20 Fast Food Chains With the Best Dipping Sauces
One of the best things about fast food chains is their signature dipping sauces. Thereâs something about these sauces that you canât easily replicate at home.
The dipping sauces from fast food restaurants make the perfect finishing touch to their burgers, chicken tenders, or fries, adding a little kick better than the classic condiments.
In this article, weâve rounded up the 20 best fast food dipping sauces that further elevate the menu items.
Whether youâre looking for something savory, slightly sweet, spicy, or with a tangy kick, youâre sure to find your new favorite sauce on this list!
20. Long John Silverâs: Cocktail Sauce
Long John Silverâs is one of the most popular seafood chains, with over 600 locations in 36 states.
The first Long John Silverâs location opened in Lexington, Kentucky, in 1969.
Long John Silverâs locations are designed with a Cape Cod nautical theme, featuring decorations like lobster pots, nautical flags, and ship wheels.
As is fitting for a seafood restaurant, one of the most popular dipping sauces at Long John Silverâs is their Cocktail Sauce.
The Cocktail Sauce is tomato-based, similar to ketchup, but with a little spicy, zesty kick because of the added horseradish, Worcestershire sauce, and lemon.
It is a classic cocktail sauce and goes great with any of their fried seafood dishes, like the wild Alaska pollock, popcorn shrimp, or Pacific cod.
19. Dominoâs: Garlic Sauce
Dominoâs is one of Americaâs most popular pizza chains, specializing in pizza, pasta, and wings.
There are over 6,000 Dominoâs locations in all 50 states.
The first Dominoâs location was opened by brothers Tom and James Monaghan in 1960 in a pre-existing pizza restaurant called DomiNickâs in Ypsilanti, Michigan.
In 1965, DomiNickâs changed its name to Dominoâs, and the rest is history!
Dominoâs offers a variety of dipping sauces, but the Garlic Sauce shines through with its buttery, garlicky taste.
If you love dipping your pizza crusts, this sauce is the perfect accompaniment!
It also goes great with their bread twists, stuffed cheesy breads, and Parmesan bread bites.
18. White Castle: Zesty Zing
White Castle is a fast food chain famous for its wide array of mini hamburger sliders.
There are nearly 400 White Castle locations in the United States, mainly in the Midwest and New York regions.
The first White Castle location was opened by Billy Ingram in 1921. Ingram claims that he invented the square-shaped hamburger slider!
At the time of White Castleâs opening, he sold each slider for only $0.05 a pop.
White Castle serves classic condiments like ketchup, honey mustard, BBQ sauce, and mayonnaise.
However, among all White Castle sauces, the unique sauce that made this list is their Zesty Zing Sauce.
White Castleâs Zesty Zing Sauce is a creamy dipping sauce. The âzesty zingâ comes from a little bit of horseradish and vinegar in the recipe.
The Zesty Zing Sauce pairs well with any of their sliders, like the Original Slider, 1921 Slider, or Bacon Cheese Slider.
17. Jack in the Box: Frankâs RedHot Buffalo Dipping Sauce
Jack in the Box is a fast food chain famous for its large and eclectic menu, which ranges from tacos to egg rolls to burgers and fries.
There are over 2,000 Jack in the Box locations in Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, Missouri, Nevada, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, and Washington.
The first Jack in the Box location was opened by restaurant entrepreneur Robert Oscar Peterson in San Diego in 1951.
Ten years earlier, Peterson had opened a chain of circus-themed fast food restaurants called Topsyâs Drive-In.
In 1951, Peterson transformed the San Diego Topsyâs Drive-In location into the first Jack in the Box, and the rest was history.
Jack in the Box serves many dipping sauces, but one of the most popular is Frankâs RedHot Buffalo Dipping Sauce.
This sauce comes from Frankâs RedHot company and is the same as Frankâs RedHot Buffalo Wings sauce that you can buy in stores.
Like most other buffalo sauces, it is tangy and spicy, with plenty of vinegar and cayenne pepper.
It pairs great with any of the chicken items on the Jack in the Box menu, like their Spicy Chicken Sandwich, Homestyle Ranch Chicken Club, Crispy Chicken Strips, or Chicken Nuggets.
16. KFC: KFC Sauce
KFC, also known as Kentucky Fried Chicken, is one of the most popular fried chicken fast food chains in the United States.
There are almost 4,000 KFC locations in all 50 states.
The first KFC was founded in 1930 by Harland Sanders in Corbin, Kentucky.
Harland Sanders spent almost a decade perfecting his signature fried chicken recipe, which involves a modified pressure fryer and a secret blend of eleven herbs and spices.
KFC dipping sauces include classic flavors like ranch, honey mustard, and BBQ.
However, their signature sauce is simply named âKFC Sauce.â
KFC Sauce is creamy, tangy, a little sweet, and a little smoky.
It was introduced in 2020 and was specifically formulated to pair with their Extra Crispy Tenders.
However, it also goes great with their classic fried chicken, chicken sandwiches, and Secret Recipe Fries!
15. Jollibee: Gravy
Jollibee is a Filipino fast food chain famous for its fried chicken and other beloved menu items.
There are over 60 Jollibee locations in Arizona, California, Florida, Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Texas, Virginia, and Washington.
The first Jollibee location was opened by Tony Tan Caktiong in Quezon City, Philippines, in 1975.
Originally, the first Jollibee was not a fried chicken restaurant but an ice cream parlor.
Eventually, Caktiong began selling hot dishes in addition to ice cream, and soon after, the hot dishes became more popular than the ice cream.
Jollibeeâs gravy is a cult classic, part of what makes the restaurant so popular.
Itâs a classic, creamy, smooth gravy with a savory, rich, chicken-y flavor.
Jollibeeâs gravy comes as a side with all of their fried chicken dishes, which they call Chickenjoy.
14. Arbyâs: Horsey Sauce
Arbyâs is a fast food chain famous for serving roast beef sandwiches and curly fries.
There are over 3,400 Arbyâs locations in the United States.
The first Arbyâs location was opened by Forrest and Leroy Raffel in Boardman, Ohio, in 1964.
Unlike other fast food restaurants, which focused on selling hamburgers, the Raffels decided to distinguish themselves by specializing in roast beef sandwiches.
The Horsey Sauce is the most popular of all Arbyâs sauces, specifically formulated to pair with its roast beef.
Itâs a creamy, slightly spicy sauce that gets its name and zesty flavor from horseradish.
The Horsey Sauce pairs wonderfully with any of Arbyâs roast beef sandwiches, like the Classic Roast Beef, Classic Beef âN Cheddar, or Spicy Roast Beef Sandwich.
13. Popeyes: Mardi Gras Mustard
Popeyes is a fast food chain most well-known for its Cajun-style fried chicken and biscuits.
There are nearly 3,500 Popeyes locations in 46 states, plus Washington DC and Puerto Rico.
The first Popeyes location was founded in 1972 by Al Copeland, Sr., in New Orleans, Louisiana.
Although Popeye the Sailor briefly served as a mascot for Popeyes, the restaurant was not originally named after him, but rather the character Detective Jimmy âPopeyeâ Doyle from the movie The French Connection.
Popeyes serves a variety of dipping sauces to go along with their fried chicken, but one of the most popular is the Mardi Gras Mustard.
Popeyesâ Mardi Gras Mustard is a fun variation of a classic Creole mustard with bold flavors of lemon, garlic, onion, horseradish, and paprika.
It makes the perfect accompaniment to Popeyesâ crispy chicken tenders.
12. Taco Bell: Nacho Cheese Sauce
Taco Bell is one of the largest and most popular Mexican fast food chains, famous for its Americanized versions of tacos, burritos, nachos, quesadillas, and more.
There are over 7,000 Taco Bell locations in the United States.
The first Taco Bell location was opened by Glen Bell in Downey, California, in 1962.
Before opening Taco Bell, Glen Bell was already a successful restaurant entrepreneur, owning a popular hot dog stand called Bellâs Drive-In.
The Nacho Cheese Sauce is one of the best Taco Bell sauces and a huge part of what makes the restaurant so popular.
Itâs a classic Tex-Mex nacho cheese sauce with a creamy, cheesy flavor and an iconic yellow hue.
You can order chips and nacho cheese from many Taco Bell locations, but it comes included on a few of their burritos, nachos, quesaritos, and the Crunchwrap Supreme.
You can also order Taco Bellâs Nacho Cheese Sauce as an add-on to your favorite taco, burrito, or quesadilla.
11. Bojangles: Boâs Special Sauce
Bojangles is one of the popular Southern fast food chains specializing in Cajun-inspired fried chicken.
There are nearly 800 Bojangles locations in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Kentucky, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia.
The first Bojangles location was opened in 1977 by Jack Fulk, Sr., in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Bojangles became famous nationwide in 1989 after Hurricane Hugo, which caused most other restaurants in the Carolinas to shutter their doors, but not Bojangles.
Bojangles is most famous for its Cajun-seasoned fried chicken, buttermilk biscuits, and sweet tea, but part of what makes Bojangles so special is its signature Boâs Special Sauce.
Boâs Special Sauce is a creamy roasted red pepper dipping sauce.
It pairs beautifully with Bojanglesâ fried chicken, homestyle tenders, Boâs Chicken Sandwich, seasoned fries, and Bo-Tato Rounds.
10. In-N-Out: Burger Spread
In-N-Out Burger is a Californian cult classic, famous for its delicious burgers and iconic secret menu.
There are almost 400 In-N-Out locations in seven states: Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, Oregon, Texas, and Utah.
The first In-N-Out Burger location was opened by Harry Snyder in Baldwin Park, California, in 1948.
In-N-Out Burger was the first drive-thru hamburger restaurant to open in California and quickly became a local favorite for its speedy service and amazing burgers.
The Burger Spread is part of what makes In-N-Outâs burgers so good.
The recipe has remained the same for over 70 years since the restaurant first opened in 1948.
Although the recipe remains a tightly guarded secret, many people online speculate that it is a combination of ketchup, mayonnaise, and relish.
In-N-Outâs Burger Spread tastes amazing on any of their burgers, but you can also enjoy it on their Animal Style Fries, which are topped with melted American cheese, griddled onions, and a generous amount of Burger Spread.
9. Culverâs: Wisconsin Cheddar Cheese Sauce
Culverâs is a Wisconsin-based fast food chain famous for its ButterBurgers, cheese curds, and frozen custard.
There are almost 900 Culverâs locations in Alabama, Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.
The first Culverâs location was opened by Curtis Culver in Sauk City, Wisconsin, in 1984.
The restaurant was named after and inspired by Curtis Culverâs beloved mother, Ruth Culver, who was famous for her warmth and hospitality.
The Wisconsin Cheddar Cheese Sauce is one of the best Culverâs sauces and one of its claims to fame.
Itâs made from real Wisconsin sharp cheddar cheese and fresh dairy and is delightfully cheesy and creamy.
It pairs perfectly with Culverâs signature crinkle-cut fries or steamed broccoli.
It also comes included with their pretzel bites and chili cheddar fries!
8. Zaxbyâs: Zax Sauce
Zaxbyâs is a Southern fast casual restaurant chain famous for its chicken.
There are over 900 Zaxbyâs locations, all in the Southeastern United States.
The first Zaxbyâs location was opened by Zach McLeroy and Tony Townley in Statesboro, Georgia, in 1990.
Zaxbyâs is beloved for its different takes on fried chicken, including wings, chicken tenders, and chicken sandwiches.
Zaxbyâs signature dipping sauce, the Zax Sauce, is also a cult classic.
Itâs a creamy, tangy sauce that was custom-made to pair perfectly with chicken.
If you order a Zaxbyâs Signature Chicken Sandwich, itâll already come pre-spread with a generous amount of Zax Sauce.
If you prefer chicken tenders, youâll love dipping your Chicken Fingerz in the Zax Sauce!
7. Chick-fil-A: Polynesian Sauce
Chick-fil-A is one of the largest and most popular fried chicken fast food chains.
There are almost 3,000 Chick-fil-A locations in 47 states, Washington DC, and Puerto Rico.
The first Chick-fil-A location was opened in 1946 in Hapeville, Georgia, by S. Truett Cathy.
Chick-fil-A was the first fast food chain to make the chicken sandwich its flagship menu item.
There are a few Chick-fil-A dipping sauces on the menu, and the Polynesian Sauce is their second-most popular sauce.
The Polynesian Sauce is a delicious sweet and sour dipping sauce with a surprising tangy kick.
It was one of the original dipping sauces on the Chick-fil-A menu, first introduced in 1984.
It pairs incredibly well with their chicken nuggets, grilled nuggets, Chick-n-Strips, and waffle fries.
6. Chipotle: Queso Blanco
Chipotle is another one of the largest and most popular Mexican fast food chains, beloved for its make-your-own tacos, Mission-style burritos, and burrito bowls.
There are almost 3,000 Chipotle locations in 48 states, plus Washington DC.
The first Chipotle location was opened by Steve Ells in Denver, Colorado, in 1993.
It quickly became a favorite of University of Denver students, selling over 1,000 burritos daily within a year of opening.
Chipotleâs Queso Blanco is not the first queso the restaurant has ever served, but it is far superior to its original.
Itâs a smooth, creamy, flavorful cheese sauce infused with poblanos, serranos, chipotle peppers, and notes of garlic and onion.
The cheeses used in Queso Blanco include aged white cheddar and Monterey Jack.
It pairs great with a bag of their tortilla chips, tacos, burritos, quesadillas, or burrito bowls.
5. McDonaldâs: Big Mac Sauce
McDonaldâs is one of the largest and most popular burger chains, renowned for its burgers, chicken nuggets, and fries.
There are over 13,000 McDonaldâs locations in the United States.
The first McDonaldâs location was opened in 1940 by brothers Richard and Maurice McDonald.
By 1958, McDonaldâs had already sold a whopping 100 million hamburgers!
McDonaldâs Big Mac Sauce is part of the recipe for their most iconic hamburger, the Big Mac.
The Big Mac and its iconic sauce were invented by McDonaldâs franchise owner Jim Delligatti in 1967.
For a few years, two different âofficialâ Big Mac Sauce recipes were floating around, each available at different McDonaldâs locations.
In 1972, McDonaldâs consolidated the two different recipes, and the Big Mac Sauce we know and love today was born.
The Big Mac Sauce has a creamy, zesty, and savory flavor, with ingredients including mustard, pickle relish, and onion powder.
4. Whataburger: Spicy Ketchup
Whataburger is a Texas-based fast food chain specializing in jumbo-sized burgers.
There are over 900 Whataburger locations, most of which are in Texas.
The other restaurants can be found in Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Tennessee.
The first Whataburger location was opened by Harmon Dobson in Corpus Christi, Texas, in 1950.
In the â50s, Whataburger served bigger hamburgers than any other local restaurant, so large that customers needed two hands to hold them.
In addition to its delicious burgers, Whataburger is famous for its signature dipping sauce, Spicy Ketchup.
Whataburgerâs Spicy Ketchup first debuted as a limited edition condiment in 2012.
A year later, demand for Spicy Ketchup had become so great that it joined Whataburgerâs menu.
As the name suggests, the Spicy Ketchup tastes like normal ketchup but has a lovely spicy kick.
Itâs made from Whataburgerâs regular Fancy Ketchup recipe but with added chile de arbol, piquin peppers, and a secret blend of additional spices.
3. Chick-fil-A: Chick-fil-A Sauce
Although the Polynesian Sauce is undeniably popular, my favorite Chick-fil-A dipping sauce is the Chick-fil-A Sauce.
Itâs a creamy, savory sauce with notes of mustard and a teeny hint of smokiness.
It was âinventedâ in the 1980s in Fredericksburg, Virginia, when an employee accidentally mixed barbeque sauce and honey mustard.
In 2017, Chick-fil-A served over 500 million individual packets of this cult classic, making it their most popular dipping sauce.
The Chick-fil-A Sauce pairs well with their chicken nuggets, Chick-n-Strips, and waffle fries.
2. McDonaldâs: Honey Mustard
Another popular dipping sauce at McDonaldâs is their Honey Mustard, which also happens to be one of the best McDonaldâs sauces.
Itâs a zesty Dijon mustard with a delightful touch of sweetness from the honey.
The Honey Mustard sauce pairs beautifully with Chicken McNuggets and french fries.
1. Raising Caneâs: Caneâs Sauce
Raising Caneâs is a fried chicken fast food chain famous for its chicken fingers.
There are over 550 Raising Caneâs locations in 31 states.
The first Raising Caneâs location was founded by Todd Graves in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, in 1996.
It was named after Gravesâ pet yellow labrador, Raising Cane, who was also the restaurantâs official mascot until he died in 1998.
The most popular sauce at Raising Caneâs is the Caneâs Sauce, which is one of the restaurantâs signature menu items.
Itâs made from scratch every day in each restaurant, and the recipe is a closely-guarded secret, only known by Raising Caneâs general managers.
The Caneâs Sauce has a creamy, tangy, savory flavor with a hint of smokiness, which pairs incredibly well with their iconic chicken fingers and crinkle-cut fries.
Conclusion
The dipping sauce can be the best part of a fast food meal, providing that perfect finishing touch with an extra flavor.
Whether youâre looking for something savory, sweet, tangy, or spicy, many fast food chains offer a variety of dipping sauces to accommodate your taste.
The next time youâre ordering fast food, use our list of the best dipping sauces to further elevate your chicken nuggets, burgers, or fries!
