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Published: July 1, 2025
These days, consumers are sauce crazy. From the wild LTOs to the inclusion of global flavors, people are looking to sauce to widen their palate. It’s a low commitment taste adventure. And it’s so easy to work with. Best of all, it pairs perfectly with the most beloved protein: chicken. Served on the side, or tossed in it, sauces are a powerful tool to push your chicken menu items further.
Limited time offers are having a huge moment recently, thanks in part to exciting new sauces and some updated classics. In 2024 alone, there was a wide range of unique chicken and sauce pairings.1 From the old standbys like spicy orange chicken to the modern mashups like maple butter chicken waffle tacos, sauces have been adding intrigue to chicken dishes and bringing more people in.
On-trend and exotic sauces are great ways to create interest and grab the attention of potential new customers. Dipping sauce is a menu mainstay, with chicken being four of the top six items most commonly paired with dipping sauce.2 And you may have already seen vodka sauce all over menus—it’s the #1 fastest growing sauce on chicken sandwiches.3 And you’ll likely see sauced chicken dishes like Nashville hot on more menus in the future—the saucy flavor is projected to grow 57% over the next four years.4 There’s a place for sauce on every menu, particularly with chicken dishes. But there’s more to sauce than you think.
Global sauces are in the beginning stages of becoming a mega trend.5 From Korean BBQ sauce and sweet Thai chili sauce to cooling creamy sauces like tzatziki, raita and toum, operators can open up a whole new world of flavor for customers without much commitment. It’s an easy way to offer exciting new flavors, a totally different cuisine or the latest menu trend. But the classics still reign—ranch, barbecue, ketchup and mustard are the most ubiquitous dipping sauces.2 Your customers expect them, particularly for chicken-based meals.
Back-of-house staff will appreciate the convenience of using sauces across the menu. They’re easy to store, quick to customize and make prep much simpler. On top of all that, sauces are perfect for cross utilization. Sauce up different dishes across different dayparts to entice your customers to come back for a different meal.
While a sauced-up dish might be a great move for your operation, you should also consider the products you’re serving and how those products might hold or best pair with sauces. Tyson Red Label® Authentically Crispy Fully Cooked Original Bone-in Chicken Wings have a unique breading that offers the perfect crispy bite on their own—and they can hold up when tossed in sauce and held. So your customers can bite into juicy chicken with the crunch they want even after delivery and still experience the exciting flavor of your sauce pairing. The National Chicken Council predicts that Americans will eat around 33 billion wings by the end of 2025, 6 so make sure yours are the best.
Tyson Red Label® Authentically Crispy Fully Cooked Spicy Bone-in Chicken Wings pair perfectly with classic dipping sauces like ranch or blue cheese. These dairy-based sauces are ideal for providing a cooling taste that balances the spicy flavor of the wings. Or maybe you’re looking to spice up your handheld options. This tangy chicken pita features a Tyson Red Label® Authentically Crispy Spicy Chicken Breast Filet and garlic hummus for a bite that kicks and cools all at once.
If you’re looking for options that focus on deep, distinctive aromas, textures and tastes, this sourdough BBQ chicken sandwich is packed with a ton of different flavors. Featuring Tyson Red Label® Fully Cooked Wood Fire Seasoned Chicken Breast Strips and both chipotle and BBQ sauces, this sandwich will wow your customers’ palates.
Of course, there’s always the option to get experimental. Taking advantage of product flavor families like Tyson Red Label® brand Authentically Crispy, Golden Crispy or Homestyle means you have a reliable canvas for your custom sauces. Offer up a mashup with this spicy maple chicken sandwich. It’s got a sweet sauce. It’s got a spicy bite. And it’s full of savory flavor—all in one delicious menu item. Change up a brunch classic and make it creamy, crunchy, spicy and savory with chicken and pancake breakfast tacos. The opportunities are endless.
The benefits of saucing your chicken are many. It’s an easy way to excite customers. You can create efficiencies in your kitchen and get creative with your menu. And with Tyson Red Label® products you have a solid base of flavor to sauce up—building layer after layer of exciting flavor to make the menu your customers are looking for.
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Sources:
1 Datassential, Launches & Ratings, February 2024
2 Datassential, Dipping Sauces Inspiration Report, February 2024
3 Datassential, Menu Trends, December 2024
4 Datassential, Menu Trends, February 2025
5 Datassential, Dipping Sauce Inspiration, February 2024
6 National Chicken Council, Chicken Wing Report, January 2025