Popeyes Sauces: Types & Nutritional Value

There are not so many restaurants that offer signature sauces like Popeyes. If you visit any Popeyes restaurant with a group of friends, you may find that you all have similar preferences with entrees, never the sauces!

Popeyes has successfully won its customers’ hearts with its signature sauces. And no one’s preference for one type of sauce makes the other less delicious. If all you know about Popeyes sauces is what you were told, you need to try them.

But before you do, you should learn a thing or two about the delicious sauces available at Popeyes. Let’s get into all the yummy details already.

About Popeyes

Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen, Inc., trading as Popeyes, was founded by Al Copeland in June 1972. It started as Popeyes Chicken and Biscuits restaurant before it got a new face in 1975.

Popeyes went through different changes and started franchising in 1976. Although it started franchising in Louisiana, its headquarters is currently in Miami.

Popeyes is a branch company of Restaurant Brands International, which is based in Toronto. Over the years, the company has risen beyond challenges and has over 3,700 locations (2021).

A large majority of the restaurants are located in the United States. The other locations are spread across Puerto Rico, the District of Columbia, and other countries.

In addition, only 50 of the over 3,700 locations are owned by the company. Other locations are franchises belonging to private owners.

Popeyes sauces

Popeyes offers about nine dipping sauces you can pair with their chicken sandwiches, tenders, fries, biscuits, and seafood.

The sauces include:

1. Blackened Ranch sauce

Popeyes Blackened Ranch sauce is a creamy, rich mixture of ranch dressing, black pepper, garlic, and onion. It is one of the most popular Popeyes sauces, probably the one you first heard of.

Although it is not one of their signature sauces, it is very delicious. You can find similar Blackened Ranch sauces in other restaurants too.

Per serving, Blackened Ranch sauce contains 118 calories, 13g fat, 8mg cholesterol, 2g carbs, 1g sugar, and 1g protein.

In addition, the best item to dip into this sauce is the chicken tenders- if you appreciate the cajun seasoning in it.   

2. BoldBQ sauce

Popeyes BoldBQ sauce is a BBQ sauce. It pairs well with any sides you will have. As a BBQ sauce, it is a perfect blend of sweet and smoky flavors.

BoldBQ Sauce is a mixture of artificial smoke flavoring, cayenne pepper, apple cider vinegar, and molasses.

One serving gives 45 calories, 0g protein, 0g fat, 10g total carbs, 8g sugar, and 0mg cholesterol.

3. Tartar sauce

Every Popeyes lover loves Tartar sauce with shrimp or tenders. Tartar sauce is sweet and spicy.

It is a delicious mixture of mayo, cayenne pepper, sweet pickle, sugar, horseradish, Louisiana seasonings, and lemon juice. The lemon juice in the sauce gives it an irresistible tangy taste.

One Tartar sauce contains 140 calories, 15g total fat, 15mg cholesterol, 1g carbs, 1g sugar, and 0g protein.

You should tread carefully with this sauce because while you are enjoying the taste, it could be raising your calorie intake and cholesterol level.

Remember that these nutrients are also present in whatever item you are pairing the sauce with.

4. Sweet Heat sauce

Sweet Heat sauce from Popeyes is sweet heat indeed. The spicy and sweet flavors bring an appetizing balance. It is not a signature sauce, but it is delicious.

Although Sweet Heat sauce is unique, it shares similarities with the Blackened sauce.

One serving provides 72 calories, 0g protein, 0g fat, 19g carbs, 15g sugar, and 0mg cholesterol. Keep an eye on your appetite for this sauce because of its carbs and sugar content.

5. Wild Honey Mustard sauce

If you love a mixture of honey and mustard with your chicken or fries, you should try Wild Honey Mustard sauce. There is no way your taste buds can ignore the mustard taste. It is a spicy yellow sauce with sweet notes of honey.

Wild Honey Mustard sauce is one of Popeyes’ sauces that pair well with almost every entrée. You can have it with meatballs, potato wedges, or chicken skewers.

One serving of Wild Honey Mustard sauce contains 100 calories, 8g fat, 10mg cholesterol, 7g total carbs, 1g sugar, and 0g protein.

This sauce is delicious, and it could be quite difficult to stop at one. However, if you eat at Popeyes every day, you should watch it with this sauce.

popeyes sauces - cheffist

6. Buttermilk Ranch sauce

Popeyes Buttermilk Ranch sauce is one of the restaurant’s signature sauces. It is thick and creamy, like the Blackened ranch sauce but uses buttermilk and mayo. It also contains garlic and onions, which gives the sauce a balance of tang and creaminess.

This creamy, rich sauce pairs well with Popeyes chicken sandwiches and chicken. In addition, one serving contains 150 calories, 0g protein, 15g fat, 3g carbs, 1g sugar, and 10mg cholesterol.

7. Creole Cocktail sauce

Creole Cocktail sauce is Popeyes’ only red sauce. It looks a lot like ketchup, but it is not; Creole Cocktail sauce is spicy and sweet. It contains horseradish, ketchup, hot sauce, Worcestershire sauce, and lemon juice.

Per serving, Creole Cocktail sauce contains 30 calories, 0g fat, 0mg cholesterol, 7g total carbs, 4g sugar, and 0g protein.

8. Bayou Buffalo sauce  

The Bayou Buffalo sauce is one of Popeyes’ signature sauces. If you need a sauce for your kids, this is a great choice. It is a mixture of balanced spices and has a great taste too.

In addition, Bayou Buffalo sauce contains butter, celery, and cajun seasonings. One serving of Bayou Buffalo sauce contains 74 calories, 2g protein, 0g fat, 16g total carbs, 0g sugar, and 0mg cholesterol.

You will agree that this sauce is indeed healthy for both adults and children.

9. Chili sauce

Popeyes Chili sauce is a perfect pick for people who can endure the heat of spicy dipping sauces. The spiciness leaves a warmth on your tongue. The Chilis sauce is a perfect choice for a chicken sandwich spread or dip for fried chicken.  

One serving contains 73 calories, 0g protein, 0g fat, 19g carbs, 15g sugar, and 0mg cholesterol.

Which of Popeyes’ sauces is the best?

All Popeyes sauces are unique and different.

No one outshines the other. The sauce you prefer depends on the item you are pairing it with.

For instance, Popeyes tartar sauce pairs well with Popeyes shrimp. Also, some people would rather use the Blackened Ranch sauce for dipping with the tenders. Your choice is what matters the most.

Who should avoid Popeyes sauces?

All Popeyes sauces are prepared in different and unique ways.

Each of them contains different allergens, and allergies vary with people.

To be safe, get to know what the sauce you want contains and be sure that the ingredients won’t trigger an allergic reaction.

Can you get Popeyes sauces during happy hour?

Yes, you can.

If you order from Popeyes’ happy hour menu on Tuesday and Thursday between 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., you may be able to get sauces if you order fries and tenders.

However, you should know that happy hour deals are subject to change. To avoid being disappointed, check the Popeyes app to confirm if sauces are available during Popeyes’ happy hour.

FAQs

Can you buy Popeyes sauces?

The only way to get any of Popeyes’ sauces is to order it with your meal. So, if you hope to buy just the sauce, you won’t get that.

Are all Popeyes sauces gluten-free?

Not all. All Popeyes sauces except the BBQ sauce are gluten-free.

If you have celiac disease or gluten sensitivity, stay off the BBQ sauce and go for the other sauces on the list.

Are all Popeyes sauces dairy-free?

Not all Popeyes sauces are dairy-free.

Popeyes Ranch sauce and Popeyes Buffalo sauce contain milk. Therefore, you should stay off these sauces if you have dairy allergies.

Can you get free Popeyes sauces?

Currently, Popeyes does not have a platform or deal through which customers can get free sauces.

But you can take the Popeyes survey and get a chance to win a gift card that can foot a large order, including any of the sauces.

Conclusion

If you ever dined at Popeyes, the sauces must have caught your taste buds. Yes, Popeyes has tasty meals, but I like to differentiate the sauces from the entrees.

Popeyes is one of those restaurants that top the chicken game. If you are new to their menu, I will advise that your first try should be the chicken and any of the sauces for dipping.

Thanks for reading.

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