Brian Nagele
When I am enjoying a serving of chicken nuggets, I don’t decide what dipping sauce to use lightly. But, as we all know, choosing the wrong one can make your entire meal unfavorable. Therefore, one must choose wisely.
To curb the feeling of disappointment when one goes in the wrong direction and instant regret sets in, I have compiled what I feel are the most popular chicken nugget dipping sauces.
Not only will I provide a list, but I will also include my reasons for selecting those sauces in particular.
Check out our favorite condiments for chicken fingers, tenders, and nuggets!
Ketchup
I know what you’re thinking – ketchup? It is the most popular of chicken nugget dipping sauces, so I list ketchup at the top.
However, trust me on this one. There is no other dipping selection as universally accepted as ketchup.
Not only that, but the tanginess of the tomato hitting the crisp outside of the nugget – absolute perfection.
My favorite ketchup brand is classic Heinz.
Sweet and Sour Sauce
We all know that nuggets are versatile. Therefore, they can take on the flavors of many different sauces.
There is a reason that McDonald’s offers Sweet and Sour with their nuggets, and that is because the seasonings hit your taste palette in such an extraordinary way that you come back for more.
I love a good sweet and sour sauce with breaded chicken nuggets.
Ranch
I’ll admit, I wasn’t entirely onboard the ranch train for quite some time.
However, one day I found myself with a fully cooked plate of chicken nuggets and no dipping sauce options other than ranch.
After I moved past the first few bites, I found myself really enjoying the tangy flavor and thicker texture.
Honey Mustard
I’ll first say that honey mustard isn’t for everyone. It’s a very sharp flavor that takes you by surprise if you aren’t used to it.
Even with that, it pairs exceptionally well with chicken.
The taste of chicken combined with this condiment, creates an unusually sweet and salty combo.
Comeback Sauce
Seeing the ingredients within Comeback Sauce doesn’t accurately paint a picture of its amazingness.
When you see that it has ketchup, mayonnaise, hot sauce, chili sauce, lemon juice, dry mustard, Worcestershire sauce, paprika, and garlic powder, you won’t expect the flavor variety and satisfaction that you actually receive.
The result is a spicy and tangy sauce perfect for your favorite chicken nuggets.
Bang Bang Sauce
The simple ingredients in Bang Bang Sauce come together in such a way that it shocks your taste buds (and chicken nuggets) into a new realm.
With chili sauce, rice vinegar, mayo, and sriracha, you get a blend of spice but also an undercurrent of sweetness.
It’s like sweet and sour sauce but two notches above.
Barbecue Sauce
If you’re looking for a smoky and spicy flavor to pair with your favorite chicken, barbecue is one of the most popular chicken nugget dipping sauces.
You can select from unlimited options at any grocery store, all in different flavor profiles and heat levels.
Most fast food restaurants in the US offer barbecue sauce, so you can also pair this sauce with your favorite fast food nuggets.
Tartar Sauce
Is this sauce typically reserved for fish? Yes. Is it also delicious for chicken nuggets?
Yes! A friend of mine has sworn by the use of tartar sauce with nuggets for years, and I always told them there was no way it was good.
It turns out I was wrong. The mix of tartar sauce and chicken nuggets is absolutely delightful.
Creamy Sweet Chili Sauce
So a big reason that I love ranch with my nuggets is because of the thicker consistency.
I love that it’s not as messy and coats the chicken better. For that reason, I also love creamy sweet chili sauce.
It’s a great blend of sweet and spicy, but it also has that texture that I love.
Honey Sesame Sauce
If you’re looking for something sweeter without a massive kick of spice, then you will likely enjoy honey sesame sauce.
The base of honey with soy and sesame gives it an authentic Asian taste but also works smoothly with a diverse array of foods, chicken nuggets included.
This also makes a great wing sauce!
Chick-fil-A Sauce
If you haven’t tried the Chick-fil-A sauce, then you need to stop what you’re doing and pick up a bottle now.
The ingredient combination will have you baffled as to how it can possibly taste as amazing as it does.
However, the barbecue, honey mustard, and ranch concoction give the most incredible taste profile. You won’t regret it.
Cowboy Butter Sauce
This sauce takes your chicken nugget experience in a whole different direction.
With a base of butter (lots of butter), there is also lemon, garlic, and dijon mustard.
It’s a very addicting addition to your chicken game. Just a forewarning, it’s a struggle not to eat this sauce with a spoon.
Buffalo Sauce
Buffalo sauce is one that is predominant in the chicken wing realm.
So why not incorporate it in with your nuggets?
On a whim, I tried this out one day, and it has since become a part of my popular chicken nugget dippings sauces rotation. You can turn your nuggets into boneless buffalo wings!
No. I’ve never met 1 adult or child over 1 that eats ketchup on their nuggets. And Cane’s Sauce aka your comeback sauce is the best sauce on the planet.