Unexpected Food Pairings for Sauce Enthusiasts

Some of the most unusual food combinations enjoyed by Americans include French fries paired with tartar sauce, scrambled eggs drizzled with barbecue sauce, and pickles dipped in buffalo sauce.

A survey involving 2,000 Americans categorized participants according to their enthusiasm for sauces and their commitment to incorporating them into as many dishes as possible.

Respondents shared their other creations like Worcestershire sauce on macaroni, pita bread with honey mustard and ranch dressing in ramen noodles.

Of those who enjoy eating sauce with their food regularly — even with their culinary concoctions — 79% said they’re proud sauce lovers.

Commissioned by Talker Research for Sweet Baby Ray’s, the study revealed that a strong passion for sauces leads two-thirds of respondents to select meals based solely on their sauce cravings (67%).

According to those surveyed, sauce always belongs on french fries (73%), chicken nuggets (67%) and hot dogs (61%).

For chicken wings, barbecue sauce (27%) and honey barbecue (20%) are some of the most popular.

Chicken wings (59%), cheeseburgers (55%) and tacos (53%) ranked high on what respondents simply won’t eat without sauce.

Some foods are seen as just a vehicle to eat sauce, like french fries (68%), chicken nuggets (66%) and chicken wings (60%).

Americans take their sauce so seriously that eight in 10 even agree that sauce has the power to make or break a meal (78%).

Barbecue sauce is among America’s top favorite sauces, with 729 respondents ranking it in their top five.

When voting on their favorite sauces for different foods, barbecue sauce (30%) was found to be a must for chicken nuggets, followed by ranch (30%) and honey mustard (25%).

Ketchup is easily the crowd favorite for french fries (81%), while marinara is the clear winner for mozzarella sticks (47%) — although others enjoy them with ranch (23%) or ketchup (10%).

While a third of respondents agree that chicken wings belong with ranch as the best sauce (32%), 27% enjoy them with barbecue sauce as the best sauce.

“Whether it’s BBQ sauce, hot sauce, or ketchup, to name a few, Americans love sauce,” said Dan Gollinger, brand manager at Sweet Baby Ray’s. “According to the recent survey, 78% of people say sauce can make or break a meal. We understand this mindset and are shining a light on it.”

Currently, the average person surveyed has eight different kinds of sauce in their fridge.

The survey also looked at personality differences between those who call themselves “sauce people” (61%) and those who don’t.

“Sauce people” are more likely to be Type A (28% vs. 22%), while those who prefer their food sauceless are more likely to be Type B (52% vs. 48%).

Despite their meticulous personality type, one in five sauce lovers consider themselves to be impulsive, and are likelier to be more adventurous (73% vs. 47%).

Those who eat more sauce also tend to be more likely to smile (32% vs. 28%) and laugh (23% vs. 16%) more than 10 times a day.

More “sauce people” are also likelier to say they are generally “very happy” (35% vs. 28%), although non-sauce lovers tend to be likelier to have at least 25 “good days” in an average month (35% vs. 29%).

The stars may also dictate your preferences, as water signs swept for the most likely to say that they’re “sauce people,” while Leos (10%) and Virgos (10%) are more averse to sauces on their food.

”People are building entire meals around their favorite sauce. Ultimately, sauce deserves more credit,” said Gollinger. “A sweet, tangy BBQ sauce can add depth to grilled meats, while a bold hot sauce can completely wake up a sandwich or salad. We like to say people should ‘think sauce first.’”

FOODS AMERICANS USUALLY ADD SAUCE TO

1. French fries — 73%
2. Chicken nuggets — 67%
3. Hot dogs — 61%
4. Chicken wings — 59%
5. Cheeseburgers — 55%
6. Tacos — 53%
7. Nachos — 50%
8. Deli sandwiches — 36%
9. Pizza — 31%
10. Vegetables — 29%

Survey methodology:

Talker Research surveyed 2,000 general population Americans; the survey was commissioned by Sweet Baby Ray’s and administered and conducted online by Talker Research between May 15 and May 19, 2025.