Sporked Staff
The best condiments can really turn a meal around—and the best cheap condiments can save you big bucks, too. Seriously, how many half-full bottles of artisan BBQ sauce and craft ketchup have you tossed out once they’re past their prime? Too many, we bet! That’s why cheap, reliable, tasty sauces are the truth and the way.
How we found the cheap condiments
We’ve taste-tested just about every kind of condiment known to man at this point. This list pulls from those past rankings, with one key filter: Everything here is cheap. Also, just a heads up, we should all probably be shopping at Walmart more. We’ve been buying and tasting groceries for years, and Walmart pretty consistently has the best prices for name-brand items. I’m sure no one is shocked, but it’s worth noting! Anyways, back to the subject at hand: From cheap mustard to cheap hot sauce, these are some of the best cheap sauces from our many condiment taste tests, none of which will set you back more than three buckaroonies. (If money is no object—must be nice—read the full ranking of the best condiments we’ve tried.)
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- El Pato Jalapeño Sauce ($0.99)
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Canned salsa is a great convenience food that you might not be familiar with. It’s shelf stable and since it’s canned, it travels well—no more broken glass in the picnic basket. Unfortunately, a lot of canned salsa tastes more like can than like tomatoes, onions, and herbs, but El Pato Jalapeño salsa is the exception to that rule. This stuff is savory, tomatoey, super smooth—and it’s one of the cheapest cheap condiments we’ve ever tried. Mix it with Velveeta for an easy queso dip, heat it up in a skillet with a few chicken thighs, or just pair it with chips if chunky salsa isn’t your thing.
Read the full ranking of the best canned salsa
Credit: Merc / Instacart
- Kroger Yellow Mustard ($1.49)
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Jordan Myrick, our resident yellow mustard freak, was blown away by this Kroger brand mustard. It’s super tart, tangy, and zippy, but it’s also the most “mustardy” tasting mustard we tried in our yellow mustard taste test. It doesn’t hurt that this stuff is cheap as hell at around a buck-fifty a bottle. Don’t turn up your nose at store-brand mustard! If you like the sharp, vinegar-y bite of yellow mustard, this is going to make all your sandwiches (hot dogs included) really sing.
Read the full ranking of the best yellow mustard
Credit: Sarah Demonteverde / Instacart
- Great Value Dijon Mustard ($1.67)
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Dijon mustard ranges from pricey as hell to shockingly affordable, and we’re pleased to report that a mustard in the latter category also happens to be one of the best Dijon mustards we’ve literally ever tasted. This stuff is BOLD. If you’re sensitive to mustards that sock you right in the sinuses, this isn’t for you, but if you like that sharp, nose-tickling flavor, Great Value Dijon from Walmart is a no-brainer when it comes to cheap sauces to stock up on.
Read the full ranking of the best Dijon mustard
Credit: Liv Averett / Walmart
- Hunt’s Tomato Ketchup ($1.68)
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Believe it or not, the cheapest way to stock ketchup is not by hoarding tiny packets in a drawer from your latest fast food run. “But Ariana…it’s free?” No it’s not. You still had to pay for your ridiculously overpriced McDonald’s meal. (My last 2 a.m. Mickey D’s run cost me $25. The end times are near, people.) I would never tell you to stop hoarding sauce packets, I’m no hypocrite. I’m just telling you that nothing in life is free, but Hunt’s tomato Ketchup is only $1.68 at Walmart.
Read our full ranking of the best ketchup
Credit: Ryan Martin / Amazon
- Knorr Roasted Turkey Gravy Mix ($1.99)
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You probably make gravy from scratch for special occasions, but what about those weeknights when you simply need some salty wets to go with your savory drys? That’s where this Knorr gravy packet comes in. It’s cheap, but it really channels the flavor of freshly roasted turkey drippings. When it comes to cheap sauces, it doesn’t get much cheaper or easier than this gravy mix. Pair it with some instant mashed potatoes and a rotisserie chicken, and dinner is set.
Read the full ranking of the best store bought gravy
Credit: Sarah Demonteverde / Instacart
- KC Masterpiece Original BBQ Sauce ($2.39)
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If you’re on the hunt for cheap BBQ sauce, definitely check out our full list of recommendations and compare prices; BBQ sauce prices really hover around that $3 mark and seem to fluctuate a lot online. That said, one consistently affordable pick is KC Masterpiece Original, which is just $2.39 at Target. We expected it to be kind of boring, but it surprised us! It’s thick, rich, and sweet, like a classic diner BBQ sauce. It doesn’t taste fancy or mesquite, but it’s definitely a crowd pleaser.
Credit: Liv Averett / Target
- Morehouse Cream Style Horseradish ($2.49)
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There’s a simplicity in Morehouse’s horseradish that just works. It’s definitely creamy, but the powerful tang and sharp, clean heat are what really stand out about it. We love this pick for a classic steak—and if you’re already spending the big bucks for a good cut of filet, you’ll be happy to know this horseradish comes in at around $2.50 at most Albertsons-owned grocery stores.
Read our full ranking of the best horseradish
Credit: Sarah Demonteverde / Amazon
- Market Pantry Chipotle Ranch Dressing ($2.59)
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If you’re scouring this list for a cheap ranch dressing, I have good news and bad. Good news: This chipotle ranch from Target’s Market Pantry line is just $2.59 and genuinely delicious. It’s zesty and flavorful without tasting like a spice rack, great for taco salads or just plain chicken tenders. Bad news: We don’t have a plain, unflavored ranch under $3 to recommend just yet. (But the buttermilk ranch sitting in the refrigerated section at Trader Joe’s is under $4, if that helps. And it’s simply incredible.)
Read our full ranking of the best ranch dressing
Credit: Liv Averett / Target
- El Yucateco Green Chile Habanero Sauce ($2.79)
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Hey look—more cheap hot sauce! This El Yucateco habanero hot sauce is plenty hot, but it won’t murder people who might be a little trepidatious about trying a habanero hot sauce. Sure, you might still want to have a glass of milk nearby, but this green sauce is much milder than a lot of the red sauces we tried. And it’s cheap. This is gonna taste so good on a plate of al pastor tacos.
Read the full ranking of the best habanero hot sauce
Credit: Liv Averett / Amazon
- El Yucateco Chile Habanero Xxxtra Hot Sauce ($2.72)
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It is my absolute pleasure to introduce you to our favorite Mexican hot sauce on the market right now: Yucateco’s Xxxtra Hot Chile Habanero Sauce, which you can find in a 4oz bottle for $2.72 at Walmart. We actually didn’t try a single Mexican hot sauce we didn’t like, so the fact that our #1 best Mexican hot sauce is priced low enough to make this list is pretty darn neat. Mind the three Xs, because this stuff definitely burns—but in a pleasant way, not a lip-scorching way. Less pain, more potency. The flavor is quite earthy and roasty. It’s inspired by Mayan cooking and just tastes so unique. For a cheap hot sauce, this does a lot to elevate anything you put it on.
Read our full ranking of the best Mexican hot sauces
Credit: Merc / Walmart
- Original Louisiana Brand Hot Sauce ($2.92)
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Cheap hot sauce can still taste really, really good, and Louisiana brand is proof of that. This is simple stuff—it has vinegar, tang, and a lingering heat that isn’t totally overwhelming. Pair this with fried Southern fare—fried shrimp, fresh oysters, pickled okra. At only $2.92 for a 12oz bottle (and that’s here in L.A.), every fridge door should have a bottle of this stuff.
Read the full ranking of the best Louisiana style hot sauce
Credit: Merc / Walmart
- Heinz Mayoracha ($2.98)
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Heinz Mayoracha might as well be the Sporked mascot. The whole team pretty much lost it when we tried this spicy mayo years ago. For something that sounds so campy, the flavor has so much depth and nuance, with a heat that builds over time. The standard Heinz-size bottle is just under $3 at Walmart. We’ve been trying to make this a fridge staple for years, and we’ll never give up!
Read our full ranking of the best spicy mayo
Credit: Merc / Walmart
- Kroger Burger Special Sauce ($2.99)
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Burger sauce is a bonus condiment—truly, if you have ketchup, mayo, and some relish in the fridge, you can make a pretty bitchin’ burger spread all by yourself. But hey, why go through the trouble when Kroger is making cheap sauces that are this good? Kroger Burger Special Sauce is thick, creamy, and perfectly complements ground beef without drowning out its savory flavor. Your at-home Big Macs just got way better.
Read the full ranking of the best burger sauce
Credit: Merc / Instacart
- Las Palmas Green Chile Enchilada Sauce ($2.99)
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This wasn’t our #1 favorite enchilada sauce (that one will set you back almost six bucks a can), but Las Palmas makes the best green enchilada sauce we tried, hands down. Bonus: It happens to be one of the best cheap sauces you can buy, too. It’s tangy, savory, and tastes surprisingly fresh for a canned sauce. If you can’t get San Diego-style wet burritos where you live, buy some of this cheap sauce and make your own at home. Here in L.A., a big ol’ 28oz can will set you back only $2.99.
Read the full ranking of the best enchilada sauce
Credit: Liv Averett / Instacart
Best Cheap Salsa
Rating:
9/10
Sporks
Best Cheap Yellow Mustard
Rating:
10/10
Sporks
Best Cheap Dijon Mustard
Rating:
9.5/10
Sporks
Best Cheap Ketchup
Rating:
8.5/10
Sporks
Best Cheap Gravy
Rating:
10/10
Sporks
Best Cheap BBQ Sauce
Rating:
8/10
Sporks
Best Cheap Horseradish
Rating:
8/10
Sporks
Best Cheap Spicy Ranch
Rating:
9/10
Sporks
Best Cheap Green Hot Sauce
Rating:
8/10
Sporks
Best Cheap Mexican Hot Sauce
Rating:
10/10
Sporks
Best Cheap Louisiana-Style Hot Sauce
Rating:
10/10
Sporks
Best Cheap Spicy Mayo
Rating:
9.5/10
Sporks
Best Cheap Burger Sauce
Rating:
10/10
Sporks
Best Cheap Enchilada Sauce
Rating:
10/10
Sporks
Matt Crowley
Hebba Gouda
