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Move over Heinz: From hot honey to gochujang mayo, the best new sauces for spreading this summer
Dunk, drizzle and marinade with our expert-rated buys for 2026
Tested by Joanna AnastasiouFood and Drinks Tester
Whether you’re a die-hard dipper or just looking to liven up your BBQ spread, these summer sauces are the easiest way to add instant flavour to your favourite dishes. From fiery hot honey to herby chimichurri and creamy, spicy mayo, there’s something for every palate.
To bring you the best, our experts at the Good Housekeeping Institute have been busy working their way through a range of the newest and most exciting flavours on the market.
It’s messy work, but someone’s got to do it. While we wipe our fingers clean, get ready to meet your new go-to condiments.
Best summer sauces to buy 2026
Upgrade your BBQ with our expert-approved picks – and read on for the full reviews.
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How we test
Our testers were looking for sauces with bold yet well-balanced flavours that would pep up classic BBQ dishes, from burgers and sausages to steak and veg. All sauces were sampled with a plain tortilla chip to avoid overwhelming the palate (although a plate of fries would have been more fun).
Aldi Bramwells Skeeters Original BBQ Sauce 350g
Aldi Bramwells Skeeters Original BBQ Sauce 350g
Score: 91/100
This sweet BBQ sauce is everything we want in a dip. Testers loved the notes of cinnamon, cumin, garlic and onion, which add lasting flavour to a classic burger or hot dog. Simple but delicious.
Black Bee Honey with Habanero Chilli 227g
Black Bee Honey with Habanero Chilli 227g
Score: 90/100
Whether used as a marinade, dip or drizzle, hot honey makes a versatile (and tasty) addition to any BBQ. This one is made with British wildflower honey and blended with real habanero for a medium kick, impressing testers with its balanced heat, depth and complexity.
Plus, 2% of all sales go to creating wildflower meadows, and each pot features the name of the independent beekeeper behind it.
Score: 89/100
Angus & Oink has effectively bottled the taste of BBQs in one squeezy bottle. Despite containing liquid smoke, there’s no artificial flavour, with cumin and paprika leading the way. Testers loved the treacle sweetness and subtle coffee notes, while the whisky adds richness. Use as a finishing glaze or for dunking – you don’t even need to fire up the grill.
The Ginger Pig Chilli Jam 220g
The Ginger Pig Chilli Jam 220g
Score: 89/100
Chilli jam adds a sweet and spicy kick to your meat and veggies. It works best as a sticky glaze due to its sugar content, which caramelises well under high heat. This one is SUPER spicy, with a homemade look and convenient loose texture for marinating.
Score: 87/100
Sorry Heinz, there’s a new ketchup in town, and it’s perfect for summer. Lidl’s budget-friendly sauce is a steal, with a spicy, fruity flavour that complements chicken or grilled salmon. A certified flavour bomb for your plate.
Tracklements Sweet Mustard Ketchup 290g
Tracklements Sweet Mustard Ketchup 290g
Score: 85/100
A cross between classic ketchup and fiery mustard, Tracklements has nailed the BBQ condiment with this hybrid sauce. Beautifully balanced, with a heat that builds, try it with a Bratwurst sausage and plenty of fried onions.
Sainsbury's Taste the Difference Ultimate Chicken Shop Sauce 250ml
Sainsbury's Taste the Difference Ultimate Chicken Shop Sauce 250ml
Score: 85/100
Recreate the taste of the chicken shop with this creamy condiment made with honey, tomato paste and mustard. We love the smoky finish and think it’s perfect for dunking fried chicken tenders.
Score: 82/100
For the uninitiated, comeback sauce is a mayo-based Mississippi speciality, similar to Thousand Island dressing but with BBQ spices such as Worcestershire sauce and chilli – for more of a Bloody Mary-style kick. The Southern staple is typically served with rotisserie chicken but also works well on salads and burgers. Frankly, we’d slather it on just about everything.
Available 1 June 2026
Score: 80/100
No BBQ should be without a fab burger sauce – and we’ve found it at Co-op. A delicious combination of tomato, mustard and gherkins, it’s proof that sometimes less is more.
CH!MMY'S Chimmy's Chimichurri Sauce 500g
CH!MMY'S Chimmy's Chimichurri Sauce 500g
Score: 79/100
Bright, zippy and packed with herbs, chimichurri makes a good steak feel instantly more exciting. Vegan and gluten-free, this classic Argentine sauce has a gentle heat that won’t overpower the meat (or veggies!) you pair it with.
Score: 78/100
Gochujang – a sweet, savoury and spicy fermented staple – taps into our ongoing love affair with Korean food. Here, it gives classic creamy mayo a heat that builds gently, alogn with a subtle miso note. Great for dunking your chips in or giving potato salad a spicy twist.
More BBQ winners
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
Joanna Anastasiou is our Food and Drinks Tester, and has completed certifications in Sensory Foundation and WSET Wine Level 2 training. Prior to this she studied geography with conservation biology at the University of Exeter and trained at Ballymaloe Cookery School in Ireland. Through this she has developed a passion for sustainability within the food and agricultural sectors. Joanna also volunteers in kitchens with FoodCycle, as well as on multiple wildlife conservation projects, where she formed a particular love for bees!
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