A trip to Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen really isn’t complete without indulging in their delicious fried chicken, made even better when smothered in one or more of their signature sauces.
Popeyes have a lot of sauces to choose from, and some are simply better than others!
We’ll explore all the sauces at popoyes and rank them from best to worst so you know how to curate you order, when next you visit the restaurant.
The Varieties Of Sauces At Popeyes
When it comes to dipping your favorite Popeyes dish, the options are abundant. You can find sweet, spicy, tangy or even smoky flavors all for nothing but making your dishes taste great!
Here is the list of sauces you can find at popeyes.
Buttermilk Ranch (150 cal)
Popeyes buttermilk ranch is made like any other regular buttermilk ranch and also tastes like it, meaning that it leaves a lingering afer taste, and that’s why it didn’t score high up on our ranking list (check below).
It’s just the regular stuff, albeit delicious for chicken tenders, wings, nuggets and Cajun fries. It (as usual), adds a mild, savory touch to them.
Bold BQ Sauce (45 cal)
The Bold BBQ sauce is a combination of sweet and tangy; sweet probably from the inclusion of high fructose corn syrup and molasses and tangy from distilled vinegar, tomato paste and soy sauce. It also has a smoky flavor added to it with some golden brown color from caramel.
Overall, it’s not the kind of sauce to knock you to your seat, but it does do the “flavoring a chicken wing” job anyways!
Sweet Heat Sauce (73 cal)
The sweet heat sauce is not that heavy in terms of the calorie bomb it drops, at 73 calories. And what makes it even more likable is the perfect transition you get from spicy to sweetness – perfect to pair with almost anything!
Mardi Gras Mustard (95 cal)
This one is a true celebration of flavors inspired by New Orleans’ carnival spirit. It’s packed with spices and ingredients that would interest any taste buds. There’s zesty notes from horseradish and lemon, and a somewhat tangy edge from vinegar and mustard.
This sauce goes with almost everything and is certainly not one to be missed.
Wild Honey Mustard (125 cal)
Released in 2019, the Wild Honey Mustard is made from honey mustard which brings in sweetness, tanginess as well as creaminess. Unlike regular mustard, this one is so tame that your buds have no choice but to love it!
Creole Cocktail Sauce (31 cal)
The Creole Cocktail sauce they say is a perfect accompaniment for seafood. I personally and not a great fan of this for its too much sweetness (despite being a cocktail sauce) and overpowering acidic flavor and greasy texture, but hey, in any case, it’s still a sauce worth pairing with the wings or seafood, just don’t go beyond that!
Tartar Sauce (140 cal)
Popeyes tartar sauce is just like regular tartar sauce (combines dill pickle relish, onion, parsley and Louisiana seasonings for a well-rounded blend of flavors).
When you try it, you’d realize that there really isn’t too much twist to make it stand out differently, albeit, it is still a good one.
But where varieties exist to make wings and popcorn shrimp pop a bit, I bet the sauce is the last thing you’d opt for!
Blackened Ranch Sauce (118 cal)
If you’re looking for something bold yet smooth, this blackened ranch is just the ticket. It offers a rich taste (upped by the extra black seasoning) that pairs beautifully with fried chicken, fries or any other seafood on their menu.
Bayou Buffalo Sauce (74cal)
Channeling the spirit of the bayou, this buffalo sauce brings a zesty, tangy heat to your Popeyes spicy and crusty tenders as it’s made with a hot sauce based upon cayenne pepper mixed with butter, celery and Cajun seasoning. Overall, it’s like the standard buffalo sauce you’ve come to know, but with an extra kick of heat and a bit of sourness.
It may go well with some tender and not so great with others.
Popeyes Sauces Ranked (From Best To Worst)
If you’re ever confused as to which sauce to choose when ordering from Popeyes, I’ve got you covered!
Here’s my definitive ranking of the best to the worst sauces currently offered at Popeyes.
Blackened Ranch
This smoky twist on the classic buttermilk ranch is an absolute winner. The added kick of blackened seasoning, onion and garlic powder elevates this favorite, making it the perfect partner for your chicken tenders and more. One bite and you’ll be hooked on its peppery goodness. It’s really that good, try it!
Mardi Gras Mustard
A super blend of mustardy flavor and a hint of horseradish, this sauce boasts background notes of garlic, onion powder, paprika and lemon juice concentrate. It’s a wonderful flavor carnival in every dip! That’s why it’s second on my list.
Bold BBQ
Love a sweet and tangy mix? The Bold BBQ sauce is certainly there to satisfy your cravings. It’s made with a great combo of molasses, spices and a subtle smoky undertone, and it adds a whole new dimension to those quality crunchy tenders.
Sweet Heat
For those who like it hot and sweet, this sauce delivers on both fronts, and perfectly well. The blend of honey with chili peppers creates an irresistible spicy kick that’s balanced by its sweetness. It is perfect for when you want something out-of-the-box.
Buttermilk Ranch
Though it may be just your regular traditional ranch dressing, there’s no denying that it always tastes great with fried chicken. A classic choice for a reason, and comes easily in front of all other sauces we’re yet to mention!
As for my least favorites, they include the Creole Cocktail Sauce and Bayou Buffalo – nothing too special about these two.
I don’t even know what to say about the Creole Cocktail Sauce, but as for the Bayou Buffalo, while it may taste just fine like other standard buffalo sauces, it doesn’t quite measure up to the top contenders. Still, you can’t go wrong as long as you’re dipping those crispy Popeyes chicken tenders!
So there you have it, my definitive ranking of the sauce at popeyes from best to worst.
