The Best Cookout Condiments for Your Memorial Day BBQ

A burger is only as good as the stuff you put on it. Okay, fine. A good burger is pretty good no matter what, but why risk downgrading that juicy, charbroiled patty by using the crummy ketchup? That’s where we come in. We’ve taste tested (conservatively) hundreds of condiments, from horseradish to chili crisp and you can find our full list of faves here. But if you’re party-planning and need to keep an eye on the prize, here are six sauces that should be mandatory at the cookout.

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Best Ketchup: Heinz Tomato Ketchup

I know, I know—big shocker that Heinz makes the best ketchup. But even if it seemed like it may have been a foregone conclusion when we taste-tested a slew of ketchup brands, my colleague Jordan Myrick was still blown away by how much better Heinz tasted than other brands. It’s bright, zippy, and sweet in a way that perfectly complements savory foods like hot dogs—sorry, Obama!

Read our ranking of the best ketchup

Best Yellow Mustard: Kroger Yellow Mustard

If you shop at a Kroger-owned grocery store, put down the French’s mustard and buy generic instead. Kroger’s yellow mustard is as close to perfect as yellow mustard gets. It has a major tang and a really rich, almost aggressive mustard flavor. This is for people who love a nice, sharp mustard that’s going to cut through the fatty richness of everything you’ve thrown on the grill.

Read our ranking of the best yellow mustard

Best BBQ Sauce: Famous Dave’s Sweet & Zesty BBQ Sauce

We love when a product delivers on its promises, and that’s why we like this Famous Dave’s BBQ sauce. It truly is sweet and zesty, without being as cloying as your average KC Masterpiece. It’s nice and thick, too, so if you sauce your ribs and brisket, this stuff is going to cling.

Read our ranking of the best BBQ sauce

Best White BBQ Sauce: Golden Rule Bar-B-Q and Grill Original White Sauce

White BBQ sauce is an Alabama thing, so it’s no surprise that a BBQ joint outside of Birmingham sells the best white BBQ sauce. It’s thinner and less mayonnaise-y than a lot of white BBQ sauces we tried (and more authentic as a result). It’s tannic and has a nice peppery quality, too. Toss some grilled chicken wings in this stuff—you won’t regret it.

Read our ranking of the best BBQ sauce

Best Mayonnaise: Hellmann’s Real Mayonnaise

Hellmann’s mayo is unmatched. It’s rich and custardy and tastes like egg yolks rather than canola oil. This will make your potato salad taste better, and it’s also the best mayo to smear on a burger bun. (Note: I think the texture is better out of the jar than the squeeze container, but maybe that’s just me.)

Read our ranking of the best mayonnaise

Best Relish: Del Monte Sweet Pickle Relish

Relish can seem like one of those one-trick-pony sorts of condiments. Like, sure, you put it on hot dogs, but what else? Well, how about macaroni salad? Or your homemade burger sauce? We like Del Monte pickle relish for pretty much any purpose because it’s made with real sugar, but it’s not just sweet—it’s complex.

Read our ranking of the best pickle relish

About the Author

Howdy! I’m Gwynedd, Sporked’s managing editor. I live in Los Angeles and have access to the best tacos the U.S. has to offer—but I’m a sucker for a crunchy Old El Paso taco night every now and then. I’ve been at Sporked since 2022 and I’m still searching frozen mozzarella sticks that can hold a candle to restaurant sticks. Why you should trust me: I’ve been a journalist for 20 years (yikes), a consumer of food for 40-plus years, and I’m truly hard pressed to think of foods I don’t like (or that I can’t tolerate at the very least). Oh and one time I cooked my way through Guy Fieri’s cookbook and wrote about the journey through Flavortown. What I buy every week: Trader Joe’s Original Savory Thins. Fat free plain yogurt (usually Fage or Nancy’s). Honeycrisp apples. Sweet cream coffee creamer for my at-home Americanos. A frozen cauliflower crust pizza and some jarred mushrooms to top it with. Old El Paso Stand ‘N Stuff taco shells and Gardein Ground Be’f, even though I think “be’f” is a nightmarish contraction. Favorite ranking: Stouffer’s frozen dinners. I don’t own a microwave (I get my cancers the old fashioned way!), so I love taste testing things that I don’t really buy to eat at home. Least favorite ranking: Soy sauce. Don’t get me wrong, I love soy sauce—but consuming that much sodium in one sitting is probably illegal in some countries. Our frozen enchilada taste test was a close second; the smell of microwaved corn tortillas still haunts me.