All of McDonald's Dipping Sauces, Ranked Worst to First

McDonald’s might be known for its Happy Meals, Chicken McNuggets and its iconic hashbrowns; however, no order is complete without sauces. McDonald’s has an extensive assortment of condiments available to complement nearly every menu item.

Which sauce is the best, and which one should you choose? Read on to find out how we rank McDonald's dipping sauces from worst to best.

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How We Tested the McDonald's Dipping Sauces

I did all the hard work for you, so you don't have to. I walked into a local McDonald's, requested a sample of every single sauce and condiment option on the menu, and tried them all. After dipping and dunking and then dunking some more, here's where I landed.

The Best McDonald's Dipping Sauces, Ranked

8. Ketchup, Mustard and Mayo

At the very bottom of the list, I’d put ketchup, mustard and mayonnaise. Not because they are bad per se, but they just aren’t nearly as good as the other McDonald’s sauces on this list. You can’t go wrong with any of them, but there are so many other options to choose from it seems like a no-brainer to opt for anything but these basic choices. That said, if you're a mayochup fan, ask for ketchup and mayonnaise and DIY your own sauce for your burger, fries or nuggets. 

7. Spicy Buffalo Sauce

Buffalo sauce is always going to be at the bottom of the list because I’m not a spice person. This wasn’t the spiciest buffalo sauce I’ve ever had, but it had enough of a kick that I needed to grab a drink. I didn’t get much of the “buttery” flavor that’s described on the menu, but more of the peppery and vinegary aftertaste.

6. Creamy Ranch Sauce

Ranch is always a solid option, but I wasn’t a fan of this one. Although it’s described as being creamy, it seemed pretty watery to me. When I want ranch sauce, I'm looking for a thick sauce with some cling to it. Plus, I don’t think it really pairs well with anything on the McDonald’s menu—maybe the Spicy McCrispy, but that’s about it.

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5. Tartar Sauce

The McDonald's Tartar Sauce isn't bad, truth be told, but I'm ranking it near the bottom of my list because it's mostly a one-trick pony. This sauce comes with the Filet-O-Fish, and that's really the only item it works with. Tartar sauce with nuggets? No, thank you.

4. Tangy BBQ Sauce

Based on McDonald’s menu description, its Tangy BBQ sauce is made with “tomato paste base, vinegar and savory spices with a hint of sweet hickory smoke flavor.” This is by no means as good as a barbecue sauce you’d find at a proper barbecue joint, but it gets the job done. It has just enough smoky flavor to add to nuggets and fries without being overwhelming.

3. Honey

Honey isn’t a condiment you see every day at a fast food restaurant like McDonald’s, but it’s available if you ask. I didn’t like it with my nuggets, but if you're into the savory-sweet thing, it might be for you. Consider mixing some with Tangy BBQ or Spicy Buffalo, perhaps.

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2. Sweet 'N Sour Sauce

I’m a sweet and sour gal through and through, so the fact that this was #2 on my list makes sense. McDonald’s describes the sauce as having “flavors of apricot and peach with savory spices,” and they aren’t wrong. It’s definitely on the sweeter side, so I couldn’t see myself putting this on a burger, but it pairs well with nuggets for sure.

1. Honey Mustard Sauce

Remember how I said I'm a sweet-and-sour girl? I’m also a self-proclaimed honey mustard connoisseur. Honey mustard is always my condiment of choice and, in my book, it has to be more sweet than biting. According to the online menu, McDonald’s honey mustard is “a unique blend of zesty Dijon mustard with sweet notes of honey and a hint of spices.” I think that description does it justice because it's sweet and zesty all in one. I think this sauce is ideal for dipping nuggets into and even fries when you want that extra bit of sweetness with each bite.

Next up: All About Wendy's Breakfast