There's nothing quite like a taco, especially when it's loaded with hot and spicy ingredients. From sauces to salsas, adding a little heat can take your tacos from "meh" to mouth-watering in no time.
But not all hot sauces are created equal, some are just too mild, while others are so hot that they overpower the flavor of the food. It's not just about the heat though, we want to think about flavor profiles that go with your typical tacos. So what's the best type of hot sauce for tacos? We've got a couple of ideas for you!
Let’s dive into some of the best hot sauces around and explore which ones you should be adding to our favorite Taco Tuesday snacks.
Hot Sauce: A Spectrum of Flavor and Heat
What makes for the best hot sauce? Is it the heat level? The flavor? Or something else entirely?
One of the most important things to consider when choosing a hot sauce is how it fits on the spectrum of hot sauces. There are mild sauces, moderate sauces, and extremely spicy sauces.
Mild sauces will add flavor and a subtle kick to your taco while still allowing you to taste all of its flavors. Moderate sauces will provide more flavor and heat but won’t overpower other flavors in the taco.
And finally, there are extremely spicy sauces that will give your taco an intense kick that in some cases can overpower the taco flavor for some…For others though…Super hot sauces are a must have for taco night!
In addition to thinking about the heat level and ingredients in a hot sauce, you also want to think about the food you are adding it to. Today we're just talking about tacos, however, when pairing hot sauce with food, there are quite a few things to keep in mind:
Heat levels
Ingredients of the hot sauce
Ingredients of the food
Food flavor profiles
Textures
Types of Hot Sauces
There are many different types of hot sauces out there, from classic red chili-based sauces like Sriracha to vinegar-based options like Louisiana Hot Sauce. Red chili-based sauces tend to have robust flavors with varying levels of heat depending on the type of peppers used in them.
Vinegar-based sauces are often milder but still provide plenty of flavors. For those who want something even spicier, there are ghost pepper-infused hot sauces that can take your tacos to another level!
The Best Types of Hot Sauces for Tacos
Understand that there are thousands of chile peppers and just about endless ways to use them when curating a unique sauce. So with that being said, there really isn't a lack of options when it comes to finding a good hot sauce for tacos. You've got plenty to choose from, but we'll share with you some of our favorites! Let's take a look.
These are in no particular order and are all equally delicious on tacos.
1. Well Rounded Sauces
Tacos already come packed with tons of amazing flavors, which is probably why they are so popular. When you think about adding some extra zing and heat to it, you want something that is well rounded. You want a sauce that isn't overpowering when it comes to flavor AND heat, you do want to taste the taco after all.
Which is why you want what we're calling a well rounded sauce. Something that has good flavor, but is not overbearing and also comes with a mild to medium heat level.
These tend to be all-purpose sauces and are good at providing GREAT flavor, a balance of heat, and robust texture. A perfect example of a well rounded hot sauce for tacos is I Love Taco Sauce. The name in itself says it's perfect for tacos!
The I Love Tacos Sauce also has two different options for people. A mild one for those who only want a little bit of heat and a hot one for those who want a bit more spice in their life. It's the perfect sauce for just about any taco and it's sure to be a staple in your house after trying it!
2. Sweet Fruity Sauces
When you're thinking about adding a hot sauce to your tacos, sweet and fruity sauces usually don't come to mind. But they should! Especially if you want some extra sweetness to balance out all the spicy flavors in your taco.
These types of sauces are great for people who like a little bit of heat but also want something that is on the sweeter side.
We're not talking about candy kind of sweet though, think about flavors of beach and pineapple, which are perfect for tacos. They tend to be milder with less spice and provide an amazing combination of sweet and savory flavors.
When it comes to a sweet and fruity hot sauce that goes well on tacos, our go to is Peach Habanero Delight. As you guessed by the name of the sauce, it's made with peach and habanero peppers. It's a tropical blend of mild peppers blended with peaches and pineapple, which will give your tacos an amazing sweet island flavor!
3. A Good Verde Sauce (Green)
For those who love a good verde sauce, tacos are the perfect canvas for it. A good verde hot sauce is usually made from tomatillos and jalapenos, which give you that signature deep green color. However, a good verde sauce can be made in many different ways.
One of our favorite green sauces for tacos is Sam Sauce. It's crafted with roasted tomatillos, jalapenos, the famous 7-pot primo pepper, and just the right amount of heat!
It's also a very unique sauce as it is also crafted with Japanese black vinegar and Yuzu vinegar which can help cut through the rich and fatty meat used for some tacos.
This sauce is perfect for tacos because it provides plenty of great flavors that won't overpower any ingredients in your taco.
Tip: Try mixing the hot sauce with a little crema to make a spicy creamy verde drizzle. Trust us when we say you need to try this!
4. Hot & Garlicy Sauces
If you're anything like us, anything with garlic is just simply amazing. So for those who want a little bit of heat and some extra garlic flavor, this is the way to go. Hot and garlicky sauces are great for tacos because they provide bold flavors without overpowering the ingredients in your taco. Let's be honest, garlic goes well on just about anything and tacos are no exception.
When it comes to hot & garlic sauces, nothing beats Ghostly Garlic. This sauce is made with ghost pepper or bhut jolokia pepper, so its heat level is no joke.
It also has slight hints of smokey flavors and of course garlic. It's packed with flavor and just enough heat to make your tacos pop!
These are just a few types of hot sauces that we think would be perfect for tacos! There are plenty more out there, so try a few and find the type of sauce that you like best. You can also mix and match different sauces to create your own unique flavor profile! The possibilities are endless with hot sauce and tacos!
Other Notable General Brand Hot Sauces
Outside of the amazing craft hot sauces we just talked about, we would also like to note a couple of general brand hot sauces that are not necessarily going to blow you away, but are still good staples for tacos.
Cholula
Cholula is a classic Mexican-style hot sauce that has been around since 1989. It is made with arbol and piquin peppers, vinegar, garlic, and spices. Cholula has a mild heat level so it won't overpower your tacos but will definitely add some flavor.
Tabasco
Tabasco is another classic hot sauce that you can use to give your tacos an extra boost of spice. This Louisiana-style sauce contains tabasco peppers, vinegar, and salt which gives it its distinctive rich flavor profile. Tabasco has a moderate heat level which makes it great for those who don't want their food to be too spicy but still want a hint of heat.
Valentina
Valentina is a Mexican hot sauce that has been around since 1954. It is made from chile peppers, vinegar, and spices which gives it its unique flavor profile. Valentina is slightly spicier than Cholula but still not too overwhelming for those who don't care for overly spicy food.
Tapatio
Tapatio is another popular Mexican-style hot sauce that has been around for quite some time. It contains a blend of chile peppers, garlic, and spices which gives it its signature flavor profile. Tapatio has a moderate heat level and can add some nice flavor to your tacos without overpowering all the other flavors.
Choosing The Best Hot Sauces for Your Tacos
When it comes to spicing up your tacos there are many options available for those looking for some extra zing! From mild basic brand options like Cholula and Tabasco to local craft hot sauces and extreme ghost pepper infused options, there is something out there for everyone. As always, start with small amounts when trying out new hot sauces so you don’t overwhelm yourself with too much heat or flavor!
No matter what kind of hot sauce you choose, make sure you enjoy every bite of your tasty tacos.
Bon appetit!
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