Fast food isn’t just about the burgers and fries…sometimes, it’s about the sauce. Remember that one dip that turned your chicken nuggets into a full-blown experience? Well, fast food history has a lot of that kind of sauces. These 10 might just be too fancy, too weird, or too ahead of their time, and the truth is we might not see them again.
10. KFC’s Orange Ginger Sauce
If you’re old enough to know about KFC’s Dip’ems (crispy chicken tenders), then you might also remember a sweet-tangy sauce from the chain. Its difference from the rest of fast food sauces? The strong ginger taste. The Orange Ginger Sauce was particularly famous among adventurous eaters who wanted something beyond the standard honey mustard.
9. Burger King’s Chicken Fry Sauce
There was a time in fast food history when you could dip BK’s Chicken Fries into a delicious creamy sauce. Yup, we’re talking about the Chicken Fry Sauce, which also paired well with chicken nuggets. The sauce featured a blend of mustardy, slightly sweet, and smoky flavors that elevated BK’s chicken offerings.
8. Wendy’s Creamy Sriracha Sauce
Wendy’s once had the Creamy Sriracha sauce, a fiery accompaniment to their fries and nuggets. People loved it for offering just the right amount of heat without overwhelming the palate. Sadly, it was discontinued and replaced by the Ghost Pepper Ranch sauce. Fans were so devasted they started online petitions demanding the returning of the Creamy Sriracha sauce.
7. Taco Bell’s Baja Sauce
The Baja sauce didn’t have this name when it was first launched. It was just referred to as “pepper jack sauce,” and was served with Baja Chalupa. Taco Bell fans loved it, so much so that the sauce started appearing with other items like Cheesy Gordita Crunch. According to fans, the creamy, peppery sauce was like a tangy ranch dressing.
6. Zaxby’s Marinara Sauce
Zaxby’s marinara sauce is another casualty from the sauce graveyard. Fans declared it as the perfect dipping companion for the brand’s signature Fried White Cheddar Bites. The sauce wasn’t exactly rare or expensive, and this made the discontinuation more frustrating. Years later, fans are still demanding its return.
5. KFC’s Nashville Hot Sauce
KFC’s Nashville Hot sauce had a distinct spicy kick from cayenne pepper, but it was more than just spicy. It also delivered smokiness from paprika and a touch of sweetness. It was used to coat Extra Crispy chicken tenders, and was also available in the Famous Bowls and Mac & Cheese Bowls.
4. Burger King’s Kung Pao Sauce
The Kung Pao Sauce was Burger King’s answer to McDonald’s Szechuan Sauce. The former aimed to bring an Asian twist to the menu, featuring a melding of sweet and spicy flavors. The thing is, it failed. People thought that the Kung Pao Sauce was quite salty and the garlic flavor overpowering.
3. McDonald’s Szechuan Sauce
Between the Kung Pao Sauce and Szechuan Sauce, the latter is the clear winner. However, there’s no guarantee that we would see the Szechuan Sauce again. It was initially released in 1998 and was relaunched for a limited time in 2022. The problem was the window time to buy the sauce was so short, everything was sold out in a flash. The iconic sauce had hints of garlic, soy, ginger, and vinegar.
2. Chick-fil-A’s Buttermilk Ranch Sauce
Apparently, Chick-fil-A fans couldn’t get enough of buttermilk. Although the chain’s chicken is dipped in a buttermilk solution and they routinely served buttermilk biscuits, people still fell in love with Buttermilk Ranch sauce. It didn’t just bring creamy tanginess, but also extra moisture to chicken. Unfortunately, it was replaced by garlic and herb ranch dip, which fans viewed as inferior.
1. McDonald’s Habanero Ranch Sauce
McDonald’s Habanero Ranch was a blessing to those seeking mild spice. It was perfect for customers who found regular ranch too bland but weren’t ready to commit to extreme heat. Sadly, McDonald’s quietly removed it from the menu in 2017, and since then it has become a forgotten gem. A fan reported that McDonald’s Canada has the habanero sauce packets, but it’s not the same as the OG.