Unconventional Sauce Pairings That Americans Love: A Surprising Culinary Trend

French fries with tartar sauce. Scrambled eggs with barbecue sauce. Pickles dipped in buffalo sauce. These are just a few of the stranger pairings that Americans say they love when it comes to combining sauces and food.

A new survey of 2,000 Americans, conducted by Talker Research for Sweet Baby Rays, reveals just how passionate people are about their sauces — and how far theyll go to make sauce a central part of every meal. Respondents shared additional unusual combinations, including Worcestershire sauce on macaroni, pita bread with honey mustard, and even ranch dressing in ramen noodles.

Of those who regularly eat sauce with their food, 79% said they proudly consider themselves “sauce lovers.” And their loyalty runs deep: 67% admitted to choosing an entire meal specifically because they were craving a particular sauce.

That kind of devotion shows up in their food habits. Americans believe that sauce always belongs on french fries (73%), chicken nuggets (67%) and hot dogs (61%). Certain foods, they say, simply arent complete without it. Chicken wings (59%), cheeseburgers (55%) and tacos (53%) topped the list of foods that respondents said they wont eat without sauce.

Some foods are viewed mainly as a vehicle for sauce, rather than as the main attraction. That includes french fries (68%), chicken nuggets (66%) and chicken wings (60%). The survey also found that Americans take their sauces seriously enough that nearly eight in 10 believe a sauce can make or break a meal (78%).

Among the top favorite sauces, barbecue sauce earned a spot in the hearts — and fridges — of many Americans. In fact, 729 respondents ranked it in their top five. Barbecue sauce tied with ranch (30%) as the top choice for chicken nuggets, followed by honey mustard (25%). When it comes to french fries, though, ketchup still reigns supreme (81%). Mozzarella sticks are most often paired with marinara (47%), though ranch (23%) and even ketchup (10%) were also popular. Chicken wings saw a split vote between ranch (32%) and barbecue sauce (27%).

“Whether its BBQ sauce, hot sauce, or ketchup, to name a few, Americans love sauce,” said Dan Gollinger, brand manager at Sweet Baby Rays. “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.”

The average person surveyed currently has eight different sauces in their fridge. The survey also found some distinct personality differences between self-identified “sauce people” (61% of respondents) and those who dont embrace that label. Sauce fans were more likely to identify as Type A (28% vs. 22%), while sauce skeptics leaned more Type B (52% vs. 48%). Despite that, one in five sauce lovers described themselves as impulsive and more adventurous than their counterparts (73% vs. 47%).

Sauce lovers also tend to smile (32% vs. 28%) and laugh (23% vs. 16%) more than 10 times a day, and they are likelier to say they are generally “very happy” (35% vs. 28%). Interestingly, non-sauce lovers were slightly more likely to report having at least 25 “good days” in an average month (35% vs. 29%). Even astrology may play a role: water signs were the most likely to say theyre “sauce people,” while Leos (10%) and Virgos (10%) were the least enthusiastic about sauce.

”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.”