Paul Leonard Newman. Actor, film director, race car driver, activist, and of course, most notably, sauce entrepreneur. As the figurehead and late founder (RIP, Paul) of Newman’s Own, you’ve probably seen that silver-haired fox (and his steely blue eyes) all over the grocery store shelves. Prepare to see even more of him, because Newman’s Own just added five new sauces to their robust repertoire of products. Here’s a quick list, in order, least to most, of how much I enjoy their names: Kickin’ Garlic Buffalo, Burger Confidential Sauce, Tropical Blaze, Rockin’ Rooster, and Newman’s Dill-ight.
This actually might be the first time we’ve ever reviewed a brand new line of products from Newman’s Own, which is kinda surprising! (The honor is all mine, Mr. Newman.) So without further ado, let’s get into it.
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- Newman’s Dill-ight
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Pros: Newman’s Dill-ight advertises itself as a “tangy dill dip and spread with a touch of garlic.” It’s lightly creamy with a fresh dill pickle flavor that ends on a neutral, almost cooling note. It isn’t very tangy, tart, or vinegary. I have to say, I don’t think we’ve ever had anything quite like this. It’s like someone infused pickle brine with mayo, minus the salt and vinegar. At first, I couldn’t quite decide if I liked it or not, and then I imagined it on a fried chicken sandwich and everything clicked. I definitely think this would work with turkey, tuna, and other deli sandwiches, too, but this sauce’s perfect match is fried chicken. You could even dunk some chicken nuggets in it and feel like you’re having a truly unique experience.
Cons: Look, the flavor is just a little weird. I could chalk that up to the fact that we’ve never tasted anything like it, but I feel like a disclaimer is important. Also, it has an oily finish that lingers like a lip balm. Which would be fine, except pickle-flavored lip balm really isn’t that enticing.
Credit: Liv Averett / Newman’s Own
- Tropical Blaze
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Pros: First of all: wowzers. You can’t escape the heat from Tropical Blaze. That fiery habanero is a swift punch in the palate. But I’m not complaining! The grilled pineapple, tomato, and habanero flavors taste pretty darn fresh. It has a slightly thick, almost marinade-like consistency, but I don’t recommend slathering this on anything. Use sparingly on your meats and fish. (Also, “Tropical Blaze” is just the perfect name for this sauce. It burns, but it’s also so fruity.)
Cons: This is simply going to be too hot for some people. You’ve been warned.
Credit: Liv Averett / Newman’s Own
- Burger Confidential Sauce
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Pros: This new Newman’s Own sauce blends ketchup, mustard, and relish to make a creamy burger sauce with bits of crunchy pickle in the mix. If you like super tangy and vinegary burger sauces, you might like this. Sadly that’s the only nice thing I have to say about it.
Cons: The second ingredient here is distilled vinegar, and you can tell. It’s totally overpowering. Vinegar is the first and last thing you taste; you have to hunt for other flavors. For the sake of Paul’s legacy, I think we need to revisit this recipe, fam.
Credit: Liv Averett / Newman’s Own
- Kickin’ Garlic Buffalo
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Pros: I have to give credit where credit is due: Newman’s Own Kickin’ Garlic Buffalo definitely delivers on both the garlic and Buffalo. The flavor immediately hits with garlic and ends with a lingering hot Buffalo sauce. Made with aged cayenne peppers, it’s buttery, spicy, and bold. The flavor of the garlic really reminds me of that fake-tasting (but delicious) melted garlic butter you’d find at a pizza chain. If you have a hard time choosing between garlic and Buffalo dips for your wings, this could be your Hannah Montana “Best of Both Worlds” moment.
Cons: When people tell you who they are, you have to listen. That’s some TikTok therapy advice that really applies here. This is, unabashedly, a garlic Buffalo sauce. Two flavors that aren’t totally seamless and have a pretty limited use-case. I’d dip cheese pizza in this and be perfectly content, but I’m a weirdo. Do with that knowledge what you will.
Credit: Liv Averett / Newman’s Own
- Rockin’ Rooster
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Pros: Okay, this is yummy. Rockin’ Rooster balances a creamy, tangy mustard and mayo blend with bright, zesty lemon. It sorta reminds me of Raisin’ Cane’s signature sauce, but with lemon. As someone who adds lemon to every chicken dish I make (often to my detriment), I really vibe with this. I’d absolutely use it as a dipping sauce for nugs and tendies, too.
Cons: Honestly, I don’t have any complaints. It’s not the best nugget sauce in the world, but it’s different enough to make an impression. Paul would be pretty proud.
Credit: Liv Averett / Newman’s Own
Thoughts? Questions? Complete disagreement? Leave a comment!