The Most Popular Sauce at McDonald's, Ranked

Choose the sauce you think is the most popular!

Author: Gregor Krambs
Updated on Apr 17, 2024 07:31
Picture this: you're at McDonald's, staring down the menu, and you decide to add a little extra flavor to your meal with a sauce. But which one to choose? Knowing the top-ranked sauces might just help you make a better choice, catering to popular opinion and maybe introducing you to a new favorite. That's why this live ranking exists: to guide you through the crowd's preferences for McDonald's sauces. By participating with your vote, you contribute to the clarity of the rankings, ensuring that they remain accurate and helpful to both new and regular customers alike.

What Is the Most Popular Sauce at McDonald's?

  1. 1
    57
    votes
    This special sauce is what makes the Big Mac a fan favorite. It's a creamy combination of mayonnaise, relish, mustard, and spices that adds a tangy kick to the burger.
  2. 2
    50
    votes
    Barbecue sauce
    Thogru · CC BY-SA 3.0
    McDonald's barbecue sauce is a classic dipping sauce that pairs well with chicken nuggets, fries, and other menu items.
    Barbecue sauce is a popular condiment for chicken tenders that adds a tangy and smoky flavor to the dish. It is typically made with a combination of ingredients such as tomatoes, vinegar, sugar, spices, and sometimes molasses or honey. The sauce is known for its thick consistency and rich glaze-like texture that adheres well to the tender chicken. It is often brushed onto the chicken during cooking or served as a dipping sauce on the side. Barbecue sauce pairs well with the charred and crispy exterior of chicken tenders, enhancing their taste and adding a hint of sweetness and tanginess.
    • Flavor: Tangy and smoky
    • Consistency: Thick and glaze-like
    • Main ingredients: Tomatoes, vinegar, sugar, spices
    • Additional ingredients: Molasses or honey (optional)
    • Usage: Brushed onto chicken or served as a dipping sauce
    Barbecue sauce in other rankings
  3. 3
    18
    votes
    This tangy sauce is a popular choice for dipping chicken nuggets, but can also be used to add flavor to sandwiches and salads.
    Sweet and sour sauce is a tangy and flavorful condiment that perfectly complements chicken tenders. It is known for its balanced combination of sweetness and tanginess, creating a delightful taste experience.
    • Color: Bright orange or reddish-brown
    • Taste: Sweet and tangy
    • Texture: Smooth and slightly thick
    • Ingredients: Typically includes sugar, vinegar, pineapple juice, ketchup, soy sauce, and spices
    • Versatility: Can be used as a dipping sauce or as a glaze for grilling or baking
    Sweet and sour sauce in other rankings
  4. 4
    24
    votes
    McDonald's honey mustard sauce is a sweet and tangy sauce that adds a flavorful kick to chicken sandwiches and salads.
    Honey mustard sauce is a tangy and sweet dipping sauce that pairs perfectly with chicken wings. It is made by combining honey, mustard, mayonnaise, vinegar, and various spices to create a creamy and flavorful sauce.
    • Taste: Tangy and sweet
    • Ingredients: Honey, mustard, mayonnaise, vinegar, spices
    • Consistency: Creamy
    • Color: Yellow to light brown
    • Flavor profile: Balanced combination of tangy, sweet, and savory
    Honey mustard sauce in other rankings
  5. 5
    14
    votes

    Ranch sauce

    McDonald's
    This creamy, tangy sauce is a popular choice for dipping fries, chicken nuggets, and other menu items.
    Ranch sauce is a creamy and tangy sauce commonly used as a dip or condiment. It is known for its smooth texture and rich, savory flavor.
    • Appearance: Creamy and white
    • Taste: Tangy and savory
    • Consistency: Smooth and thick
    • Ingredients: Mayonnaise, buttermilk, garlic, onion, herbs, and spices
    • Allergens: Contains eggs
  6. 6
    6
    votes

    Spicy buffalo sauce

    McDonald's
    McDonald's spicy buffalo sauce is a hot and tangy sauce that adds a fiery kick to chicken sandwiches and salads.
    Spicy buffalo sauce is a bold and tangy sauce with a hint of heat, perfect for adding flavor to your favorite McDonald's dishes. It combines a rich buffalo flavor with spices that provide a pleasant fiery kick.
    • Heat level: Medium
    • Flavor profile: Bold and tangy
    • Main ingredients: Buffalo sauce, spices
    • Texture: Smooth
    • Usage: Dipping sauce or ingredient in select menu items
  7. 7
    9
    votes
    This classic dipping sauce is a staple at McDonald's and pairs well with fries, burgers, and other menu items.
    Ketchup is a popular chip flavor in Canada that offers a tangy and savory taste reminiscent of tomato ketchup. The flavor is created by combining selected spices and natural tomato powder with the traditional chip seasoning. Ketchup chips have gained a loyal fan base and have become an integral part of Canadian snacking culture.
    • Flavor Type: Tangy and savory with tomato ketchup taste
    • Texture: Crunchy and crispy
    • Color: Vibrant red
    • Ingredients: Potatoes, vegetable oil, tomato powder, spices, and seasoning
    • Availability: Widely available in most grocery stores and snack shops in Canada
  8. 8
    9
    votes
    McDonald's classic yellow mustard is a tangy addition to burgers and other menu items.
    Mustard is a cool-season crop grown primarily for its seeds, which are used to produce mustard oil and condiments. It belongs to the Brassica family and is characterized by its vibrant yellow flowers. The mustard plant grows as a tall, leafy herb, reaching a height of about 2 to 4 feet.
    • Scientific Name: Brassica juncea
    • Family: Brassicaceae
    • Origin: South Asia (possibly India)
    • Growth Duration: 90-110 days
    • Climate: Cool-season crop, prefers temperatures between 45°F and 75°F (7°C - 24°C)
  9. 9
    8
    votes
    This creamy sauce is a popular choice for dipping fish sandwiches and other seafood items.
    Tartar sauce is a popular condiment in the UK, traditionally used as a accompaniment for fried seafood dishes. It has a creamy texture and a tangy flavor profile, often described as a combination of mayonnaise, pickles, capers, lemon juice, and mustard. The sauce is typically white or pale yellow in color, with visible chunks of pickles and capers.
    • Flavor: Tangy, creamy
    • Color: White or pale yellow
    • Texture: Creamy
    • Ingredients: Mayonnaise, pickles, capers, lemon juice, mustard
    • Usage: Accompaniment for fried seafood dishes
    Tartar sauce in other rankings
  10. 10
    6
    votes

    Chipotle BBQ sauce

    McDonald's
    This smoky and spicy sauce is a newer addition to the McDonald's menu and is a popular choice for dipping chicken sandwiches and nuggets.
    The Chipotle BBQ sauce at McDonald's is a smoky and tangy sauce with a hint of spiciness. It is a blend of chipotle peppers, barbecue sauce, and various spices that enhance the flavor. The sauce offers a savory and slightly sweet taste that complements various menu items.
    • Flavor: Smoky and Tangy
    • Spiciness: Mild
    • Main Ingredients: Chipotle Peppers, Barbecue Sauce, Spices
    • Taste: Savory and Slightly Sweet
    • Usage: Perfect for dipping fries, chicken nuggets, and burgers

Missing your favorite sauce?

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Ranking factors for popular sauce

  1. Sales data
    The number of sauce packets sold per day or per month can be a direct indicator of popularity. Comparing sales numbers across different sauces can help rank them.
  2. Social media engagement
    Monitoring social media platforms for mentions or discussions about McDonald's sauces can provide insights into their popularity. The more people talk about a particular sauce, the higher its popularity rank could be.
  3. Menu item pairings
    Analyzing which menu items are typically ordered with each sauce can be an indirect indicator of popularity. If a certain sauce is often ordered with popular menu items, it can be inferred that the sauce itself may be popular as well.
  4. Seasonal trends
    Some sauces may be more popular during specific times of the year, like limited-time promotional sauces related to holidays or events. Considering these trends can also impact the overall ranking.
  5. Availability
    The availability of a sauce can also influence its popularity. If a sauce is only available for a limited time or in specific locations, it may not be as popular as other sauces that are available year-round and in all locations.
  6. Marketing and promotion
    The level of marketing and promotion behind a sauce can influence its popularity, as more advertising and attention surrounding a sauce can lead to increased awareness and sales.

About this ranking

This is a community-based ranking of the most popular sauce at McDonald's. We do our best to provide fair voting, but it is not intended to be exhaustive. So if you notice something or sauce is missing, feel free to help improve the ranking!

Statistics

  • 2105 views
  • 197 votes
  • 10 ranked items

Voting Rules

A participant may cast an up or down vote for each sauce once every 24 hours. The rank of each sauce is then calculated from the weighted sum of all up and down votes.

More information on most popular sauce at mcdonald's

When it comes to fast food chains, McDonald's is one of the most popular and recognizable names in the world. Known for their burgers, fries, and iconic golden arches, McDonald's also offers a variety of sauces to go with their menu items. From classic ketchup and mustard to more unique options like sweet chili and creamy ranch, there is no shortage of sauces to choose from. But what is the most popular sauce at McDonald's? While opinions may vary depending on personal taste, one sauce reigns supreme: McDonald's signature Big Mac sauce. This creamy, tangy sauce is a blend of mayo, mustard, relish, vinegar, and spices, and it's been a favorite among McDonald's customers for decades. In fact, the Big Mac sauce is so beloved that McDonald's even offers it as a standalone condiment for dipping. Of course, that's not to say that other McDonald's sauces aren't popular as well. Barbecue sauce, sweet and sour sauce, and honey mustard are all popular choices among customers. But if you're looking for the ultimate McDonald's sauce experience, it's hard to go wrong with the classic Big Mac sauce.

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