With so many hot sauces out there, sometimes it is hard to decide which one to purchase when you are staring at all the bottles on the shelves. But as somebody who has been buying and consuming the stuff for years, I have developed my own go-to list of sauces and usually have most if not all of these on hand at all times. For quite a while I have been planning on putting together a list of my Top 10 Go-To hot sauces, and I have finally gotten around to compiling it. They are not necessarily the hottest sauces, and most of these are familiar names that are widely available (I may do a Top 10 of craft sauces at a later time). But these are all good and can be used with a wide variety of dishes. Basically, you can’t go wrong with these sauces, and almost all of them are not too expensive, so feel free to stock up so that you always have some on hand. (Links below are to my full reviews for each sauce.)
10. Cholula: Next to Tabasco and Huy Fong’s Sriracha, this is one of the hot sauces you will most commonly see in restaurants. And there’s a reason for that: it’s pretty darn good! It is not the hottest by far, coming in right at Mild on my scale, but it is one of the most versatile. It brings a nice tanginess and salty pop along with a unique earthy finish. Consider this a gateway sauce, as it will appeal to those who cannot tolerate higher heat levels (we weep for them) but may still like to add a kick to what they are eating. The sauce will not overwhelm what it is added to, but it will bring some flavor and a little bit of heat. Heat Level: Mild
9. Sontava! Habanero (Extra Hot): I have four habanero-based sauces on this list because that chili pepper happens to be my favorite. (What? You don’t have a favorite chili?) It brings good flavor and good heat and works particularly well in hot sauce as the Sontava! variety proves. This sauce delivers that distinct flavor of the pods followed by a little acid and a nice peppery finish. The fresh carrots and onions help enhance the taste and give it some depth, and there is a little bit of a vinegar pop, but it does not overwhelm. The Extra Hot is my favorite and that comes in close to the Hot level on my scale. Their regular Habanero might be better suited to the average mortal at around the Medium heat level, and the taste is basically the same. But either way, this is a darn good sauce. Heat Level: Hot
8. Secret Aardvark Habanero Hot Sauce: This is another habanero sauce, but it is not like the other ones on this list. The titular chili pepper is mostly there for the heat and you don’t get as much of the unique flavor of the pod. So why include it here? Because Secret Aardvark has put together one of the best taco sauces out there in my opinion. They don’t advertise it as such, but trust me, that is what it is best used for. It has a nice tomatoey tang along with some sweetness and the earthiness you expect from a red sauce. And the flavor is very similar to popular taco sauces, particularly the ones put out by Taco Bell, but it does not overwhelm the taste of what it is added to. This one has a nice balance of flavor and heat–going up beyond Hot on my scale–and works perfectly with tacos and other Mexican-inspired items, though it can also be used to top plenty more dishes as well. Heat Level: Hot+
7. Frank’s RedHot (Xtra Hot): Every list of Go-To hot sauces needs at least one Louisiana-style sauce, and the one I usually reach for is Frank’s RedHot. It brings the tang and vinegar pop you expect from this type of hot sauce, along with that red pepper flavor that makes it stand out. There is not a whole lot of difference between the various Louisiana sauces, but Frank’s version provides a nice balance without too much vinegar or salt. My preference is the Xtra Hot version which comes in a little above the Medium heat level. The Original is closer to mild and that is the one that average mortals would likely prefer. Heat Level: Medium+
6. Dave’s Insanity Sauce: There are any of a number of Insane heat level sauces out there these days, but Dave’s sauces got it all started. This one is extract-based, meaning that it has pure capsaicin driving its heat. It has a very bold, peppery flavor, but this is not one that you are looking at for the flavor. You are not going to be putting a few drops of this on your eggs or in a taco, this is one you use for adding a small amount into a larger dish when you want to amp up the heat. It is at the Insane heat level on my scale on its own (as it says in the name), and it will certainly bring the burn. There are others even hotter out there, but what’s the point? I’m not looking for pure heat, and if I do want to kick things up several notches, this one works just fine. Heat Level: Insane
5. Tapatio: Of the widely available Mexican-style hot sauces, this one ranks highest for me. It is similar to Valentino and Cholula, but with its own special kick. It has the expected tanginess and saltiness that you find in most hot sauces. But it also has an earthiness and smokiness with a hint of cumin. It is actually very similar in taste to Cholula, just a bit more intense and with more heat, coming in around Medium on my scale. If you like that one but are looking for more burn, Tapatio should do the trick. Heat Level: Medium
4. El Yucateco XXXtra Hot Habanero: El Yucateco puts out a variety of “Mayan style” hot sauces, all of which are habanero-based and worth checking out. But when I am reaching for a bottle of their sauces on the shelf, it is typically the XXXtra Hot Habanero. This sauce is a blend of habaneros, tomatoes, and seasonings, and for me it strikes the perfect balance of taste and heat. It has a nice tang and somewhat of a rich, roasted flavor, even though there is no indication that they roast the chilis. It also has a more of an earthy taste than the other sauces in their lineup which gives it that little something extra. It is the hottest of their regular line of sauces, and I would rate it as Hot on my scale. This is one that the average mortal will struggle with, but chiliheads should certainly enjoy it. Heat Level: Hot
3. Melinda’s XXXtra Hot Habanero (Alternate: Marie Sharp’s Hot Habanero): The last of four habanero sauces on this list, and this one has a very similar name to the previous entry but a different taste. This sauce has a nice vinegar tang that is not overpowering and is followed by some sweetness and a nice burst of flavor from the main chili used to spice it up. And it definitely has some heat, coming in above Hot on my scale. Some argue that Melinda’s sauces are not as good as they used to be since moving production to Costa Rica, and that Marie Sharp’s is the better sauce (that is made by the person who originally came up with Melinda’s sauces). I have not done a side-by-side test (though that sounds like a great idea for a future post), so feel free to slot in Marie Sharp’s Habanero sauce here if that is the one you prefer. You really can’t go wrong with either. Heat Level: Hot+
2. Huy Fong Sriracha and Chili Garlic Sauce: This may seem like too obvious of a choice, but when you have a great hot sauce that is beloved worldwide, it will get ranked high on lists like this. David Tran came to the United States in the late ’70s as a refugee and, unable to find a hot sauce like what he had in his home country, started making his own. Since then, his Huy Fong Sriracha has become one of the biggest-selling sauces in the world. It’s not the hottest sauce by far, but it certainly has plenty of flavor and is quite versatile. It has a tanginess and slight sweetness to it with a notable garlic kick and the funkiness that comes from fermenting the chilis. The Chili Garlic sauce is basically the same recipe, though it is chunkier than the Sriracha with a bit more heat and garlic. The sauces were missing from the shelves for a couple of years due to a pepper shortage and I have heard that the new stock has a slightly different flavor. I have not tested that yet, but I expect Huy Fong to remain as one of the top commercial sauces. Heat Level: Mild/Medium
1. Tabasco Sauce: This is another obvious choice, but I make no apologies for putting this one at the top of my list. The original Tabasco is king, and it is one that I reach for on a regular basis. It is a Louisianna-style vinegar-based sauce that brings plenty of tanginess along with a little bit of sweetness to balance that out. It also has the intense pepper flavor that comes from fermenting the chilis and it blends very well with many dishes. It registers between Medium and Hot on my scale and delivers a pretty nice kick. It is a simple sauce, but it is one of the original bottled hot sauces and has remained popular for so many years for a reason: it’s damn good! Tabasco offers several variations of its sauce, and those are all worth trying, but the original is still the best in my book and it has earned its place at the top of this list. Heat Level: Medium+