13 Of The Best Restaurant-Brand Seasonings You Can Buy For Your Kitchen
Facebook Despite its ubiquitous red-and-white pinstriped presence today in relatively sleepy suburban strip mall complexes, TGI Friday's initially got its start as a raucous midtown Manhattan watering hole in 1965.
Naturally, there's its original BBQ sauce, which is fairly self-explanatory. Its Buffalo Wing Sauce and Ghost Pepper Sauce are ideal for those with a high tolerance for heat. There's also a Ginger Lime Marinade that adds zip and tang to your grilled meats. What intrigues us the most, though, is its White BBQ sauce, and don't be deterred by the color. While the predominant ingredient is mayonnaise, it also has vinegar and lemon — that presence of acidity helps denature proteins and will make meat extra tender.
Facebook P.F. Chang's has legendary status when it comes to casual dining with an Asian influence. Since it began with its first location in Scottsdale, Arizona in 1993, the franchise has ballooned to over 200 restaurants within the United States and has locations in over 25 countries around the world. Given P.F. Chang's enormous success, it's no wonder that diners would want to bring some of those special flavors back to their pantries and refrigerators, and they have a lot to offer.
Chick-fil-A
Whether you're ordering Chick-fil-A's classic fried chicken sandwich, a cool wrap, or an order of nuggets, it's very tempting to just go with the sweet, creamy, tangy signature sauce — at least many fans would agree. The sauce is popular online and in real life for many reasons. And the best part is that you can always ask for more. But, why stop there? Chick-fil-A has a gamut of interesting dips. There are the familiar fail-safe, fast food condiment standards like sweet barbecue, honey mustard, and ranch. But you can also branch out with Chick-fil-A's Polynesian sauce, that's a bit of a soy-glazed vinaigrette with a hint of peppers. You can also get a heavy spike of spice from its Sriracha sauce. Or challenge your palate with its Buffalo sauce, which has a potent combination of acid and heat. If you can't seem to find the sauces at your local grocery store, most of these tas
Taco Bell
Facebook What's a trip to Taco Bell without asking for all the hot sauces they have? True fans will probably ask for a few extra packets just in case a handful isn't enough. The restaurant is more than happy to add as much kick as you want to your tacos, gorditas, and chalupas with pouches of hot sauce that are cheekily labeled to reflect the range of flavors hinting at flirtation with the Scoville scale. Mild says, "Can't wait!" while Fire declares, "You're so my type." And Diablo, well, it wants to take the relationship to the "Next Level." While those phrases might not be the exact ones you get at your local Taco Bell, you can procure a set of Taco Bell-branded hot sauces online to add to your pantry. You can currently buy Verde, Mild, Hot, and Fire through several online retailers and in different grocery stores. However, we couldn't find Diablo bottled and up for grabs anywhere. Sti
Steak 'n Shake
With locations predominantly east of the Mississippi, Steak 'n Shake is a delicious and beloved fast food chain that dates back to Illinois in 1934 when it was founded by Gus Belt. It's earned plenty of devoted fans over the decades by staying true to a promise of using quality steak meat in its burgers — no low-grade options to be seen here. To top off most of its meals, the chain also does a great job of consistently slinging crispy fries and serving up an array of tasty milkshakes — which are half the price on weekday afternoons. If you're a fan, you'll be happy to know you can replicate the mouthwatering flavors of Steak 'n Shake's burgers and fries at home with the help of its Fry 'n Steakburger seasoning. And for more great news — for those who aren't huge fans of steak, this seasoning is vegetarian. So, if you fall into that category and you have a hankering for Ste
Olive Garden
Olive Garden's slogan was once famously, "When you're here, you're family." However, we've learned "here" doesn't have to be just at one of its restaurants — it can be in the comfort of your own home. Olive Garden now has a line of products you can purchase to add a little slice of Italy to the meal you made yourself. On the plus side, there's no waiting for a table. On the downside, it might be a little tough to deliver on a promise of unlimited breadsticks. Focus on getting your pasta to a perfect al dente and making a delicious sauce to go with it. When it comes to the salad, Olive Garden has you covered — well, at least with the dressing. Nonetheless, this chain's signature Italian dressing is not one to be dismissed. It's bottled up and bought by the loads for a reason: It's delicious. You can get the dressing in its regular state or in a light version which has signifi
Cracker Barrel
Facebook For the Cracker Barrel aficionados out there, you probably already know that you can buy its delicious pancake syrup at your nearest location and enjoy it in the future with a homemade breakfast. But that's a bit of a tough task to complete for those devoted fans who don't have a location conveniently nearby. The good news is that Cracker Barrel does sell its iconic pancake syrup online. They also offer up a sugar-free option that's a great alternative for anyone that is interested in cutting out some sugar from their diet. Do not fret — whichever option you go for will taste just as delicious. Beyond that, you can buy two flavors of its amazing apple butter — the standard version and the spiced version, which are great to top on toast, English muffins, bagels, or scones. The only obstacle that we found was the accessibility of these options. Unfortunately, they are only availab
Texas Roadhouse
Texas Roadhouse branded this spice blend after what is used to season the Rattlesnake Bites appetizer — which is a platter of spicy cheese balls that have been battered, breaded, fried, and then, of course, seasoned. But, the label on the package you'll find at the store urges you to try it on an assortment of items. The package lists a slew of ingredients, including paprika, cayenne, cheddar, blue cheese, and buttermilk. Consider us intrigued. This sounds like it would make an excellent dry rub for your favorite grilled meats — Texas Roadhouse recommends chicken wings and steak. You can also spice up dips, especially if it's chili con queso. But if you really want to throw a Texas-sized party, Walmart does sell a 12-pack of 1-liter bottles of Texas Roadhouse's margarita mix for a cool $95 — not bad, considering how long each bottle lasts and how many satisfied mouths yo
Panda Express
Facebook Panda Express is always ready to give you a big, warm bear hug in the form of comfort food. There are plenty of standalone locations, but the aroma of its sweet, sour, and sometimes spicy lineup also beckons hungry travelers at airports and shoppers within nooks of grocery stores. Once you catch a whiff of that soy sauce-laden goodness, it's pretty hard to resist a trip to the buffet. As a home chef, you can have that same effect and leave the whole house clamoring for a seat at the dinner table. Panda Express bottles some of its signature sauces — and yes, the sauce that glazes Panda Express' famously popular orange chicken is chief among them. Aside from that, you'll find a Kung Pao Stir Fry Sauce — just be sure to have some unsalted peanuts, chilies, and scallions to add to the mix. There's also a Mandarin Teriyaki Sauce that would go well with many proteins — we suggest tryi
Buffalo Wild Wings
Facebook If you think a half dozen fried chicken wings with a breezy sprinkle of salt and pepper suffices as a bar snack, Buffalo Wild Wings is quick to try and change your mind. This chain fully delivers an overwhelming range of sauces and spices to take chicken wings to the next level — but don't just stop there, try them on any dish to make things a bit more fun. Unlike other franchises that might sell a mere one or two bottles of their signature seasonings or sauces, Buffalo Wild Wings doesn't hold back at all. We invite you to take a gander at all the different ways you can spice up your meals. You can coat them with a traditional Buffalo version, of course. But we would encourage you to venture toward others like the Asian Zing sauce, which is perfect on a number of Asian dishes and chicken wings. There's also the Mango Habanero sauce that combines heat and sweet flavors — the oppo
Red Lobster
Walmart Are you a lobster lover? If you consider yourself a big fan of Red Lobster, we really can't blame you. It's possible to create your own form of Lobsterfest year-round at your house if you manage to get your hands on a bottle of Red Lobster's signature Seafood Seasoning. The chain's herb and spice blend isn't intended solely for lobster. In fact, it can even be great as a chicken rub. So, don't be afraid to get a bit creative here. The particular herb and spice components were blended to perfection. The seasoning has paprika, dehydrated onion, dehydrated garlic, salt, and other spices. Yes, the bottle really does just say "spices." However, whether or not Red Lobster lets us in on what those other spices might be, does not really matter. What we like most about this seasoning, aside from the fact that it tastes great, is that it's versatile. It's definitely one to consider adding
Arby's
Arby's is constantly harping that it has "the meats." But the chain also has plenty of sauces, and they're well worth a purchase by any fan of this chain's food — or sandwiches in general. Currently, Arby's offers two of its famous dressings for sale. Let's start with Arby's Sauce which is its signature barbecue-tasting option. It's perhaps a bit sweet, but the slow-roasted beef that Arby's makes is working overtime on the salty and savory front. If you're attempting to replicate any one of Arby's popular sandwiches or maybe taking on brisket or corned beef, this barbecue sauce adds a nice complementary flavor note. It also adds plenty of visual appeal with its robust ruby-red hue. Then there's the Horsey Sauce. Going on its name alone, it does sound like a pretty fun ride. And that's especially true if your palate enjoys a hearty bit of horseradish and a jolting kick of mustard.
Freddy's Frozen Custard & Steakburgers
Facebook Popular Midwestern chain born out of Wichita, Kansas, Freddy's Frozen Custard & Steakburgers is a bit of a newcomer to the franchise fast food scene. But over its short history, Freddy's has built up a rabid cult following. The name of the game is right there in its calling card — people go there for burgers made from top-quality steak and other tasty dishes like a sweet frozen custard dessert. While newer than other chains on our list, they know flavor — and you can bring that flavor home with a couple of savory options. Freddy's Famous Fry Sauce was developed as the ideal topper for its crispy shoestring fries, but it really can be the finishing touch to any number of dishes — try it out on hamburgers and hot dogs. Based on Top Secret Recipes, this sauce is likely made with mayo, onion powder, garlic powder, ground black pepper, paprika, and other spices. Whatever is in it, w
TGI Friday's
Facebook Despite its ubiquitous red-and-white pinstriped presence today in relatively sleepy suburban strip mall complexes, TGI Friday's initially got its start as a raucous midtown Manhattan watering hole in 1965. And its founder, Alan Stillman, has gone on record to cop to the fact that he opened the restaurant as a way to meet women and intentionally gave it a singles-ready-to-mingle vibe. It only took a few years for the concept to take off and expand in other cities. Cut to the present day with nearly 300 locations nationwide. And don't sit around waiting for Friday to come because thank goodness for this restaurant's lineup of bottled sauces. Naturally, there's its original BBQ sauce, which is fairly self-explanatory. Its Buffalo Wing Sauce and Ghost Pepper Sauce are ideal for those with a high tolerance for heat. There's also a Ginger Lime Marinade that adds zip and tang to your g
P.F. Chang's
Facebook P.F. Chang's has legendary status when it comes to casual dining with an Asian influence. Since it began with its first location in Scottsdale, Arizona in 1993, the franchise has ballooned to over 200 restaurants within the United States and has locations in over 25 countries around the world. Given P.F. Chang's enormous success, it's no wonder that diners would want to bring some of those special flavors back to their pantries and refrigerators, and they have a lot to offer. Starting with salads, it offers a bottle of its signature dressing that's punched up with soy sauce, ginger, pineapple, and mango — it works well as a marinade or dipping sauce as well. Its dynamite ranch dressing gets a boost from sriracha, and its creamy sesame dressing tastes just as advertised. To give your meats extra flavor, check out P.F. Chang's Teriyaki sauce or Mongolian sauce for beef. And its Ku