The Best Chimichurri Sauce, Ranked

Most store-bought chimichurri sauce is bad. In fact, there are a few jarred varieties that I’d like to permanently ban from stores. I won’t name names, because to be fair, mass-producing chimichurri sauce must be a tough job: You’re essentially trying to trap fresh herbs, garlic, and oil in suspended animation and hoping you don’t end up with a swampy, stale sludge. Remember how many years it took before jarred pesto finally tasted decent? That’s basically what’s going on here.

So yes, this was a challenging taste test, but also kinda worth it. I set out to find the best chimichurri sauce from the grocery store, and while it was mostly an uphill battle, I did find a few options worth recommending!

What I looked for in the best chimichurri sauces

Chimichurri is a South American steak sauce that combines crushed herbs like parsley and oregano with garlic, oil, and vinegar. And it is delicious, contrary to what this taste test wanted me to believe. But its deliciousness typically comes from the freshness of it all. In store-bought versions, maintaining that freshness is essential—but we’re also looking for some other factors, like: 

• A nice, balanced tang from vinegar and, ideally, a noticeable spiciness from the chili flakes
• Oil that doesn’t leave a bitter, overprocessed aftertaste
• Herbs that don’t taste like an old, dry spice cabinet

With that criteria in mind, here are the three best chimichurri sauces we think actually deserve a spot on this ranking! 

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Best Keto

Gaucho Ranch Chimichurri

Amazon

Gaucho Ranch’s Chimichurri divided the room. Actually, to be fair: Most of the chimichurri sauces on this list divided the room. (Trader Joe’s was our most universally agreed upon contender, but it still didn’t come in first. Why? I like the drama.) It’s a very vinegar-forward chimichurri sauce—white vinegar is the third ingredient—so it definitely leans tangy. A touch too tangy for my tastes, but I do like how layered the herbs and spices taste. You can really pick out rosemary and oregano, which makes it a real contender for the best chimichurri sauce for steak and crispy potatoes. Plus, it’s keto-friendly! Bonus points, I guess?

Credit: Merc / Amazon

Rating:

7/10

Sporks

Runner Up

Trader Joe’s Chimichurri Sauce

Trader Joe’s

Trader Joe’s chimichurri sauce lives in the refrigerated section, and of all the options we tried, it tastes the freshest. I don’t think this is for everyone, but I definitely understand why some people buy and use it often. It’s very thick, with a consistency more like a dip than a sauce, and extremely herbaceous. I would spoon this over fajitas any day, but you have to love cilantro, because this stuff is loaded with it. They could have eased up a bit on the sheer amount of chopped herbs, but at the very least, a little goes a long way. One teaspoon in your salad will brighten and deepen the whole bowl. 

Credit: Merc / Trader Joe’s

Rating:

8/10

Sporks

Best of the Best

Chimi Boss Blends Authentic Chimichurri Sauce

Amazon

Boss Blends’ chimichurri sauce is something I could happily eat over a piece of bread. It’s very salty, like a good pesto, and yes, I’ll concede, a little more oily than it probably needs to be. The salt really amplifies the other flavors, though. This is also the spiciest chimichurri of the bunch, with a real kick from red chili flakes that will clear your sinuses in seconds. Instead of vinegar, Boss Blends chimichurri sauce uses lime juice to give it a nice tang—and it actually tastes like fresh lime, not citric acid! Hooray! Traditionally, chimichurri should have red wine vinegar, but most jarred versions that use vinegar end up tasting flat or sterile. I think the lime is a clever workaround, even if it’s not 100% what you would expect from the best chimichurri sauce. Overall, good job, Boss Blends! 

Credit: Merc / Amazon

Rating:

9/10

Sporks

Other chimichurri sauces we tried

Badia Spices Steak Sauce Chimichurri, Signature SELECT Marinade Green Chimichurri, Gaucho Ranch Chimichurri Mild Hot Flavor, Stonewall Kitchen Sauce Chimichurri Grille, Marketside Gluten-Free Refrigerated Chimichurri Sauce, Specially Selected Chimichurri Salsa