✔ Updated · current US sauces, limited editions + retired favorites
McDonald's dipping sauces can make or break a box of McNuggets, and the lineup changes more than you'd think. Here's every sauce I could track down, from today's six classics to the ones we still miss.
McDonald's has six permanent US dipping sauces: Tangy BBQ, Sweet 'N Sour, Honey Mustard, Hot Mustard, Spicy Buffalo and Creamy Ranch, plus honey packets on request. Availability, especially Hot Mustard, can vary by restaurant. Limited-time sauces such as Szechuan, Mambo, Sweet & Spicy Jam and Big Mac Sauce come and go.
- Classic McNugget pick: Tangy BBQ or Sweet 'N Sour.
- Spiciest: Spicy Buffalo, then Hot Mustard.
- Not in the US: curry sauce (sold in the UK and other countries).
Current McDonald’s Dipping Sauces (US)
These are the sauces you can ask for with McNuggets, tenders and fries at most US restaurants right now. Where we have a copycat, the sauce name links to it, and I've added a quick at-home version for the rest.
Tangy BBQ
Sweet, smoky tomato barbecue with a vinegar tang. The longtime McNugget classic and a great fry dip too.
How: Our copycat simmers ketchup, brown sugar, vinegar and smoke for 10 minutes.
Get the recipe →Sweet 'N Sour
Glossy, apricot and peach flavored sweet and sour sauce with a gentle vinegar bite. Sticky, fruity and very dippable.
How: Simmer 1/2 cup apricot jam, 2 tbsp rice vinegar, 1 tbsp soy sauce and 1 tsp cornstarch slurry until glossy.
Honey Mustard
Creamy, sweet and mildly tangy, more honey than mustard. Lovely with nuggets, tenders and chicken sandwiches.
How: Stir 3 tbsp mayonnaise, 2 tbsp honey, 1 tbsp yellow mustard and 1 tsp Dijon. Chill 30 minutes.
Hot Mustard
Sharp, spicy mustard with a sweet edge and a vinegar kick. A cult favorite, though availability varies by restaurant.
Get the recipe →Spicy Buffalo
Orange, buttery and vinegary with cayenne heat. Medium spicy, tangy and the best pick if you like wings.
How: Whisk 1/3 cup cayenne hot sauce into 3 tbsp melted butter with 1 tsp honey and a pinch of garlic powder.
Creamy Ranch
Thick, cool buttermilk ranch with garlic, onion and herbs. Clings to nuggets and calms down anything spicy.
How: Our Wingstop-style ranch copycat is close: mayo, buttermilk, sour cream and dried herbs, chilled overnight.
Honey
Plain honey packets are available on request at most US locations. Simple, sweet and surprisingly good with nuggets.
Limited-Time and Returning Sauces
McDonald's loves a limited run. These sauces appeared for a few weeks or months and may come back, so keep an eye on the app.
Big Mac Sauce
The creamy, tangy burger sauce has appeared as a dipping cup for limited runs. Rich, pickle-flecked and great with fries.
How: Make it at home with mayo, sweet relish, mustard, vinegar, paprika, garlic and onion powder.
Get the recipe →Szechuan Sauce
Sweet, garlicky soy and ginger sauce first tied to a 1998 Mulan promotion, then famously brought back for short runs in 2017 and 2018.
Get the recipe →Mambo Sauce
Tomato-based, sweet, spicy and vinegary, inspired by the sauce Washington, D.C. is famous for. A limited-time dip from fall 2023.
Sweet & Spicy Jam
A jammy red pepper sauce with apple cider vinegar, Szechuan peppercorn and cayenne. Launched alongside Mambo Sauce in October 2023.
Savory Chili WcDonald's Sauce
A sweet and savory chili sauce with garlic, soy and ginger notes, sold for a limited time in early 2025 with the anime-inspired WcDonald's promotion.
Discontinued McDonald's Sauces We Miss
More than 25 dipping sauces have come and gone since McNuggets launched. These are the best-remembered ones in the US.
Sweet Chili
Sticky, sweet Thai-style chili sauce with visible chili flakes. Gone from US menus, but easy to swap with a store-bought sweet chili sauce.
Chipotle BBQ
A smokier, spicier barbecue sauce that ran alongside Chicken Selects strips before being dropped.
Signature Sauce
A creamy, peppery sauce created for the Buttermilk Crispy Tenders and retired along with them.
Habanero Ranch
Ranch with a slow habanero burn that showed up in past limited runs before disappearing.
Jalapeño and Louisiana Style Hot
Two short-lived dipping sauces from 1984, from the very early days of McNuggets.
Sauces Outside the US
Curry Sauce
Sweet curry dips are a favorite with McNuggets in countries such as the UK and Ireland, but they aren't sold in the US.
Garlic Mayo and Chipotle Mayo
Creamy mayo-style dips that have appeared as limited editions outside the US.
Which McDonald's Sauce Goes With What?
| Sauce | Flavor | Heat | Best with |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tangy BBQ | Sweet, smoky, tangy | None | McNuggets, fries |
| Sweet 'N Sour | Fruity, sweet, light vinegar | None | McNuggets |
| Honey Mustard | Sweet, creamy, mild tang | None | Tenders, chicken sandwiches |
| Hot Mustard | Sharp, sweet, vinegary | Medium | McNuggets, McChicken |
| Spicy Buffalo | Buttery, vinegary, cayenne | Medium | Tenders, nuggets |
| Creamy Ranch | Cool, herby, garlicky | None | Fries, spicy chicken |
| Honey | Pure sweetness | None | McNuggets, biscuits |
Make McDonald's Sauces at Home
My test for any copycat is simple: does it taste like the memory, can a home cook make it reliably, and is there a shortcut? These all pass. Start with our McDonald's BBQ sauce, McDonald's hot mustard and McDonald's Szechuan sauce, then pair them with homemade McDonald's chicken nuggets.
Got leftovers from the drive-thru? Here's how to reheat McDonald's chicken nuggets so they're crisp again, and our McDonald's tartar sauce for a Filet-O-Fish night. Homemade sauces keep in the fridge for about 1 week (mayo-based ones 5 to 7 days) in a clean, airtight jar.
Browse every McDonald's copycat recipe on the site for burgers, breakfast and desserts.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are all the McDonald's dipping sauces?
In the US, the permanent McNugget sauces are Tangy BBQ, Sweet 'N Sour, Honey Mustard, Hot Mustard, Spicy Buffalo and Creamy Ranch, plus honey. Limited-time sauces have included Szechuan, Mambo, Sweet & Spicy Jam, Big Mac Sauce and Savory Chili WcDonald's Sauce. Retired sauces include Sweet Chili, Chipotle BBQ and Signature Sauce.
What is the most popular dipping sauce for McNuggets?
McDonald's doesn't publish sauce sales, but Tangy BBQ and Sweet 'N Sour are the longtime classics that most people grew up with and the two you'll see in almost every ranking. Hot Mustard has the most loyal fans, partly because it is harder to find.
Does McDonald's still have hot mustard?
Often, yes, but not everywhere. Hot Mustard has disappeared from some menus over the years and availability is up to individual restaurants. Check the app for your nearest location, or make our copycat hot mustard at home with dry mustard, vinegar, honey and turmeric.
Does McDonald's have curry sauce in the US?
No. Curry sauce is a McNugget dip in countries such as the UK and Ireland, but it isn't on the US menu. If you love it, a sweet curry dip is easy to make at home with mayonnaise, mild curry powder, a little mango chutney and a squeeze of lemon.
How many sauces do you get with McNuggets?
Usually one sauce with a 4-piece or 6-piece, two with a 10-piece and more with larger boxes, though this can vary by restaurant. Extra sauces may cost a little more, so ask at the counter or check the app.
