shrimp and Asian chicken wings.
With a medium level of spiciness, it's sure to be a crowd favorite.
Torchbearer Sauce Son of Zombie ($ 9.99;
amazon.com
)
Torchbearer Sauce
PHOTO: Amazon
If you're looking for something fiery with a more complex flavor profile, this bottle is for you.
Made with honey, onion, molasses and oregano, this pepper and habanero-based sauce will delight any hot sauce fan.
As one reviewer says, "It's a solid spice but not overpowering."
Heartbeat Hot Sauce Pineapple Habanero ($ 11.95;
amazon.com
)
Heartbeat Hot Sauce
PHOTO: Amazon
If a fruity touch is your thing, this vegan sauce made with pineapple, yellow peppers, onions and habanero will light up your dishes in the most delicious way.
The brand has plenty of other tasty options too, including this three-pack ($ 27.95; amazon.com) that includes a variety of habanero with blueberries.
The best habanera sauce
The warmth, aroma, and slightly fruity and floral flavor of habanero pepper make it a super popular base for hot sauces that pair well with a variety of dishes.
(And if you're looking to add some excitement to your dessert, Walsh recommends fresh apricot, honey, and habanero sauce as an incredible side to ice cream.)
Melinda's Mango Habanero Hot Pepper Sauce ($ 5.99;
amazon.com
)
Melinda's
PHOTO: Amazon
This well-rounded, medium-hot option blends habaneros with mangoes for a refreshing take on your regular hot sauce.
Yellowbird Habanera Sauce ($ 7.99;
amazon.com
)
Yellowbird Spicy Habanera Sauce
PHOTO: Amazon
Ideal for eggs, rice bowls and more, this top-notch hot sauce combines flavors of habanero, carrots and citrus with a level of spiciness that's just right.
Love Potion Garlic Sauce ($ 13.95;
amazon.com
)
Love potion
PHOTO: Amazon
Garlic enthusiasts will love it.
Made with aged red habaneros, carrots, onions, and lots of garlic, you'll likely want the bottle of LBI Love Potion close by at every meal.
Best taco sauce
While almost any of the sauces on this list would go well with your tacos, Walsh notes that in general, “Mexican pepper sauces like Tapatio from Guadalajara or the original Cholula hot sauce from Chalapa are great in tacos.
The original Cholula gets its distinctive flavor from chiles de arbol.
Tapatio Hot Sauce, 3-Pack ($ 14.50;
amazon.com
)
Tapatio Hot Sauce Hot Sauce, 3-Pack
PHOTO: Amazon
Also great as a versatile everyday hot sauce, Red Pepper Tapatio is a stellar option for adding a unique twist to your tacos.
This three-pack comes with a silicone brush for spraying as well.
Cholula Original Hot Sauce, 6-Pack ($ 19.99;
amazon.com
)
Cholula Original Hot Sauce, 6-Pack
PHOTO: Amazon
We're huge fans of Cholula's balanced taste, which seems to be a hit with both hot sauce snobs and beginners, and of course its lovely wooden stopper.
Stock up on this six-pack or assorted pack ($ 21.87; amazon.com) featuring chipotle, lemon pepper, garlic and green pepper flavors.
The best extra hot sauce
If living on the edge is your thing and you enjoy a very hot sauce, there are plenty of fiery hot sauces on the market made with what are known as the 'extreme' peppers: ghost, scorpion or reaper.
The key, however, is to find the ones that combine spiciness with flavor and don't just set your mouth on fire for fun.
"Caribbean pepper sauces like Matouk's made with habaneros, tropical fruit and mustard are super spicy tasty classics," says Walsh.
"I'm interested in great flavors, I don't have much interest in novelty sauces trying to set new records on the Scoville scale."
Matouk's Calypso Sauce (prices vary;
instacart.com
)
Matouk's Calypso Sauce
PHOTO: Instacart
Thunder Juice Tequila-Infused Sauces ($ 12.95;
amazon.com
)
Thunder Juice
PHOTO: Amazon
This award-winning sauce made by Seabury's own hot sauce brand, High River Sauces, uses tequila-infused peppers and Long Island peaches and cranberries to create a flavor-packed sauce that will 'crush your soul, but you'll ask for more because it tastes so damn well".
Best Hot Sauce for Bloody Marys
Bloody Marys and oysters go hand in hand, and Seabury notes that both “are great with an added twist of any Louisiana-style hot sauce, but I love a chipotle-style hot sauce for that extra flavor explosion.
That hint of smoky flavor is perfect for the Bloody Mary. "
Walsh recommends classic Tabasco because of its' vinegar extra 'and says,' It's long been a favorite for oysters, where the vinegar flavor works perfectly.
(Think of the French oyster sauce called mignonette, made with vinegar, black pepper, and shallots.) »
Crystal Louisiana Sauce (prices vary;
target.com
)
Crystal, the quintessential Louisiana hot sauce, has a fairly simple profile, combining aged red cayenne peppers with vinegar for the perfect amount of heat and flavor to spice up just about anything.
Cholula Chipotle Sauce (prices vary;
target.com
)
Cholula Chipotle
PHOTO: Target
You just can't go wrong drizzling this chipotle-flavored Cholula Hot Sauce wherever you want to add a hint of smoke.
Best original sauce
Looking for something a little different?
From strawberries to cold beer to horseradish, there's pretty much a hot sauce for every flavor combination imaginable.
Wake Up Call - Hoff's Sweet & Spicy Hot Sauce with Cold Brew Coffee ($ 19.83;
amazon.com
)
Wake Up Call - Hoff's Sweet & Spicy Hot Sauce with Cold Brew
PHOTO: Amazon
Can't decide if you like your coffee or your hot sauce better?
You don't have to choose between the two with the umami-rich Wake Up Call, made with red jalapeno and habanero peppers alongside cold beer and curry powder.
(Some reviewers even call it the best hot sauce they've ever had.)
Fat Cat Strawberry Serrano Hot Sauce ($ 7.99;
amazon.com
)
Fat Cat Strawberry Serrano Hot Sauce
PHOTO: Amazon
When you think of "hot sauce," you may not immediately think of "strawberries," but this strawberry and serrano mix is the perfect addition to ice cream and savory dishes alike.
"Adding any fruit-based hot sauce to any dessert is unexpected and also amazing," says Seabury.
It's a mental paradox.
Your body doesn't expect spice in your favorite after-dinner treat.
But once you try it, you can never go back to that. "
It's also a great sauce for dipping things like spring rolls.
Mike's Hot Honey ($ 9.49;
amazon.com
)
There's a reason this chili-infused honey has gained some cult following over the years - it's the perfect mix of sweet and spicy, and can be used to liven up everything from pizza to salads to ice cream and cocktails.
(We also love to drizzle some in our cup of tea.)
Torchbearer Smoked Horseradish Sauce ($ 11.96;
amazon.com
)
Smoked horseradish sauce
PHOTO: Amazon
If you're a fan of anything with horseradish and you love smoked sauces, you might want to keep a few bottles of this addictive, rather mild and spicy sauce in your pantry.
(One customer gives it a "maybe 3/10 on the heat scale," and we agree.) Good consistency, works well as a dipping sauce or even in a sandwich, hot dog, or salad.
Best Hot Sauce Gifts
For the hot sauce devotee, nothing is a better treat than, well, more hot sauce!
Here are some options for a variety of budgets and tastes.
Global Hot Sauce Gift Box ($ 45;
uncommongoods.com
)
Global Hot Sauce Gift Box
PHOTO: Uncommon merchandise
This set of five bottles provides the hot sauce lover with a variety of flavors from around the world, including those inspired by Northeast and South India, Ethiopia, the Southern United States, and Chesapeake Bay.
Hot
Sauce Club of the Month (Starting at $ 13.99 / mo; cratejoy.com
)
Hot Sauce Club of the Month
PHOTO: Cratejoy
Surprise the hot sauce enthusiast in your life with a new bottle of artisan hot sauce delivered to their doorstep every month or quarter.
Choose from spice tiers and one- or three-bottle plans.
The Scorchin 'Hot Box (starting at $ 12.95 / mo;
cratejoy.com
)
Scorchin 'Hot Box
PHOTO: Cratejoy
For lovers of all things spicy, the Scorchin 'Hot Box subscription features a variety of hot sauces and fiery appetizers delivered monthly, with five box options to choose from.
Truff Hot Sauce Variety Pack ($ 69.99;
truffhotsauce.com
)
Truff Hot Sauce Variety Pack
PHOTO: Amazon
For a more elevated experience, Truff Hot Sauce incorporates the flavors of black and white truffle in this three pack of gourmet hot sauces that comes in super gift packaging.
Tips for making your own hot sauce
If you're ready to take your devotion to spicy things to the next level and experiment with creating your own, there are plenty of options and resources for beginners, from cookbooks to kits.
“When I started making hot sauce at home, I used peppers that I could easily get and were inexpensive,” explains Seabury.
“Every grocery store has jalapenos and habaneros.
These peppers taste great and will complement a number of ingredients you want to incorporate into a sauce.
He recommends starting with your favorite flavors and then trying to find the perfect level of spiciness for your preference.
“September is the month to make hot sauce,” adds Walsh, as “all types of chili are ripe.
The secret to all great chili sauces is fermentation.
It starts with bright red cayenne for Louisiana-style dips or red jalapenos for homemade sriracha.
Robb Walsh's 'The Hot Sauce Cookbook: Turn the Heat With 60+ Pepper Sauce Recipes' (starting at $ 8.99;
amazon.com
)
PHOTO: Amazon
Walsh's book provides recipes for tons of sauces and pepper sauce, including variations on classics like Frank's RedHot and Sriracha, plus recipes for spicy dishes.
Sprinkled (pun intended) with historical facts, this book is both instructive and interesting.
'Fiery Ferments' by Kirsten K. Shockey and Christopher Shockey ($ 10.49;
amazon.com
)
PHOTO: Amazon
If you're a fermented food lover, this cookbook for all skill levels offers recipes for hot sauces, mustards, pickles, chutneys, flavors, and kimchis from around the world, along with other foods, snacks, and beverages.
Make Your Own Hot Sauce Kit ($ 40;
uncommongoods.com
)
This kit makes things simple if starting from scratch seems too overwhelming.
Includes cayenne, ancho, curry and chili spice packages, as well as bell peppers, vinegars and garlic, plus six customizable bottles and labels.
Hot Sauce Kit ($ 54.95;
amazon.com
)
Hot sauce kit
PHOTO: Amazon
Another homemade option, this highly rated kit comes with chili peppers (including the super hot ghost chili), vinegar, spice packets, bottles, PH strips, recipe cards, and more.
Note: The above prices reflect the price at the time of publication of the article.
