All 9 Popeyes Sauces, Ranked: A Taste-Test Review

Popeyes sauces come with a variety of delicious flavors that perfectly complement their chicken menu items. After all, no fast-food chicken meal is complete without the perfect dipping sauce. With nine different options ranging from spicy to sweet to tangy, you have plenty of sauce flavors to choose from at Popeyes. But how do they stack up, and which is the best? I tried all 9 Popeyes sauces and ranked them based on taste and versatility.

9. Creole Cocktail Sauce

The Creole Cocktail sauce is a good alternative to the Tartar sauce if you order shrimp or fish at Popeyes. Other than that, I wouldn’t really recommend pairing it with any of their chicken menu items. If you’re craving that classic cocktail sauce flavor with horseradish and tomato, this sauce will fit the bill.

8. Tartar Sauce

Tartar sauce is a staple on pretty much any menu that serves seafood. Popeyes’ version is nothing to write home about, but it pairs perfectly with their Popcorn Shrimp meal. The texture is thick and creamy, and the flavor is accentuated by dill relish that includes pickles and cucumbers. Feeling adventurous? Pair it with their Cajun fries or chicken tenders – it actually doesn’t taste bad.

7. BoldBQ Sauce

Popeyes’ BBQ sauce will do the job when you’re craving that barbecue taste with your chicken, but it doesn’t bring anything more to the table, in my opinion. Sure, it has a smoky and tangy flavor, as you’d expect from any BBQ sauce, but I’m not sure if I can call it “bold,” as its name suggests. The vinegar is the most prominent flavor I tasted, and it was a bit too sweet for my liking. Maybe I have high standards when it comes to BBQ sauces, but I wish Popeyes found a way to make the flavor of this sauce a bit more dynamic.

6. Buttermilk Ranch Sauce

This Popeyes sauce is similar to the classic ranch sauce but has a buttermilk base instead of sour cream. It’s creamy and tangy, and with garlic and herbal flavors, it complements most items on the Popeyes menu. If you’re a fan of ranch flavor, you’ll probably like this sauce, but let me tell you that my number one pick is also a ranch sauce, but better!

5. Bayou Buffalo Sauce

Popeyes’ Buffalo sauce is like a mixture of two flavors – the classic Buffalo and Louisiana-style hot sauce. This dipping sauce gets its heat from red cayenne peppers and a mix of Cajun spices. It has a little bit of a kick but not too overwhelming. Texture-wise, it’s thinner than all dipping sauces. Tangy vinegar complements the spiciness and makes it great to pair with chicken tenders, nuggets, or even Cajun fries.

4. Wild Honey Mustard Sauce

If you love the honey mustard flavor, you’ll probably like this Popeyes sauce. It has a vinegary flavor at first, but the sweetness of the honey kicks in and complements the initial tanginess perfectly. Despite ending on a sweet note, it leans more toward the zesty mustard taste overall. This is one of my favorite sauces at Popeyes to pair with their chicken tenders or nuggets.

3. Mardi Gras Mustard Sauce

The pungent taste of the Mardi Gras Mustard sauce may not be for everyone, but if you’re a horseradish-mustard fan like me, this may just be your new favorite sauce at Popeyes! The prominent flavor here is mustard, which is front and center. This is complemented by horseradish and a mix of spices to create a dynamic flavor profile with every bite. Try it on chicken tenders, nuggets, or even popcorn shrimp for the ultimate pairing.

2. Sweet Heat Sauce

True to its name, Popeyes’ Sweet Heat sauce has sweet and spicy flavors. If you’re a fan of the Asian spicy & sweet chili sauce, this will be right up your alley. Texture-wise, it’s not as thick but will definitely stick to your chicken nuggets or tenders. With such a balanced flavor, this is one of the sauces I always get at Popeyes. And let me tell you, it pairs just as well with their popcorn shrimp.

1. Blackened Ranch Sauce

Remember I mentioned earlier that I had a better ranch sauce for you? Well, this is it, folks – the best sauce at Popeyes has to be their Blackened Ranch because it’s absolutely delicious.

Popeyes took this sauce to the next level by adding plenty of paprika, onion, garlic, and a blend of other spices to the mix. It’s like an amped-up version of classic ranch sauce with a peppery kick. 

You can use it with pretty much any Popeyes menu item, and its versatility and flavor make it stand out among all of their dipping sauces. If you’ll try only one sauce at Popeyes, let it be this one!