20 Sauce Recipes So Good You Will Put Them on Everything

When a sauce is this good, it refuses to stay in its lane. These 20 recipes deliver rich, tangy, creamy, and bold flavors that make meals instantly more exciting. From dipping fries to drizzling over roasted veggies or spooning onto meats, these sauces are the unsung heroes of the kitchen. Fair warning, once you start making them, you may find yourself planning meals just to have an excuse to use the sauce.

Low Carb Spaghetti Sauce

social media image of keto spaghetti sauce with a spatula — Low Carb Spaghetti Sauce. Photo credit: Lara Clevenger.

This Low Carb Spaghetti Sauce recipe is made with minimal ingredients and will soon become a family favorite. Bursting with flavor, this homemade keto spaghetti sauce will rival even the best store bought brands!
Get the Recipe: Low Carb Spaghetti Sauce

The Best Homemade Keto BBQ Sauce (Low Carb & Gluten-Free)

low carb keto bbq sauce — The Best Homemade Keto BBQ Sauce (Low Carb & Gluten-Free). Photo credit: Lara Clevenger.

This Keto BBQ Sauce is just what your low carb diet has been missing! This is the best low carb BBQ sauce recipe I've created! It's even better than store bought low carb barbecue sauce brands!
Get the Recipe: The Best Homemade Keto BBQ Sauce (Low Carb & Gluten-Free)

Honey Teriyaki Sauce Recipe (Paleo & Gluten Free)

A spoon with dark brown sauce rests on the rim of a glass jar filled with the same sauce, placed on a light-colored surface. — Honey Teriyaki Sauce Recipe (Paleo & Gluten Free). Photo credit: Lara Clevenger.

The best honey teriyaki sauce and it’s paleo and gluten-free! It’s super easy to make this homemade paleo teriyaki sauce recipe. Try it with chicken, beef and salmon!
Get the Recipe: Honey Teriyaki Sauce Recipe (Paleo & Gluten Free)

Grandma's Marinara Sauce

A pan of marinara sauce with a wooden spatula. — Grandma's Marinara Sauce. Photo credit: Bagels and Lasagna.

This is my grandparents' marinara sauce recipe, which is meat free. We use when you're having pizza night or need to put together a lasagna.
Get the Recipe: Grandma's Marinara Sauce

Easy Meat Sauce

A pot of tomato sauce with a spoon in it. — Easy Meat Sauce. Photo credit: Bagels and Lasagna.

My grandparents would let this sauce recipe gently simmer for hours on Sunday morning. The long, slow cook thickened the texture and enriched the flavors.
Get the Recipe: Easy Meat Sauce

Goat Cheese Pizza Sauce

A hand holding a slice of freshly baked pizza with cheese stretching between the slice and the rest of the pizza. — Goat Cheese Pizza Sauce. Photo credit: Bagels and Lasagna.

Add a pop of unexpected but delicious flavor to your pizza sauce by blending in goat cheese, yes, goat cheese.
Get the Recipe: Goat Cheese Pizza Sauce

Vegan Pesto Sauce

Homemade basil pesto in a glass jar surrounded by fresh basil leaves and a slice of lemon. — Vegan Pesto Sauce. Photo credit: Bagels and Lasagna.

Nonna may not be vegan but she taught us how to make a basic basil pesto sauce. With a few substitutions, this becomes a wonderful vegan option for serving over pasta.
Get the Recipe: Vegan Pesto Sauce

Soy-Free Soy Sauce

Small bowls of soy sauce with wooden chopsticks on dark background. — Soy-Free Soy Sauce. Photo credit: Primal Edge Health.

Flavored with vinegar, ginger, and garlic, this low carb keto soy sauce substitution is packed with flavor so you can still eat soy sauce on a keto diet (or any diet) but without any negative effects of soy! This recipe is allergen-free and contains no sugar, soy, or wheat.
Get the Recipe: Soy-Free Soy Sauce

McDonald’s Breakfast Sauce

This McDonald’s Breakfast Sauce recipe has an incredibly balanced flavor of salty and spicy, with a delightful tang, and is so unbelievably versatile. This delicious condiment is great for many kinds of food, any time of day, and the best part is that it is made with only 6 ingredients.
Get the Recipe: McDonald’s Breakfast Sauce

Pepper Gravy

Our pepper gravy recipe has a deliciously thick and creamy texture with bold pepper flavor. Perfect for biscuits, fried chicken, mashed potatoes, roast beef and more, this gravy is sure to impress and satisfy your taste buds. Plus, it’s easy to make with only five ingredients.
Get the Recipe: Pepper Gravy

Spicy Sweet Sriracha Sauce

This three ingredient spicy sweet sriracha sauce recipe has the perfect balance of spice, heat, and sweet. It's your new favorite sriracha dipping sauce.
Get the Recipe: Spicy Sweet Sriracha Sauce

Pepita Salsa Macha

Overhead view of jar of salsa macha. — Pepita Salsa Macha. Photo credit: At the Immigrant's Table.

Elevate your dishes with this fiery and flavorful Mexican pepita salsa macha. Packed with roasted nuts, chilies, and spices, it adds a delicious kick to any meal.
Get the Recipe: Pepita Salsa Macha

Spicy homemade green hot sauce

Green hot sauce on black background. — Spicy homemade green hot sauce. Photo credit: At the Immigrant's Table.

Ignite your taste buds with spicy homemade green hot sauce! Bursting with vibrant flavors, fiery chili peppers, and aromatic spices, this zesty condiment adds a fiery kick to any dish. Elevate your culinary creations with this flavor-packed homemade hot sauce
Get the Recipe: Spicy homemade green hot sauce

Bang Bang Sauce

Spice up your meals with this Bang Bang Sauce, a perfect accompaniment for various dishes. This Asian-inspired sauce is flavorful and spicy, enhancing everything from eggs to veggies. The recipe is simple, involving a quick blend of ingredients like mayonnaise, sugar-free sweet chili sauce, sriracha, and more. It's a great keto-friendly option, ready in just 10 minutes. Ideal for adding a kick to your favorite dishes.
Get the Recipe: Bang Bang Sauce

BBQ Sauce

This homemade BBQ Sauce is a low-carb alternative that doesn't compromise on flavor. It blends tomatoes, apple cider vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, sweetener, and spices, creating a smoky, slightly sweet, and tangy taste. The sauce is suitable for various recipes, enhancing meats and side dishes. It takes about 35 minutes to prepare and is easy to store, making it a convenient and healthier choice compared to store-bought sauces.
Get the Recipe: BBQ Sauce

Beer Cheese Sauce

Cheese dip in a white bowl. — Beer Cheese Sauce. Photo credit: Trina Krug.

Elevate your appetizer game with this Beer Cheese Sauce, a delightful and quick addition to your keto-friendly sauce collection. It pairs wonderfully with pretzels, chips, or veggies. The recipe, taking about 30 minutes in total, uses beer and a mix of flavorful ingredients, offering a rich and cheesy dip that's perfect for casual gatherings or game nights. Each serving is just 2 net carbs, making it a guilt-free indulgence for those following a diet.
Get the Recipe: Beer Cheese Sauce

Dipping Sauce for Sweet Potato Fries

Dipping sauce in a small bowl surrounding by sweet potato cubes. — Dipping Sauce for Sweet Potato Fries. Photo credit: Splash of Taste.

If you’re a fan of sweet potato fries, you know that finding the perfect dip can be a real challenge. Ketchup can be too tangy, and mayo too bland. Our sweet potato dipping sauce recipe is a game-changer! It’s the perfect combination of sweet and savory flavors, and adds a burst of deliciousness to every bite.
Get the Recipe: Dipping Sauce for Sweet Potato Fries

Thai Sweet Chili Sauce

Sweet chili sauce in a small bowl on a light green cloth. — Thai Sweet Chili Sauce. Photo credit: Splash of Taste.

This Thai sweet chili sauce recipe is like a party in your mouth! Every spoonful packs a punch of sweet, spicy, and tangy flavor that will leave you reaching for more. Whether drizzling it on your favorite dish or using it as a dipping sauce, this recipe is a perfect choice.
Get the Recipe: Thai Sweet Chili Sauce

Garlic Aioli

Our homemade garlic aioli sauce recipe is made with easy-store cupboard ingredients you’ve probably already got. Made with mayonnaise as the base, our aioli is rich, creamy, and infused with flavors of lemon and garlic. Perfect as a dip or spread, this sauce will elevate any dish.
Get the Recipe: Garlic Aioli

Eastern North Carolina Vinegar Barbecue Sauce

Close-up of a glass jar filled with liquid containing chili flakes. A spoon is dipped into the mixture, and the vibrant red and orange colors of the chili stand out against the clear liquid. — Eastern North Carolina Vinegar Barbecue Sauce. Photo credit: Not Entirely Average.

If you’re all about bold, no-nonsense barbecue, Carolina Vinegar BBQ Sauce is essential. Tangy, fiery, and built to cut through rich, smoky meats, it’s the secret weapon your brisket, pulled pork, and grilled chicken have been waiting for. And if you catch yourself sneaking a spoonful straight from the jar—well, who could blame you?
Get the Recipe: Eastern North Carolina Vinegar Barbecue Sauc