The Best Hot Sauces to Pair With Chicken

Chicken is a versatile protein that can be prepared in endless ways. From oven-baked to deep-fried, grilled to sautéed chicken dishes are a staple in many households. But sometimes chicken on its own can be a little boring. That’s where hot sauce comes in! A dash of spicy sauce is an easy way to inject big flavor into any chicken recipe.

When it comes to heat and chicken, there are so many great hot sauces to choose from The options run the gamut from tangy to savory, fruity to smoky So which hot sauces pair best with chicken? Here are some of the most popular and delicious ways to give chicken an extra kick.

Classic Buffalo Sauce

This vinegar-based sauce is the OG when it comes to chicken. Who hasn’t enjoyed juicy chicken tenders dipped in creamy, peppery Buffalo sauce? The quintessential bar food was invented in (where else?) Buffalo, New York in 1964. Buffalo chicken wings were born when the owner of Anchor Bar had some leftover chicken wings and decided to deep-fry them and douse them in a spicy sauce made with hot pepper and vinegar. The result was a hit and Buffalo chicken wings became a phenomenon.

Made with cayenne pepper, Frank’s RedHot sauce gives chicken a pleasant heat along with zesty, tangy flavors from the vinegar. Butter is also added for richness. From wings to sandwiches, fingers to dipping sauces, Buffalo-style hot sauce is ideal for any fried or baked chicken recipe. Try mixing it with ranch or blue cheese dressing for cooling contrast.

Sriracha

This versatile Asian hot sauce has taken the world by storm. Made from chili peppers, vinegar, garlic, sugar and salt, sriracha has a sweet, garlicky kick that jazzes up any dish. The bright red sauce is made by Huy Fong Foods and can be found squeezable bottles in grocery stores everywhere.

Sriracha adds a flavorful punch to everything from eggs to pizza. A few shakes over chicken is an instant upgrade. The hot sauce plays well with the savory umami flavor of chicken. Sriracha chicken wings, either baked or fried, are a go-to appetizer. For a quick weeknight dinner, add sriracha to stir-fries or pan sauces for juicy chicken breasts or thighs. Mix it with mayo for a spicy chicken sandwich spread. Sriracha elevates the flavor of chicken in endless ways.

Cholula

This Mexican hot sauce has a distinct ravenous following. Made from arbol and piquin peppers, Cholula has a tasty blend of heat and tangy flavors. Aged in wooden barrels, it has a smooth, rounded flavor with hints of smoke. Cholula comes in a variety of flavors beyond original, like chipotle, green pepper and lime.

A few dashes of Cholula give chicken an instant boost. It’s especially good on grilled chicken, adding smoky depth and moderate spiciness. Mix it with melted butter to brush over chicken breasts and thighs while grilling for intense flavor. Cholula is also ideal for tacos, fajitas, enchiladas and other Mexican chicken dishes. Add it to pinto beans, rice or meat mixtures for a flavor punch.

Tabasco

No roundup of hot sauces would be complete without the OG Tabasco. Made from tabasco peppers grown on Avery Island in Louisiana, this vinegar-based sauce has been spicing up dishes since 1868. The iconic bottle with its signature red and green labeling is found in restaurants and homes worldwide.

A few shakes of Tabasco give chicken a lovely chili pepper flavor with vibrant acidity. It works great on everything from baked chicken to casseroles and sandwiches. Try it in gumbos, jambalaya and other Cajun or Creole dishes featuring chicken. The milder flavor of Tabasco blends beautifully with chicken without overpowering it. For extra flavor, mix Tabasco with honey or maple syrup and use it as a glaze for chicken wings and drumsticks.

Texas Pete

This North Carolina favorite started as a salsa before evolving into the popular hot sauce it is today. Texas Pete has a blend of spicy and tangy flavors from aged cayenne peppers and vinegar. It brings a tasty kick to chicken without excessive heat.

Texas Pete can be used in a variety of chicken recipes. Shake it over fried chicken for a flavor boost. Mix it with melted butter or olive oil to make a zesty marinade or basting sauce. For finger-licking goodness, toss chicken wings or tenders in Texas Pete hot sauce before baking. Add it to soups, stews and pot pies to spice up the chicken. Texas Pete is a versatile and easy way to add flavor to chicken dishes.

Frank’s RedHot

This iconic hot sauce is arguably the backbone of Buffalo sauce. Made with a blend of aged cayenne peppers and vinegar, Frank’s RedHot delivers a pleasant heat that accents chicken perfectly. It’s used as a base for Buffalo chicken wings and can jazz up all kinds of chicken recipes.

Use Frank’s RedHot to make spicy oven-baked chicken fingers or fried chicken. Drizzle it over grilled chicken breasts for extra zing. For a simple dinner, shake it over chicken pieces before roasting or baking. Mix it with melted butter for a flavored sauce or glaze. Frank’s RedHot pairs especially well with blue cheese, ranch and other creamy dips and dressings, so break it out for parties and game day apps.

Crystal Hot Sauce

If you see clear hot sauce bottles with bright red caps, you’ve spotted Crystal. This Louisiana hot sauce features aged cayenne peppers fermented in white vinegar. The result is a flavorful sauce with a clean, crisp bite.

Crystal has a less acidic taste than other vinegar-based sauces, making it versatile for all kinds of dishes. It can be drizzled over baked or fried chicken for a little extra oomph. Mix it with butter or oil for a zesty marinade or basting sauce. Crystal is also great in Cajun and Creole recipes like jambalaya, gumbo and red beans and rice. Its balanced flavor adds a touch of heat without overpowering the other ingredients.

El Yucateco

For an authentic Mexican flavor, try El Yucateco hot sauces. Made from habanero peppers grown in the Yucatán Peninsula region, these sauces pack some serious heat along with dynamic flavor. Green and red varieties are available, both featuring the fruity, tropical taste of habaneros.

El Yucateco brings excitement to your chicken tacos, fajitas, quesadillas and other Mexican favorites. A few drops add smoky, citrusy heat to enchilada sauce or chili. Use it to spice up the chicken in burritos and nachos. El Yucateco green sauce makes a great marinade for grilled chicken. For extreme spice lovers, a few shakes of the red sauce fires up any chicken meal. A little goes a long way with this hot sauce!

Cholula Chili Lime

The unique blend of Cholula with lime juice and chili peppers creates a sauce that’s ideal for chicken. The lime adds vibrancy while chili peppers provide a smoky, moderate heat. Chili lime Cholula has a creamy texture and intriging flavors.

This sauce pairs perfectly with grilled chicken, bringing out the savory flavors. Use it as a marinade or basting sauce while grilling chicken breasts and thighs. The lime cuts through richness while the chili peppers complement the char. Chili lime Cholula also jazzes up tacos, fajitas, quesadillas and more. Try it on oven-baked chicken tenders or drumsticks too. The tangy zip balances beautifully with chicken.

Torchbearer Garlic Reaper

For extreme spice lovers only! This sauce harnesses the incredible heat of the Carolina Reaper pepper, considered one of the world’s hottest chilis. When paired with roasted garlic, the combination is magic on chicken. The garlic tames and balances some of the intense heat.

Use just a few drops of Garlic Reaper to light chicken up with flavor. It works great in buffalo chicken wing recipes, especially when paired with cooling ranch or blue cheese dip. The garlic flavor is a nice complement in pasta dishes featuring chicken. This sauce should be handled with care but adds an insane kick when used sparingly. Definitely not for the faint of heart!

Secret Aardvark Habanero Sauce

Hailing from Portland, Oregon, this unique sauce has a cult following. It features smoky habanero blended with tomatoes, mustard and spices. The balance of sweet and heat pairs perfectly with chicken.

Secret Aardvark gives a flavor jolt to tacos, enchiladas and other Mexican chicken favorites. Shake it on before roasting chicken pieces or drizzle over grilled chicken breasts. The rich flavors even enhance chicken noodle soup or chicken fried rice. For a tasty sandwich spread, combine it with mayo. Secret Aardvark is one of the most versatile and crowd-pleasing spicy sauces for chicken.

Yellowbird Serrano Condiment

Made from serrano peppers, this green sauce has a tangy bite that livens up chicken in so many ways. Yellowbird also contains carrots, onion, lime juice, cilantro and spices like cumin for layers of bright flavor.

Use Yellowbird to spice up fajitas, tacos, quesadillas and more. Toss chicken wings in it before baking for mouthwatering heat. Drizzle it over grilled chicken or add some to chicken salad for extra zip. As a condiment, it jazzes up sandwiches and burgers featuring chicken. Yellowbird adds vibrant flavor without excessive spice, making it very versatile.

Pepper Palace Trinidad Moruga Scorpion

One of the world’s hottest peppers, the Trinidad Moruga Scorpion makes an intense hot sauce. For extreme spice fans, just a few drops adds insane heat to chicken dishes along with tropical fruity notes. Use with extreme caution!

A tiny amount can transform chicken wings into a fiery feast. Add some to chili, jambalaya or curry for an atomic kick. Even grilled chicken breasts or tenders become volcanic with a dash of this sauce. Pepper Palace makes other flavors featuring the Moruga Scorpion, like mango and pineapple, which balance the heat a bit. This is definitely not for newbies in the spicy category!

Melinda’s Naga Jolokia Pepper Sauce

Also known as ghost pepper, the Naga Jolokia is one of the spiciest peppers around. Melinda’s harnesses this intense heat in a sauce that also has great flavor from carrots, onion, lime juice and vinegar. Just a few drops is all it takes for chicken.

Transform boring chicken into a mouth-burning adventure with this sauce! It can amplify the heat in buffalo wings and hot wing recipes. Add some to tacos and other Mexican favorites for an incendiary experience. Try it in small doses in curries, stews and soups featuring chicken. For those who thrill to scorching heat, Melinda’s Naga Jolokia sauce makes chicken wildly fiery.

Gator Hammock Gator Sauce

With a bright orange color and distinctive bottle, Gator Hammock sauce grabs attention. Using ghost peppers, habaneros and chipotles, this sauce packs heat along with savory, smoky depth from garlic. It’s a hot sauce with amazing flavor complexity.

Gator Hammock adds a flavor explosion to chicken wings, especially when paired with blue cheese dip. A few shakes over oven-baked or grilled chicken ratchets up the heat and savory flavors. It also brings an extra punch to BBQ glazes and sauces for chicken. For extreme spice fans, mix Gator Hammock with ranch or mayo for a chicken sandwich spread that bites back. It may not be for everyone, but chili heads will love it on chicken.

Queen Majesty Scotch Bonnet & Ginger

With a gorgeously red-orange color, Queen Majesty sauce looks as flavorful as it tastes. Scotch bonnet peppers provide intense but fruity heat, while ginger and spices make it exceptionally vibrant. This sauce livens up the flavor of chicken in amazing ways.

Queen Majesty gives jerk chicken next-level heat and island flavors. It’s terrific in curries, stews and soups containing chicken. Use it to make zesty tacos, fajitas and quesadillas. Drizzle it over grilled or baked chicken for mouthwatering results. Mix Queen Majesty with honey or maple syrup to make a kicked-up glaze for chicken wings. With its tropical flavors and heat, this sauce pairs fantastically with chicken.

Dirty Dick’s Hot Pepper Sauce

With its distinctive yellow label and amusing name, Dirty Dick’s sauce stands out. Made with tropical habanero, pineapple, key lime and spices, this sauce packs a fruity punch of heat. It elevates chicken with exciting flavors.

Dirty Dick’s makes grilled chicken pop with flavor. Mix it with olive oil or melted butter for a great marinade or basting sauce. Give chicken wings exotic flavor and heat by tossing them in this sauce before baking. Add it to stir fries and curries containing chicken for tastebud excitement. Dirty Dick’s tropical vibe enhances poultry dishes of all kinds.

Blair’s After Death Sauce

If you’re hardcore enough to try one of the world’s spiciest hot sauces, Blair’s After Death will melt your face off in the best way possible. Extracted capsaicin oil makes this potent sauce wildly fiery. Just a drop or two overwhelms chicken with insane heat.

Use sparingly and with caution on chicken wings and in sauces, stews and chilis featuring chicken. This is not for novices – Blair’s After Death sauce is for extreme spice addicts only! It should be handled carefully to avoid accidentally ruining dinner. But for daredevils, it delivers hellish heat that makes chicken an inferno of flavor.

The array of hot sauces available means there’s a perfect option to give your chicken an extra spark. From mildly spicy to searingly hot, hot sauces provide endless ways to upgrade chicken with excitement. The next time you cook up some chicken, elevate the flavor with a splash or shake of your favorite fiery condiment!