You may have noticed that your local grocery store’s hot sauce aisle has become a fiery arms race, with every brand trying to beat its competitors with the hottest option, often with a horrible fire-related pun. And in that competitive atmosphere, it seems like most brands are avoiding putting “mild” on their labels. That makes it hard to find a not-so-explosive sauce to add a little zip of heat to your meal, while avoiding the trauma of having your mouth scalded senseless. You’re simply not going to get that from a bottle with a picture of an exploding butt on it.
That’s why we sampled a wide selection of sauces from the lower end of the heat spectrum, judging them on taste and, of course, heat (or lack thereof), in search of the best mild hot sauces to buy. And while only a few of these mild hot sauces were proud enough to label themselves as “mild,” I can honestly say that they won’t destroy your mouth—or other parts. Here are our picks for the best mild hot sauce on the market.
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- Taco Bell Mild Sauce
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Taco Bell Mild Sauce is the only sauce on this list to actually have mild on its label, this sauce is exactly what you think it is: a big bottle of Taco Bell Mild Sauce. Yep, it’s exactly like the stuff you get in those little packets that come with your Cheesy Double Beef Burrito—it’s just less likely to get lost under the seat of your car. If you’re looking for a mild hot sauce that gives you a dash of tomato and pepper, but definitely will not burn your mouth, it’s hard to beat it. Because when they say “mild,” they definitely deliver.
Credit: Merc / Walmart
- Torchbearer Sauces All Natural #7 Sultry Sauce
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With a big “spicy” on the label, you may be wondering why this sauce is on our “mild” list? That’s because it doesn’t give you a huge upfront heat, but rather a slow build that lingers. The taste is really good, with a mandarin orange and tomato base that no doubt cuts the heat a little, with garlic and onion to round everything out. It gives you a little more flavor than heat, but it still gives you a little kick.
Credit: Merc / Amazon
- The Pepper Plant Chunky Garlic Hot Pepper Sauce
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This chunky mild hot sauce gives you a heavy garlic flavor, which is kind of surprising considering the “chunky” part comes from a jalapeño puree. But even with all those peppers, the heat isn’t overpowering and the garlic ends up overpowering the rest of the mix. To me, it’s the best mild hot sauce to dab onto meat like a burger, a hot dog, or wherever you want to add a little heat and a lot of garlic.
Credit: Merc / Albertsons
- Cholula Hot Sauce
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It’s hard to beat a classic, and Cholula’s mix of peppers and garlic, undercut a little with apple cider vinegar, makes a really tasty combination that won’t burn your mouth off. I really appreciate the little bit of sweet that goes with the spice, and the heat in this mild sauce is just the right amount to perk up a meal without overpowering everything. There’s a reason that Cholula is one of the best-known brands of hot sauce on the market; it never disappoints.
Credit: Merc / iHerb
- Yellowbird Jalapeño Sauce
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This is another mild sauce where a bit of sweetness really shines through, leaving you with a bright, tasty mild hot sauce with a bit of a kick. It’s got a carrot base, mixed with some lime juice that gives it a tangy punch. And while you’ll get all the peppery taste, it never builds up enough to burn your mouth. It’s the best mild hot sauce to add a ton of flavor and barely any of the heat to whatever you please.
Credit: Merc / Amazon
Best Super Mild
Best Fruity
Best Garlicky
Runner-Up
Best of the Best
Other mild hot sauces we tried: Crystal Hot Sauce, Hot Ones Garlic Fresno, Italian Casa Firelli Hot Sauce, Texas Pete Original Hot Sauce, The Pepper Plant Original California Style Hot Pepper Sauce, Valentina Salsa Picante Mexican Hot Sauce
