16 Homemade Sauces That Add Big, Bold Flavor
You’ll want to slather them on everything!
What’s the secret to elevating a dish? It’s all in the sauce. You could prepare the juiciest cut of steak, the heartiest casserole, or the smokiest rack of baby back ribs on the grill. And while, yes, they’d taste good—delicious, even—a homemade sauce takes them to a whole other level. If you’re a beginner cook in the kitchen, learning to make your own sauces is a fundamental skill whether it’s creamy Hollandaise, smooth Béchamel, or sweet salted caramel sauce for dessert. And while the payoff is immense, preparing a homemade sauce is surprisingly easy.
To use for marinading, glazing, and dipping as condiments, we’ve compiled a variety of sauces from The Pioneer Woman. They are all tasty and many of them are quick enough to whip up in a matter of minutes. You’ll find comfort food classics like tangy marinara sauce that’ll enhance pasta dishes, herby blends like pesto and chumichurri for an aromatic bite in sandwiches and salad dressings, and sugar-laden sauces that are basically catnip for anyone with a sweet tooth. And if you’re simply looking to add some extra flavor to what’s already in your fridge, there’s a sauce here that’ll make it better!
Pizza Sauce
Skip the delivery on pizza night. You can make your pizzas with your own sauce! Thanks to naturally sweet tomatoes, it doesn’t need any added sugar.
Get the Homemade Pizza Sauce recipe.
Classic Burger Sauce
Don’t let the name fool you! While this sauce is an amazing complement to a thick, juicy homemade burger, it also makes a delicious dip for French fries, onions rings, and chicken tenders.
Get the Classic Burger Sauce recipe.
Béchamel Sauce
Béchamel sauce is the base of so many classic dishes, such as lasagna and mac and cheese. All you need are a few basic ingredients to get started.
Get Ree’s Béchamel Sauce recipe.
Chimichurri
You just need a handful of fresh herbs and a food processor to blend up this vibrant green sauce. Drizzle it on roasted vegetables, spoon it over grilled chicken, or spread it between a turkey sandwich for a bright, herby boost.
Get the Chimichurri recipe.
Alabama White Sauce
Alabama White sauce is a Southern favorite for garnishing chicken, pork, brisket, and other grilled foods. It’s creamy and garlicky, and it might just become your new go-to for summer cookouts.
Get the Alabama White Sauce recipe.
Pesto
A dollop of homemade pesto is such an easy way to take your meals up a notch: salads, sandwiches, pastas, and pizza. Lemon juice helps maintain its rich color and red pepper flakes give it a subtle kick.
Get the Pesto recipe.
Tzatziki
Every Mediterranean-inspired dish could benefit from a spoonful of cool Tzatziki. This yogurt-based sauce only takes a quick five minutes.
Get the Tzatziki recipe.
Cocktail Sauce
All it takes to prepare a homemade cocktail sauce is gathering and mixing some pantry staples. After letting the zesty concoction chill for 30 minutes, serve it with shrimp, oysters, or crab cakes for the ideal summer appetizer.
Get Ree’s Cocktail Sauce recipe.
Cheez Whiz
Rich, melty, and velvety smooth, this sauce is so nostalgic! While Ree loves pairing cheese sauce with steamed broccoli, you can drizzle and dip other foods: tortilla chips, Philly cheesesteaks, veggies—you name it!
Get the Homemade Cheez Whiz recipe.
Barbecue Sauce
Jarred sauce is convenient, but this homemade version is so good, you’ll never go back. It’s a little sweet, a little salty, and wholly delicious—especially brushed on charred meat or veggies.
Get the Barbecue Sauce recipe.
Hollandaise Sauce
After making homemade Hollandaise sauce, you’ll never want to prepare eggs Benedict, sautéed shrimp, or roasted asparagus the same way again! It’s buttery, velvety, and so easy to churn out in a blender.
Get Ree’s Hollandaise Sauce recipe.
Marinara Sauce
Whether you scoop it over pasta or dip mozzarella sticks into it, this marinara sauce will rock your world. It’s loaded with fresh herbs and tangy tomato-based ingredients.
Get Ree’s Marinara Sauce recipe.
Hot Fudge Sauce
No ice cream sundae complete without a drizzle of the good stuff! The best part? It calls for five ingredients, and it’ll be ready in 15 minutes!
Get Ree’s Hot Fudge Sauce recipe.
Salted Caramel Sauce
Smothering a bowl of vanilla ice cream in salted caramel sauce is absolutely divine. Eating it by the spoonful is also totally appropriate (if not encouraged).
Get Ree’s Salted Caramel Sauce recipe.
Strawberry Sauce
Want to give your after-dinner dessert a fruity spin? Try this strawberry sauce! It’s a sweet-tart spread for pancakes, waffles, crepes, and, again yes, ice cream.
Get Ree’s Strawberry Sauce recipe.
Hard Sauce
Ree swears by this hard sauce—for good reason! It comes together in five minutes with three easy ingredients, and it leads to a simply scrumptious sauce that’s divine on warm pies, fruity cobblers, and creamy puddings.
Get Ree’s Hard Sauce recipe.
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