17 Sauce Recipes That Make Every Meal Better

These simple recipes only need a few things you might already have, but they can turn a plain meal into something really special. Next time you are cooking, try one out to make your food taste a lot more interesting. You can choose from smooth, creamy dips or zesty, spicy salsas that will quickly become your most-loved recipes to make in the kitchen.

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Table of Contents

1 Poblano Cream Sauce
2 Quick San Marzano Tomato Sauce (Italian Marinara Sauce)
3 Easy Mole Recipe
4 Rose Harissa
5 Guajillo Sauce
6 Cilantro Lime Crema
7 Homemade BBQ Sauce
8 Chile de Arbol Salsa
9 Jalapeño Salsa
10 Mushroom Sauce for Steak
11 Chile Piquin Salsa
12 Adobo Sauce
13 Salsa de Aguacate (Avocado Salsa)
14 Boom Boom Sauce
15 Cilantro Chimichurri
16 Tomato Chutney
17 Rhubarb Sauce (Only 2 ingredients!)

Poblano Cream Sauce

A vibrant poblano sauce fills a decorative blue bowl placed on a wooden surface. Fresh cilantro leaves are visible beside the bowl, and a colorful striped cloth is nearby, adding a pop of color to the setting. — Poblano Cream Sauce. Photo credit: Mama Maggie’s Kitchen

This creamy sauce gets its rich flavor from mild roasted peppers, making the Poblano Cream Sauce great for anyone who likes just a little bit of heat. You can pour it over your tacos or use it as a simple dip for chips.
Get Recipe: Poblano Cream Sauce

Quick San Marzano Tomato Sauce (Italian Marinara Sauce)

A wooden spoon stirring thick, chunky red tomato sauce with visible bits of tomato in a pot. — Quick San Marzano Tomato Sauce (Italian Marinara Sauce). Photo credit: The Sage Apron.

The special tomatoes in this Quick San Marzano Tomato Sauce make it taste sweet and rich, just like real Italian food. It is perfect to put on your favorite pasta or a homemade pizza, and you can make a big batch to freeze for later.
Get the recipe: Quick San Marzano Tomato Sauce

Easy Mole Recipe

Mole sauce in a jar with a spoon inside. — Easy Mole Recipe. Photo credit: Mama Maggie’s Kitchen.

Do not be nervous about trying this Easy Mole sauce, as the chocolate makes it rich and deep without being strange. It is a great way to turn a simple chicken dinner into a much more special and interesting meal.
Get Recipe: Easy Mole Recipe

Rose Harissa

A black bowl filled with spicy red Indian pickle, perfect for Tasty Recipes For Dinner, garnished with dried rose petals and placed on a burlap cloth with dried red chilies nearby. — Rose Harissa. Photo credit: OMG! Yummy.

This is a spicy sauce with a light floral twist that makes Rose Harissa different from other hot sauces you might know. It adds a unique North African flavor to your soups, sandwiches, and many other dishes.
Get the recipe: Rose Harissa

Guajillo Sauce

A white bowl filled with vibrant red sauce on a wooden surface. A dried red chili pepper is placed beside the bowl. The scene suggests a spicy or flavorful culinary theme. — Guajillo Sauce. Photo credit: Mama Maggie’s Kitchen

You can make plain meats taste amazing with this Guajillo Sauce, which has a rich chili flavor that is not too spicy. It is a classic Mexican sauce that is great on chicken or tacos, so you will want to make extra.
Get Recipe: Guajillo Sauce

Cilantro Lime Crema

A bowl of creamy green sauce with a spoon on a wooden surface. A lime half, fresh cilantro, and tortilla chips are arranged around the bowl. — Cilantro Lime Crema. Photo By Mama Maggie’s Kitchen

This is a cool and tangy sauce that is just sour cream blended with lime and cilantro to make Cilantro Lime Crema. It is super easy to whip up and is perfect for drizzling on tacos or using as a dip for chips.
Get Recipe: Cilantro Lime Crema

Homemade BBQ Sauce

A glass jar filled with bright red tomato sauce, tied with a rustic twine bow around the neck, sits on a wooden surface with part of a blue and white cloth visible beside it. — Homemade BBQ Sauce. Photo credit: Dinner at the Zoo.

You can make your own Homemade BBQ Sauce that is sweet, tangy, and much better than the kind you buy in a store. It is perfect for brushing on ribs or for using as a dip, and you can adjust the flavors just how you like.
Get the recipe: Homemade BBQ Sauce

Chile de Arbol Salsa

This is an extremely spicy salsa that uses small red peppers, so the Chile de Arbol Salsa is only for people who truly love a lot of heat. You only need a tiny bit to add a major kick of flavor to your tacos or eggs.
Get the recipe: Chile de Arbol Salsa

Jalapeño Salsa

A hand dipping a chip into a bowl of jalapeno salsa. — Jalapeno Salsa. Photo By Mama Maggie’s Kitchen

The cream in this recipe cools down the peppers, so the Jalapeño Salsa gives you a lot of flavor without being too spicy. It is a great creamy dip for chips or a topping for your favorite tacos.
Get the recipe: Jalapeño Salsa

Mushroom Sauce for Steak

A grilled steak topped with creamy mushroom sauce is served with mashed potatoes and a pat of butter, along with a side of steamed broccoli on a dark plate. — Mushroom Sauce for Steak. Photo credit: Saving Room for Dessert.

You can turn a basic steak into a restaurant-style meal with this Mushroom Sauce that is buttery and full of earthy flavor. It is made by cooking mushrooms until they are golden and then adding cream for a rich finish.
Get the recipe: Mushroom Sauce for Steak

Chile Piquin Salsa

Hand holding a chip with salsa chile piquin over a molcajete. — Chile Piquin Salsa. Photo by Mama Maggie’s Kitchen

The tiny peppers in this recipe pack a huge amount of heat, so the Chile Piquin Salsa is another one just for true spice lovers. It is perfect for adding a powerful kick to your tacos, soups, or any other dish.
Get the recipe: Chile Piquin Salsa

Adobo Sauce

A glass jar filled with smooth, reddish-brown sauce, with a metal lid beside it. The background includes other sealed jars and dried dark chili peppers, suggesting a homemade spicy sauce or salsa. — Mexican Adobo Sauce. Photo credit: Mama Maggie’s Kitchen.

This is a smoky and slightly sweet sauce made from dried chilies, and the Adobo Sauce is perfect for marinating meats or adding to stews. You will find yourself wanting to use its great flavor on almost everything.
Get Recipe: Adobo Sauce

Salsa de Aguacate (Avocado Salsa)

A clay bowl filled with creamy green avocado salsa garnished with a sprig of cilantro, surrounded by tortilla chips on a wooden surface. Another bowl with tortilla chips and a green bell pepper are visible in the background. — Salsa de Aguacate. Photo by Mama Maggie’s Kitchen

This is a creamy and spicy sauce that is smoother than guacamole, and the Salsa de Aguacate is perfect for dipping chips or topping tacos. The smooth avocado helps to balance out the heat from the jalapeño peppers inside.
Get the recipe: Salsa de Aguacate

Boom Boom Sauce

A bowl of creamy dipping sauce topped with chopped herbs, surrounded by sweet potato fries. Three fries are dipped in the sauce. — Boom Boom Sauce. Photo credit: The Cookin’ Chicks.

This is a creamy sauce that is a little bit sweet and a little bit spicy, making the Boom Boom Sauce something you will love on burgers and fries. Its great mix of flavors makes it an addictive dip for veggies, too.
Get Recipe: Boom Boom Sauce

Cilantro Chimichurri

You can make a zesty and bright Cilantro Chimichurri by blending fresh herbs and garlic together in just a few minutes. It is awesome for pouring over grilled meats or vegetables to give them a big boost of fresh flavor.
Get Recipe: Cilantro Chimichurri

Tomato Chutney

A bowl of creamy orange chutney topped with mustard seeds, lentils, and a whole dried red chili, set on a dark wooden surface. — Tomato Chutney. Photo credit: Indiaphile.

You can make a sweet and tangy Tomato Chutney that is awesome to eat with cheese or with your favorite Indian food. Its flavor gets even better after a day or two when it has been sitting in the fridge.
Get the recipe: Tomato Chutney

Rhubarb Sauce (Only 2 ingredients!)

A glass bowl of rhubarb custard topped with pink rhubarb slices sits on a decorative red glass plate, with a silver spoon beside it. — Rhubarb Sauce (Easy, 2 Ingredient Recipe). Photo credit: Christina’s Cucina.

All you need are two ingredients to make this simple Rhubarb Sauce, which is both tart and sweet at the same time. It is a perfect topping for ice cream or pancakes and is very easy to cook until it is thick.
Get the recipe: Rhubarb Sauce