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. 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. Oh and if prices change, blame corporate greed, not us!)
- El Pato Jalapeño Sauce ($1.19)
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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
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- 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
- Original Louisiana Brand Hot Sauce ($1.54)
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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 $1.54 (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
- Las Palmas Green Chile Enchilada Sauce ($1.54)
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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.
Read the full ranking of the best enchilada sauce
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- 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
- Knorr Roasted Turkey Gravy Mix ($2.19)
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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
- El Yucateco Green Chile Habanero Sauce ($2.66)
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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
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- 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
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Best Cheap Salsa
Rating:
9/10
Sporks
Best Cheap Yellow Mustard
Rating:
10/10
Sporks
Best Cheap Louisiana-Style Hot Sauce
Rating:
10/10
Sporks
Best Cheap Enchilada Sauce
Rating:
10/10
Sporks
Best Cheap Dijon Mustard
Rating:
9.5/10
Sporks
Best Cheap Gravy
Rating:
10/10
Sporks
Best Cheap Green Hot Sauce
Rating:
8/10
Sporks
Best Cheap Burger Sauce
Rating:
10/10
Sporks
Difficult to find Kroger brand when thy aren’t most areas of the US.
Hey Ron! Kroger actually operates grocery stores in 35 states. Here’s a list, which may or may not be helpful depending on where you are: https://www.kroger.com/i/kroger-family-of-companies