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We nearly burned our tongues off in the hunt for the best hot sauce
Bring the heat with our experts’ top picks, from classic sriracha to Mexican inspired flavours
Tested by Callum Black and Georgia Turnell
Whether you’re dipping your toe into the world of hot sauce (one step up from lemon & herb) or a seasoned spice lover, they’re a great way to add a punch of flavour to your favourite dishes.
That’s why our team of experts at the Good Housekeeping Institute have powered their way through 40 different hot sauces to bring you the very best on the market. It’s hot work, but someone’s got to do it. While they cool down, get ready to meet your spice match.
Best hot sauces to buy 2026
Bring the heat with our expert-approved hot sauces and read on for the full reviews.
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What is the Scoville scale?
The Scoville scale is a way of measuring the “heat” of chilli peppers and spices. For example, a standard red bell pepper has a rating of zero, while the Carolina Reaper, one of the hottest peppers, has a rating of over two million Scoville Heat Units (SHU).
We’ve included a SHU rating where available, so you know just how much of a burning sensation to expect. You have been warned!
How we test hot sauce
Our testers were looking for hot sauces with balanced salt, acid, sweetness and heat, plus well-integrated additional flavours from garlic, herbs and spices.
All sauces were tested with a toothpick to avoid overwhelming the palate. And, yes, we had a glass of milk on hand just in case.
Waitrose Pineapple Habanero Hot Sauce 250g
Score: 90/100
Add some heat to your plate with Waitrose’s fruity hot sauce. The fiery habanero builds steadily, delivering a lively warmth, lifted by a hint of fresh pineapple. Try a splash over grilled prawns.
SHU: Unspecified
Available 1 June
Co-op Hot Honey Sriracha 340g
Co-op Hot Honey Sriracha 340g
Score: 88/100
Whether added to eggs, tacos or pizza, sriracha is a super versatile spicy sauce. Co-op has given it a new lease of life here by incorporating the condiment of the season: hot honey. This gives it more of a sweet chilli sauce vibe, with a garlic note and light, short-lasting prickly heat. Try drizzling over halloumi slices before frying them on the BBQ.
SHU: Unspecified
Dr. Will's All Natural Buffalo Hot Sauce 148g
Dr. Will's All Natural Buffalo Hot Sauce 148g
Score: 86/100
Level up your chicken wings, with Dr. Will’s American-inspired hot sauce. Made with habanero chillis and other natural ingredients, the sweet garlic and vinegar dominate, delivering long-lasting heat. The brand recommends using it in its Marry Me Buffalo Chicken Traybake, or on top of tacos. It’s a versatile way to spruce up any meal.
SHU: Unspecified
El Yucateco Habanero Red Salsa 120g
El Yucateco Habanero Red Salsa 120g
Score: 86/100
For an authentic taste of Mexico, look no further. This bright and punchy hot sauce delivers a lively, fruity heat that builds – you’ve been warned. A little goes a long way; we love it in a cheesy breakfast burrito.
SHU: 7,600-9,500
Chimac Korean Hot Sauce 350ml
Chimac Korean Hot Sauce 350ml
Score: 84/100
Gochujang – a sweet, savoury, spicy fermented condiment – has become increasingly popular of late, and for good reason! It’s frequently used in Korean recipes and adds a garlicky burst of heat to everything from marinades to sauces.
This one – made by the popular Dublin-based Korean fried chicken restaurant Chimac – is the brand’s signature sauce.
Our testers described the sauce as “amazing” and “absolutely delicious” and found the tongue tingle strong but short-lasting.
SHU: Unspecified
Aldi Asia Specialities Sriracha Hot Chilli Sauce 535g
Aldi Asia Specialities Sriracha Hot Chilli Sauce 535g
Score: 83/100
A budget-friendly take on the cult Huy Fong ‘rooster’ sriracha, Aldi’s version is every bit as garlicky and sweet. The gentle spice level makes it super versatile, whether drizzled over avocado toast or tossed through noodles.
SHU: Unspecified
Score: 82/100
This iconic sauce is beautifully well-balanced with an authentic flavour, combining notes of cooked down onions, tomatoes and fresh chillis, elevated by a hint of cider vinegar and a good hit of seasoning. A must for Mexican recipes!SHU: 1,000 – 2,000
Score: 82/100
Lidl’s sweet, tangy chilli sauce is made with fried chicken in mind. Testers enjoyed the bold, mouth-filling heat and thick consistency, making it particularly well suited to marinating meat. Ready, steady, cook!
SHU: Unspecified
Ottolenghi Chilli Sauce 170g
Ottolenghi Chilli Sauce 170g
Score: 81/100
Part of Ottolenghi’s time-saving pantry range, this fiery chilli sauce is made with fermented jalapeños and is perfect for pepping up Middle Eastern and Mediterranean dishes. Try it with Turkish eggs, alongside kebabs or swirled through hummus. We recently made these shawarma arayes with chilli and tomato dipping sauce recipe and our guests gave it rave reviews.
Meanwhile panellists praised its fresh, natural taste – making it nearly as good as having the main man there in person.
SHU: Unspecified
Thiccc Sauce Seoul Food Korean Gochujang Hot Sauce 300g
Thiccc Sauce Seoul Food Korean Gochujang Hot Sauce 300g
Score: 81/100
This Korean-inspired gochujang hot sauce has notes of ginger and sesame, on top of the sweet and savoury garlic element. The heat builds to leave a tingly sensation, and our panel felt it would work a treat in a fried chicken burger.
SHU: Unspecified
TRUFF Black Truffle Hot Sauce 170g
TRUFF Black Truffle Hot Sauce 170g
Score: 78/100
Love truffle? You’ll be delighted with this unique hot sauce, which combines the umami notes of truffle with the sharp, tangy heat of red chilli peppers and a subtle agave nectar sweetness. One of the spicier (and pricier) hot sauces we tested, drizzle over grilled meat to add some heat.
SHU: 2,500-3,000
Score: 75/100
Add a kick to your dinner with this supermarket sauce, which is made with powerful habanero. The heat really hits the back of the throat, with chilli being the dominant flavour. There’s also a subtle honey note, and the consistency is perfect for marinating meat or veg.
SHU: Unspecified
Frank's Redhot Original Cayenne Pepper Sauce 148ml
Frank's Redhot Original Cayenne Pepper Sauce 148ml
Score: 73/100
Despite being made up of only five ingredients – cayenne red peppers, vinegar, water, salt and garlic powder – the flavour profile of this sauce is well-rounded and complex. There’s distinct acidity, along with a smokiness and gentle heat from the cayenne pepper that builds with every bite. Serve in a chicken burger or over eggs for brunch.
SHU: 450
Lee Kum Kee Sesame Chilli Dipping Sauce 135g
Lee Kum Kee Sesame Chilli Dipping Sauce 135g
Score: 73/100
Every pantry needs a good chilli dipping sauce, and this one is really great value. Rich in umami soy sauce and nutty sesame, some testers likened it to an Asian-inspired tahini – yum! Smooth and savoury and as thick as honey, it creates a long-lasting light prickly heat. Try it as a marinade for barbecued steak.
SHU: Unspecified
Score: 72/100
This dinky bottle contains a super zingy hot sauce, made with jalapeno and green peppers, for a fresh, natural flavour. As one tester told us, “You could put this on anything, and it will lift it and make it better.” May we suggest a dash over shakshuka?
SHU: 600-1200
Eaten Alive Smoked Sriracha Fermented Hot Sauce 150ml
Eaten Alive Smoked Sriracha Fermented Hot Sauce 150ml
Score: 71/100
With a warming and gentle heat that leaves a lingering tingling sensation, this hot sauce features smoked chilli pepper and onion, which results in smoky, woody flavours that balance nicely with the salty miso.
It’s not the most complex of sauces, but it’s great for adding subtle spice to food in need of a little oomph.
SHU: Unspecified
Score: 71/100
Featuring both habanero and scotch bonnet chilli peppers, testers felt this was a particularly full-flavoured sauce with a good amount of heat, along with tangy notes of onion and mustard. The texture was also a hit, with chunks of chilli mash giving additional explosions of spice.
SHU: Unspecified
Score: 70/100
Simple but well-balanced flavours of sweet grape vinegar, garlic and aged jalapeños make this a great go-to hot sauce for anything you want to spice up. Use as a fiery alternative to ketchup on your favourite barbecued meats.
SHU: Unspecified
Score: 70/100
Ed Sheeran’s not-so-hot sauce makes a vibrant, fresh first impression, thanks to the prominent aromas of citrus and, er, ginger.
The aromas were reflected on the palate, with sweet and sour notes balanced by smoky paprika. The mild heat means it’s a great option for those trying out hot sauces for the first time.
SHU: Unspecified
What do you eat hot sauce with?
The best hot sauces are brilliantly versatile and can liven up plenty of midweek meals, from burgers and chicken wings to grilled prawns. They’re also a brunch essential – drizzle over scrambled eggs and avo on toast or add to a smoky shakshuka sauce.
Hot sauce can also add a dash of heat to chilli con carne and pasta bakes, spice up sandwiches, soups and stir fries, and bring a little extra heat to noodle dishes. The possibilities are endless.
Stacey looks after all food and drink reviews — from coffee pods and veg boxes, to natural wine and tequila. Stacey is also founder of Crummbs, where she’s written nearly 2,000 restaurant and hotel reviews since 2013. Prior to this, Stacey wrote hundreds of in-depth buying guides for the Independent, i newspaper and BBC Good Food, as well as reviewing restaurants and interviewing celebrities in her column at Balance Magazine. Stacey has also appeared in BAFTA-nominated BBC documentary Blood, Sweat & Takeaways, where she investigated South East Asia's food production industry, appearing on both Newsnight and BBC World Service to share her findings. Regularly checking out the latest restaurants, bars and product launches, Stacey also loves experimenting with recipes at home, and is a WSET-certified wine and spirits expert, with over 10 years of experience in the business. You can follow Stacey on Instagram @crummbs_uk
Callum is our Food and Drink Testing Manager and has been part of the world of professional catering for 10 years, from cheffing to food manufacturing. While working in manufacturing he specialised in bespoke product and menu development for several start-ups and well-known brands such as Wrap It Up! and HOP Vietnamese. He holds the WSET Level 2 in wine, a Level 3 in spirits and has a particular interest in agave spirits.
Georgia has been part of the hospitality industry for the last nine years. Her starting point was the world-renowned Le Cordon Bleu culinary school where she gained a Diplôme de Pâtisserie. She has worked at a number of well-known restaurants and bakeries including The Club at the Ivy and Ottolenghi, Notting Hill where she was the head pastry chef. Most recently, Georgia worked at The Clink Bakery inside HMP Brixton, which aims to reduce reoffending through teaching. She is an expert in all things baked goods and holds a WSET level 2 in wine.
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