Forget Tartar Sauce: Give McDonald's Filet-O-Fish A Kick Of Flavor With One Creamy Sauce

The makeup of the Filet-O-Fish sandwich has not changed much in the six-plus decades since its inception. From the very beginning, this seafood staple has consisted of a fried fish patty and half slice of American cheese on a steamed bun, always dressed with tartar sauce. While tartar sauce is generally the go-to accompaniment for a piece of fried fish in the U.S., it is far from the only option, even when we're only talking about the lineup available at the local Mickey D's. Those looking for an exciting alternative that also brings a slight kick of heat to the equation need look no further than McDonald's Creamy Chili McCrispy Strip Dip.

This creamy chili sauce hit the menu with a specific purpose. As the name implies, it was intended for dipping fried chicken strips, but this sauce is much more versatile than that. The core of the condiment is a creamy sauce with a hint of ripe red jalapeño heat, but sugar, vinegar, and lemon juice give a balance of sweet and tangy flavors, soy sauce pumps up the salt and umami, and an array of aromatics ranging from red bell pepper and garlic to sesame oil round things out. Compared to some of the simpler options from the chain — like barbecue or honey mustard — it should come as no surprise that the Creamy Chili McCrispy Strip Dip landed near the top of the ranking of McDonald's dipping sauces. And, as it turns out, it's every bit as good on a fish sandwich as it is with those chicken strips.

Switching up the sauce is one of the easiest ways to customize the Filet-O-Fish, and one that the chain regularly uses to tailor its flagship seafood sandwich for global markets. Looking at the best ways to order international-style Filet-O-Fish sandwiches, often the difference is as small as replacing the tartar sauce with something like mayonnaise, ketchup, or wasabi mayo. Or, in this case, something somewhat akin to a sriracha mayonnaise, a chance to bring a bit of Southeast Asian flair to a very American fish sandwich.

As far as how to actually order your Filet-O-Fish with this condiment change, it doesn't take much work. On the app, start by nixing the tartar sauce under the customization options on the sandwich — similar to how the McDonald's CEO orders a Filet-O-Fish — and then just add a container of the Creamy Chili McCrispy Strip Dip to the order. The sauce may cost you about $0.30, depending on the location, but it also sometimes shows up as free. You will have to sauce the sandwich yourself, but having that kind of control over your condiments is rarely a bad thing.

The only major concern is that, due to its popularity, this sauce has been known to run out from time to time. Should that be the case, however, and your local Golden Arches has run dry of Creamy Chili McCrispy Strip Dip, there are some other excellent options out there. McDonald's new Caesar sauce goes well with the Filet-O-Fish, for one, but that will only be around for a limited time. For a steadfast choice that has been on the menu since the late '60s and certainly isn't going anywhere anytime soon, you can also try upgrading your Filet-O-Fish with Big Mac sauce.