Nikole Stewart
Sometimes you just can’t be bothered to cook something extravagant, yet you still want those flavors. That’s where the best pantry sauces come in. It’s nice to whip up something basic and then add your preferred sauce, and bam, you have a cravabale bite. From common pantry staples to unique finds, these are our favorite pantry sauces that instantly upgrade any dish.
7. Béarnaise Sauce
Starting our list of best pantry sauces, we have béarnaise, a mouth-watering French sauce that is made from clarified butter, egg yolks, and herbs. It’s rich, creamy, and offers a luxurious taste to delicate and rich foods such as grilled meats, seafood, vegetables, and even on sandwiches. Making it at home, while delicious, can be complicated, so keeping some on hand is an easy way to make a meal pop instantly.
6. Yum Yum Sauce
This creamy, tangy, sweet mayonnaise-based condiment is a popular sauce with Japanese-American dishes. It’s perfect as a dipping sauce for dumplings and fried food. Or as a marinade for chicken and fish dishes. Some even add it as a salad dressing or burger topping.
5. Teriyaki
Perfect for stir fries, as a dip, and even covering your favorite wings, teriyaki sauce is another one of the best pantry sauces that you should keep on hand. The sweet yet savory sauce is perfect for a variety of dishes. It’s also quite affordable, with the popular Kikkoman brand only being a few dollars at the store.
4. Pesto
From a pasta sauce to a spread to a dip, pesto is really a great sauce to have on hand at all times. Easily one of the best pantry sauces around, pesto is a delicious Italian creation made from basil, garlic, pine nuts, parmesan, and more, offering bold flavors. Some of the best brands include Delallo and Bella Terra traditional pesto.
3. Hot Sauce
One of the best pantry sauces out there is simply hot sauce. It might be hard to narrow down which one is your all-time favorite, but once you do, you’ll never go back. Cholula offers the perfect heat when eating noodles, especially ramen. While Frank’s RedHot is bold and powerful, perfect for protein. If you want something luxurious, try Truff’s hot sauce, a great addition to noodles.
2. Garlic Sauce
While you can easily make a garlic sauce at home with a few ingredients, it’s easier to grab the best pantry one. For instance, Buffalo Wild Wings has a savory and bold Parmesan Garlic sauce that is crave-worthy. Or you can opt for Frank’s RedHot Roasted Garlic sauce. Either way, this is a dippable sauce that is perfect with chicken or tots, or to add to your stir fry.
1. Soy Sauce
Commonly used in asian dishes for added flavor, soy sauce is a great pantry sauce if you want something rich and savory. Along with that, it’s known for its rich, umami flavor with numerous health benefits, especially its antioxidant properties. Add it to your rice and noodle dishes, or as added flavor in homemade sauces.