I Tried And Ranked Every Popeyes Sauce. This Is The One I'd Order Again

Chicken chains are known for having iconic sauces. Chick-fil-A has its self-named signature sauce, as does Raising Cane's. But Popeyes does things a little differently. It has its Signature Hot Wing Sauce, sure, but I wouldn't necessarily call it in the same caliber as the two aforementioned chain options. When I go to Popeyes, I don't automatically think of one sauce. I've tried some of its sauces on various occasions, so I challenged myself to taste them all in one visit. I picked up every sauce from my store, which is lucky number 12 at the time of writing. I was supposed to get tartar sauce, but was told it's a limited-time option for when they have fish sandwiches. 

I snagged a side of fries for dunking and judged the sauces on their flavor and what each imparted onto the food. I also considered the consistency and versatility. I had a free reward in the Popeyes app from points accrued and redeemed it for chicken tenders, so I could test each sauce with both spuds and chicken. I wanted something that would enhance the food and make it more interesting and flavorful. Using this logic, I also assumed it'd work well with any chicken dish you get from the chain. Some sauces were underwhelming while others shone brighter than expected. Here's how they ranked.

Cocktail sauce is great for shrimp, which I assume is the purpose of this condiment. If you order one of Popeyes' shrimp meals, then you should probably get the Creole Cocktail Sauce. It has water, tomato sauce, high fructose corn syrup, horseradish, vinegar, and other ingredients. It basically tastes like a mellow ketchup, though. I don't catch much zingy horseradish or acidic vinegar. The corn syrup and tomato paste dominate the flavor profile, so it's more one-dimensional than I expected. 

I don't really want to pour cocktail sauce on things like chicken or fries, so it seems limited to seafood or shrimp — there's a small selection of seafood items at Popeyes to use this on. I mean, I tried it, but it wasn't great. It's also strangely separated — you can see some lumps, but then there's also a runny area. I have to assume the water separated from the other ingredients. The lack of flavor, unpleasant textural separation, and lack of versatility make this Creole Cocktail Sauce an easy last-place offering.

The Cajun Gravy doesn't have the same issues as the Cocktail Sauce, but it's not a showstopper either. It's a loose gravy as far as texture, and it's somewhat congealed but still somewhat liquid. I can see pepper flecks floating around, but it's hard to tell what else is in there. Firstly, I want a slightly thicker gravy; this is a tad too runny for my liking. Also, it doesn't look nearly as appetizing as it does on the website, where it looks thick, rich, and fully seasoned. 

In mine, you can see oily bits floating around and a bit of pepper, but not much else. This would probably be good on a biscuit, but it doesn't work well with fries (because it's so runny) and wasn't especially tasty with my chicken either. It's far too watery, so it wouldn't stay on the chicken. The ingredient list is quite lengthy — with things like smoked pork tasso, ground beef, pork base, green bell peppers, paprika, MSG — but it doesn't taste like it. Part of me wonders if it's even the same product. I prefer the peppery, savory touch to the sweet, watery tomato flavor of the Cocktail Sauce, but the Cajun Gravy remains low on my list.

Sweet Heat Sauce is a blend of spicy and sweet, as its name implies. I typically associate this type of sauce with Chinese-American food; I find it pairs wonderfully with creamy, crunchy crab rangoons. Popeyes' version of the sauce includes water, honey, sugar, red pepper, vinegar, spice, natural flavor, and other ingredients. I'd definitely agree with its website description of being mild, as the multiple sweeteners, including corn syrup and high fructose corn syrup, make it quite sugary on the tongue. 

It's incredibly viscous too, with a gel-like consistency. It has a tiny whiff of heat that comes in, but only if you really think about it. I don't find it too interesting and would forgo ordering again. It's too one-dimensional for me with a straightforward sweetness that loses any vinegar tang or potential intrigue from the "spice" — whatever that is. Still, I find it more interesting than the Cajun Gravy, and the texture is better than anything thus far.

The Sweet 'N Spicy Wing Sauce is very similar to the Sweet Heat; Here, it comes in what Popeyes calls a souffle cup, rather than the pre-packaged containers. After staring at them side-by-side, the Sweet 'N Spicy Wing Sauce appears to have more spices and things floating around in the sauce to offer flavor (in addition to a much redder hue). Popeyes warns on the website that the spice level of this sauce is hot, with a combination of chili, garlic, and ginger. It doesn't disclose any other ingredients, as it did for the previous options, so I don't know what else is in there. 

I can safely tell you it's sweet, with a noticeably stronger hint of heat than the previous one. So if you want the sweet-and-spicy medley, I'd suggest this wing sauce instead. It delivers that well-rounded balance better. It achieves its titular function of combining sweet with spicy, but I still find the sweetness overwhelms the heat. It could use a bit more red pepper (or whatever is used in there).

As you can tell, I've not been very impressed with Popeyes sauce lineup as of yet. The Honey BBQ Wing Sauce is where I start to notice a flavorful difference. As expected from the name, the Honey BBQ Wing Sauce is indeed sweet — sweeter than typical barbecue sauce too. It falls in the middle as far as consistency goes; it's a bit runnier than some I've tried, but it still adheres to the grooves of the chicken. It offers a sweet, tomatoey, savory kick that I appreciate. 

For the first time, I felt compelled to get a second bite and a second dunk. You could pour this on any chicken tender or wing, and it'd be fitting. This is a really good barbecue sauce, actually. There are all the ingredients I'd expect in such a condiment, from sugar and vinegar to tomato paste. There's also pineapple juice concentrate, molasses, tamarind extract, smoked flavor, and other add-ins. It's a wonderfully well-rounded sauce. I recently tried a bunch of Sweet Baby Ray's sauces, and this reminds me of my No. 4 pick – Honey Barbecue Sauce – which features similar ingredients. For a barbecue sauce, Popeyes' option is surprisingly good, but there are more interesting sauces to come.

This sauce is advertised as a smoky and sweet barbecue sauce, and I think it delivers. It has a better range of flavors compared to the Honey BBQ, which tastes mostly sweet with a hint of tomato. The BoldBQ has similar ingredients but includes soy sauce, which seems to provide added savory, umami depth that is quite noticeable when I tried them next to each other. 

Indeed, it does taste a bit bolder, giving it a slight lead in the ranking. I will say, though, I prefer the ever-so-slightly more viscous consistency of the previous BBQ wing sauce, but the flavors in this one are more enticing to keep dunking my fries and chicken in. It would make a good pairing with anything from mac and cheese to the Spicy Chicken Sandwich, adding a sweet and smoky touch. It's a solid contender, but I'm more of a fan of the upcoming condiments.

When you want a truly bold sauce, I suggest the Wild Honey Mustard. It's a lighter yellow color thanks to a combination of mustard, soybean oil, and paprika. But then again, this is not ordinary mustard; it also has egg yolks, which likely contribute to the hue and creamier texture. There's also Creole mustard, which doesn't appear to be much different from the prepared mustard base. Honey and high fructose corn syrup offer sweetness that you'd expect from a name like Wild Honey Mustard, and they bring another layer of flavor. 

This would be terrific on any Popeyes sandwich to bring a complex boost, but it works nicely on tenders and fries. If you like mustard, this is a sweeter, more dynamic option. I don't think I've had this before and was pleased with the overall flavors. I'd certainly incorporate it into upcoming orders. This is the most interesting, flavorful option out of anything I've tried so far.

Popeyes' Buttermilk Ranch Sauce isn't trying to be fancy or offer anything we haven't had before. What it provides, though, is familiarity, which may very well appeal to a number of customers. It's creamy with a hint of tanginess, like most ranches, and therefore, it's a solid option. It has buttermilk, MSG, mustard seed, dehydrated garlic, onion, and parsley, as well as some other add-ins. 

Those ingredients bring flavor, with a herby, complex taste that pairs well with any chicken product and fries, making it quite a versatile option. It's one of the top fast food ranches for good reason. It's a little runnier than I'd like, so the texture doesn't work in its favor. The Buttermilk Ranch Sauce didn't blow me away, but I like that I could use it for just about anything. I'd certainly order it again, but the sauces to come are better, more interesting, and ones I'd consistently turn to as my condiments of choice. 

I love Buffalo sauce, and the Bayou Buffalo Sauce hits every note I'm looking for. Out of everything thus far, this offers the most straightforward heat, ideal for anyone who wants a spicier aftertaste. The primary ingredient is hot sauce made with aged cayenne peppers, and you can really taste that. It has heat and a lick of acidity from the vinegar. This is one of my most familiar go-to sauces because it works with anything — so long as you want to add some heat. 

Plus, you can mix it with the ranch if you prefer a spicy and creamy duo. That said, the Buffalo sauce is the most liquid of all the sauces, so it easily drips off whatever you dunk in it. It holds better to the tenders' breading or perhaps if you slather it on a chicken sandwich bun, but it's still a good partner to chicken wings if you don't mind some dripping. You could mix some into the macaronu and cheese for a Buffalo mac situation. I'd definitely pick this sauce over the buttermilk ranch just because it delivers a more memorable flavor.

I'll admit that I wasn't really familiar with the Signature Hot Wing Sauce before this taste test. I usually just get the pre-packaged sauces, as those are the only ones that pop up on the app when I order when it asks which sauce I want. That said, this is delicious with a creamy butter-like flavor. There are no ingredients listed for this, but the allergen guide shows it contains soy and egg, either of which could provide richness (particularly if the former comes in the form of soybean oil, which some of the other sauces have). 

It offers a silky, oily mouthfeel, but then there's a hint of grittiness from the spices. The Signature Hot Wing Sauce blends a creamy taste with heat, similar to what I'd expect from a good Buffalo sauce — the previous Buffalo didn't have much creaminess. I also like that it brings a dry, authentic, prominent level of heat. Overall, I'm glad I was introduced to this sauce because I'll happily order it again. It'd be perfect for any chicken product or perhaps the shrimp. It deserves a spot in the top three.

Ah, the beloved Blackened Ranch. This is my go-to sauce. I tried it once and never really ventured beyond it. I usually pick between it and the Buffalo; very occasionally the regular ranch, but the blackened variety has been a favorite for quite some time. It delivers a more interesting, complex flavor than the buttermilk ranch thanks to whatever non-disclosed "spices" it includes. The ingredients list doesn't offer much clarity on the difference, but it has more spices and dimension that make it so easy to dunk your chicken in. 

A Cajun blackened chicken recipe might include cayenne, paprika (which I think could account for the pinkish color here), as well as thyme and oregano. It's perfect for fries, shrimp, wraps, and just about anything you want. It blends creamy with flavorful spices to create a powerhouse of a condiment. The consistency is great, sticking to anything you dunk in it. However, Blackened Ranch Sauce has officially been dethroned as my favorite; the next option is spectacular.

Mustard is probably my favorite condiment in general. Therefore, I have no idea why I've never tried this sauce before. I think I just figured it was plain mustard, which I have at home in multiple forms: Dijon, spicy brown, and yellow deli mustard, specifically. But the flavors exploded on my taste buds. I could taste the complexity the moment it landed on my tongue; my brain didn't even need to process the information; it just said: "yes, this is delicious." 

If you're anything like me and just overlooked it for other sauces, you may want to give it a try — stat. I feel like I've missed so many opportunities to enjoy this fantastic flavor. It contains Creole mustard, sugar, and horseradish; that latter ingredient provides a zingy, memorable note to every bite. But there's the sugar for a hint of sweetness, horseradish powder for added zest, and paprika, which doubles as a color and flavor enhancer. 

I really enjoy the mustard seed, though, which gives it some texture beyond the somewhat rich, oily base of the soybean oil and egg yolks. This is a memorable mustard that I seriously wish I'd slowly been collecting each time I made an order. It works on any kind of Popeyes sandwich or wrap — perfect for both my fries and chicken I tested it with. You could even mix a bit into the coleslaw for more dimension. This is by far the tastiest, most textural, and most complex condiment, and it helps that it's quite versatile as well. If you like mustard, you have to try this out.

I put in an order via the Popeyes app to ensure a more streamlined visit. I have found that it's 50-50 on whether there's an issue with my order — missing items or extremely long wait times included. This time around it was the former; I paid for tartar sauce but was told when I picked it up that they no longer had any. They gave me three cups of drinks for my troubles since I came with my family. They also forgot the Bayou Buffalo Sauce and accidentally gave me two extra Honey BBQ Wing Sauces instead. The service is friendly, however.

I placed the order ahead of time but dined in the store to ensure the freshest results. I was looking for a flavorful, delicious sauce that enhanced other foods — I tested each option with fries and chicken. It needed to strike a good textural balance, too; something watery would not rank highly; it would merely drip off anything you dunked in it or poured it on. I also considered the versatility of the sauce and how many menu items someone might feel inclined to use it on. Sauces ranked better if they were indeed flavorful, neither too thick nor too runny, and could pair with various dishes. Lower-ranking options had mellow or overpowering flavors, odd textures, or were hard to pair with other foods.