22 Flavor-Packed Sauces for Fried Chicken

From ranch dressing to fermented hot sauces and even Shake Shack's secretive Shack Sauce, these are the best sauces to serve alongside that crispy chicken.

The Serious Eats Team

Updated April 26, 2023

A plate of Maryland fried chicken with gravy being poured over. — Serious Eats / Vicky Wasik

Who doesn't love fried chicken? (We don't actually want to know the answer to that.) Whether you make it home (good luck choosing from one of our many recipes!) or head to Popeyes to grab a box for the family, biting into the crispy, craggy crust of a fried chicken leg is an experience unlike any other. But sometimes all that chicken could use something a bit more—especially when piled high on a sandwich—which is when we love to turn to sauces for a boost of flavor. From ranch dressing to fermented hot sauces and even a replica of Shake Shack's secretive Shack Sauce, these are the best sauces to serve alongside whatever kind of fried chicken you're having.

Sweet Soy Sauce
Vicky Wasik
This soy-based sauce is delightfully sweet and garlicky.
Sweet Soy Sauce For Korean Fried Chicken Recipe
Sweet and Spicy Chili Sauce
Vicky Wasik
Korean fried chicken gets its kick from fiery gochujang.
Sweet and Spicy Chili Sauce
White Gravy
Vicky Wasik
This simple white gravy takes fried chicken to a whole new level of indulgence.
White Gravy
Ranch Dressing
Serious Eats / Amanda Suarez.
Here, creamy, rich buttermilk melds with the subtleties of fresh parsley, chives, and dill.
Ranch Dressing
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Sweet and Sour Sauce
Serious Eats / Debbie Wee
Homemade sweet and sour sauce is quick, easy, and the perfect condiment for your own fried chicken.
Sweet and Sour Sauce
Fermented Hot Sauce With Fresno Chiles, Garlic, and Tamari
Vicky Wasik
Charred Fresno chiles add complex flavor and heat, tamari supplies savory backbone, while garlic oil blends in for an emulsified sauce that's creamy and rich.
Fermented Hot Sauce With Fresno Chiles, Garlic, and Tamari
Chipotle Fermented Hot Sauce With Garlic, and Cumin
Vicky Wasik
Loosely inspired by Mexico's Cholula brand of hot sauces, this spicy homemade condiment is packed with the smoky flavors of chipotle and the bold funk of cumin and garlic.
Chipotle Fermented Hot Sauce With Garlic, and Cumin
Thai Dried Chili–Vinegar Dipping Sauce
Vicky Wasik
With plenty of heat and a kick of vinegar, this Thai-inspired dipping sauce is a perfect match for fried chicken.
Thai Dried Chili–Vinegar Dipping Sauce
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XO Sauce
This luxurious flavor-bomb condiment is rich with dried seafood and cured ham.
XO Sauce
Shack Sauce
Serious Eats / Andrew Janjigian
Shake Shack's secretive Shack Sauce is a creamy, tangy condiment for Shack Burgers —and fried chicken, of course.
Shack Sauce
Spicy 'Nduja Mayonnaise
Vicky Wasik
For the best spicy mayonnaise, stir in some funky, salty 'nduja.
Spicy 'Nduja Mayonnaise
Curry Leaf and Mustard Oil Mayonnaise
Nik Sharma
The peppery heat of mustard oil and aromatic curry leaves give this luxurious and rich mayo incredible depth of flavor.
Curry Leaf and Mustard Oil Mayonnaise
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Chipotle Mayonnaise
Vicky Wasik
With just a few ingredients, you can create a complex mixture of spicy, cool, earthy, and smoky that becomes an excellent spread for fried chicken sandwiches.
Chipotle Mayonnaise
Nuoc Cham
Joshua Bousel
At its simplest, nuoc cham is a mixture of water, sugar, lime juice, and fish sauce, creating the base that's a staple of Vietnamese flavor.
Nuoc Cham
South Carolina Mustard Sauce
Joshua Bousel
This simple sauce starts with a mustard base, mixes some sweetness in with sugar, the vinegar gives it a barbecue tang, and just enough spices create a uniqueness between one sauce and another.
South Carolina Mustard Sauce
Ponzu Sauce (Japanese Citrus Dipping Sauce)
J. Kenji López-Alt
Sweet mirin, refreshing citrus, and smoky, savory bonito flakes and kombu join forces for one flavorful powerhouse.
Ponzu Sauce (Japanese Citrus Dipping Sauce)
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Harissa Aioli
J. Kenji Lopez-Alt
Creamy aioli gets a flavor upgrade with spicy harissa.
Harissa Aioli
New Orleans Remoulade Sauce
Mayonnaise is the base for this remoulade brimming with fresh herbs and spices.
New Orleans Remoulade Sauce
Ponzu-Ginger Dipping Sauce
Vicky Wasik
This no-cook dipping sauce features ponzu, the citrus- and soy-spiked Japanese sauce, that's enlivened with ginger, scallions, and sesame oil.
Ponzu-Ginger Dipping Sauce
Thai-Style Dipping Sauce
Vicky Wasik
To make this amazing sauce, we start with the classic combination of Asian fish sauce, lime juice, and sugar, then punch it up with raw garlic, fresh cilantro, and hot chile flakes.
Thai-Style Dipping Sauce
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Kimchi and Honey Dipping Sauce
Vicky Wasik
To turn kimchi paste into a dipping sauce we temper it with honey, sesame seeds, and melted butter to create a smooth condiment that's intensely sweet, spicy, buttery, and just a little nutty all at once.
Kimchi and Honey Dipping Sauce
Memphis-Style Barbecue Sauce
Joshua Bousel
Memphis-style barbecue sauce takes the aspects of sweet tomato-based sauces and dials back the sugar while amping up the vinegar.
Memphis-Style Barbecue Sauce

Dipping Sauce

22 Flavor-Packed Sauces for Fried Chicken

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