20 Fast Food Chains With the Best Dipping Sauces
One of the best things about fast food chains is their signature dipping sauces. There’s something about these sauces that you can’t 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, we’ve rounded up the 20 best fast food dipping sauces that further elevate the menu items.
Whether you’re looking for something savory, slightly sweet, spicy, or with a tangy kick, you’re sure to find your new favorite sauce on this list!
20. Long John Silver’s: Cocktail Sauce
Long John Silver’s is one of the most popular seafood chains, with over 600 locations in 36 states.
The first Long John Silver’s location opened in Lexington, Kentucky, in 1969.
Long John Silver’s 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 Silver’s 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. Domino’s: Garlic Sauce
Domino’s is one of America’s most popular pizza chains, specializing in pizza, pasta, and wings.
There are over 6,000 Domino’s locations in all 50 states.
The first Domino’s location was opened by brothers Tom and James Monaghan in 1960 in a pre-existing pizza restaurant called DomiNick’s in Ypsilanti, Michigan.
In 1965, DomiNick’s changed its name to Domino’s, and the rest is history!
Domino’s 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 Castle’s 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 Castle’s Zesty Zing Sauce is a creamy dipping sauce. The “zesty zing” 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: Frank’s 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 Topsy’s Drive-In.
In 1951, Peterson transformed the San Diego Topsy’s 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 Frank’s RedHot Buffalo Dipping Sauce.
This sauce comes from Frank’s RedHot company and is the same as Frank’s 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 “KFC Sauce.”
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.
Jollibee’s gravy is a cult classic, part of what makes the restaurant so popular.
It’s a classic, creamy, smooth gravy with a savory, rich, chicken-y flavor.
Jollibee’s gravy comes as a side with all of their fried chicken dishes, which they call Chickenjoy.
14. Arby’s: Horsey Sauce
Arby’s is a fast food chain famous for serving roast beef sandwiches and curly fries.
There are over 3,400 Arby’s locations in the United States.
The first Arby’s 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 Arby’s sauces, specifically formulated to pair with its roast beef.
It’s a creamy, slightly spicy sauce that gets its name and zesty flavor from horseradish.
The Horsey Sauce pairs wonderfully with any of Arby’s roast beef sandwiches, like the Classic Roast Beef, Classic Beef ‘N 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 “Popeye” 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.
Popeyes’ 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 Popeyes’ 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 Bell’s 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.
It’s 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 Bell’s Nacho Cheese Sauce as an add-on to your favorite taco, burrito, or quesadilla.
11. Bojangles: Bo’s 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 Bo’s Special Sauce.
Bo’s Special Sauce is a creamy roasted red pepper dipping sauce.
It pairs beautifully with Bojangles’ fried chicken, homestyle tenders, Bo’s 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-Out’s 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-Out’s 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. Culver’s: Wisconsin Cheddar Cheese Sauce
Culver’s is a Wisconsin-based fast food chain famous for its ButterBurgers, cheese curds, and frozen custard.
There are almost 900 Culver’s 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 Culver’s location was opened by Curtis Culver in Sauk City, Wisconsin, in 1984.
The restaurant was named after and inspired by Curtis Culver’s beloved mother, Ruth Culver, who was famous for her warmth and hospitality.
The Wisconsin Cheddar Cheese Sauce is one of the best Culver’s sauces and one of its claims to fame.
It’s made from real Wisconsin sharp cheddar cheese and fresh dairy and is delightfully cheesy and creamy.
It pairs perfectly with Culver’s signature crinkle-cut fries or steamed broccoli.
It also comes included with their pretzel bites and chili cheddar fries!
8. Zaxby’s: Zax Sauce
Zaxby’s is a Southern fast casual restaurant chain famous for its chicken.
There are over 900 Zaxby’s locations, all in the Southeastern United States.
The first Zaxby’s location was opened by Zach McLeroy and Tony Townley in Statesboro, Georgia, in 1990.
Zaxby’s is beloved for its different takes on fried chicken, including wings, chicken tenders, and chicken sandwiches.
Zaxby’s signature dipping sauce, the Zax Sauce, is also a cult classic.
It’s a creamy, tangy sauce that was custom-made to pair perfectly with chicken.
If you order a Zaxby’s Signature Chicken Sandwich, it’ll already come pre-spread with a generous amount of Zax Sauce.
If you prefer chicken tenders, you’ll 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.
Chipotle’s Queso Blanco is not the first queso the restaurant has ever served, but it is far superior to its original.
It’s 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. McDonald’s: Big Mac Sauce
McDonald’s is one of the largest and most popular burger chains, renowned for its burgers, chicken nuggets, and fries.
There are over 13,000 McDonald’s locations in the United States.
The first McDonald’s location was opened in 1940 by brothers Richard and Maurice McDonald.
By 1958, McDonald’s had already sold a whopping 100 million hamburgers!
McDonald’s 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 McDonald’s franchise owner Jim Delligatti in 1967.
For a few years, two different “official” Big Mac Sauce recipes were floating around, each available at different McDonald’s locations.
In 1972, McDonald’s 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 ‘50s, 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.
Whataburger’s 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 Whataburger’s menu.
As the name suggests, the Spicy Ketchup tastes like normal ketchup but has a lovely spicy kick.
It’s made from Whataburger’s 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.
It’s a creamy, savory sauce with notes of mustard and a teeny hint of smokiness.
It was “invented” 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. McDonald’s: Honey Mustard
Another popular dipping sauce at McDonald’s is their Honey Mustard, which also happens to be one of the best McDonald’s sauces.
It’s 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 Cane’s: Cane’s Sauce
Raising Cane’s is a fried chicken fast food chain famous for its chicken fingers.
There are over 550 Raising Cane’s locations in 31 states.
The first Raising Cane’s location was founded by Todd Graves in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, in 1996.
It was named after Graves’ pet yellow labrador, Raising Cane, who was also the restaurant’s official mascot until he died in 1998.
The most popular sauce at Raising Cane’s is the Cane’s Sauce, which is one of the restaurant’s signature menu items.
It’s made from scratch every day in each restaurant, and the recipe is a closely-guarded secret, only known by Raising Cane’s general managers.
The Cane’s 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 you’re 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 you’re ordering fast food, use our list of the best dipping sauces to further elevate your chicken nuggets, burgers, or fries!
