It may sound like sacrilege, but do you ever find yourself just feeling kind of bored with ketchup? Sure, the slightly sweet, vinegary, salty condiment is a staple for a reason, but there’s a whole world of dips, sauces, and spreads out there that can bring new and exciting flavor to your favorite foods. Yes, even french fries!
These are some of our favorite ketchup substitutes. From the tomato-based to the outlandishly creamy, from the spicy to the sweet, keep a few of these on hand for those nights when you just can’t bring yourself to reach for the ketchup. Your taste buds won’t regret it.
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Baron Banana Ketchup
Image Credit: Amazon This Carribean banana ketchup is sweet, tangy, and a little spicy. You can use it the same way you’d use traditional tomato ketchup.
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Brooklyn Delhi Tomato Achaar
Image Credit: Amazon Tangy, spicy tomato achaar wins over ketchup every time. It’s got a hint of sweetness and some fruitiness thanks to tamarind, but that’s balanced out by a robust spicy flavor.
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Lee Kum Kee Hoisin Sauce
Image Credit: Amazon Both deeply savory and sticky-sweet, hoisin sauce will liven up burgers, onion rings, and even fries more than ketchup ever could.
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Heinz Cocktail Sauce
Image Credit: Amazon Traditionally served with seafood, cocktail sauce is like a zesty cousin of ketchup. It’s flavored with horseradish and garlic, making it ideal for cutting through rich, fatty fried foods.
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Kewpie Mayonnaise
Image Credit: Amazon This creamier, tangier Japanese mayo has a contingent of converts the world over. Trust us when we say it’s a delicious dipping sauce for french fries.
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Zeisner Curry Ketchup
Image Credit: Amazon Okay, so technically this is a kind of ketchup, but it gets an extra boost of flavor thanks to the addition of apple puree and curry powder. Eat it the German way, with sausage (hot dogs work well) and french fries.
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Chili Crisp
Image Credit: Amazon Crunchy, crispy, and spicy, chili crisp is great on burgers that could use some texture and a kick of heat. It’s also an amazing addition to cheese fries.
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Bibigo Gochujang
Image Credit: Amazon Gochujang is a sweet and spicy fermented Korean chili sauce. Use it on its own as a dip or spread, or mix it with mayo or tomato ketchup to make an entirely new world of flavors.
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HP Sauce
Image Credit: Amazon HP Sauce is a British favorite. It’s got a tomato base like regular ketchup, but the addition of molasses, dates, and tamarind give it an extra boost of tangy-sweet flavor.
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Mike’s Hot Honey
Image Credit: Amazon Great on pizza, ribs and more, Mike’s Hot Honey, which is infused with chilies, is like nothing else around.
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Tiger Sauce
Image Credit: Amazon Tiger Sauce is a sweet-and-sour, cayenne-based pepper sauce that goes with almost anything.
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Date Lady Organic Sweet Chili Sauce
Image Credit: Amazon Dates give this sauce a rich sweetness, which is counterbalanced by apple cider vinegar and a healthy dose of crushed red pepper for spice.
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