10 Best Steak Sauces (A1, Primal Kitchen, and More)
Given the name, steak sauce tends to find its way onto steak. However, the flavor works just as well on other meats too. While the history of some steak sauces reaches back centuries, others are newly created to capitalize on the latest health and culinary trends. With so much variety, picking the right one can be a bit of a daunting task.
This guide will help simplify the process by highlighting some key points to consider when choosing your steak companion. As always, we have curated a list of the top steak sauces from sites like Amazon and Walmart to help you get started on your sauce search
Quick List - Top Steak Sauce
Peter Luger Steak House
Balanced Flavors From a Renowned Steak House
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Is Steak Sauce the Same as a Marinade?
Steak sauce and marinades are both popular choices for enhancing the flavor of steak, but they serve different purposes.
- Steak sauce is typically used as a condiment after cooking. It offers a tangy and distinctive taste.
- Marinades and rubs are applied to meat before cooking. They not only add flavor but also help to tenderize the meat. Marinades are often thinner than steak sauces, allowing for deeper penetration into the meat.
While steak sauce and marinades have distinct uses, there's flexibility in their application. You can use a steak sauce as a base for a homemade marinade or even marinate with a steak sauce. The key is to understand their unique characteristics and choose the method that best suits your desired flavor profile and cooking preferences.
How to Choose Steak Sauce - Buying Guide
Choose Your Steak Sauce Based on the Flavor
Look for a Sauce Made With Vinegar, Lemon Juice, or Worcestershire Sauce for Extra Tang
If you want to use steak sauce to marinade something, these acidic ingredients will help tenderize the meat by breaking down some of the fibers that can make it a bit tougher to chew.
Look for a Sauce Made With Black and Cayenne Peppers for Their Spice
Remember, this is a steak sauce, not a hot sauce, so the heat will add to and support the overall flavor rather than be the center of attention. If you want more heat, you can always mix in a bit of your favorite hot sauce into your steak sauce.
Look for Ingredients Like Ketchup, Brown Sugar, or Molasses for a Sweet Sauce
Steak sauce might be tangier than barbecue sauce, but that doesn't mean it can't have a sweet side, too. A sauce using ketchup as a base can inherit its sweetness and tang. Brown sugar lends the sauce a rich, caramel-like sweetness, while molasses imparts its own flavor.
The best sweeteners will add their own unique flavors to the sauce rather than just making it sweeter.
Look for Garlic, a Versatile Enhancement Your Dish’s Natural Flavor
Known for bringing out the natural flavors of other ingredients and adding complexity to various dishes, garlic is certainly popular for a reason. Anyone looking to add depth and a savory twist to their steak sauce should consider one that uses garlic.
Choose Convenient Packaging for Your Next Cookout
- Glass Bottles: These are a great option for storing steak sauce as they are BPA-free and highly inert, preventing flavor transfer. However, their fragility may make them less suitable for outdoor events or situations where kids may be running around.
- Plastic Squeeze: These offer a balance of convenience and durability, making them suitable for various settings, especially gatherings. Their flexibility allows for easy dispensing, and they are less likely to break than glass bottles.
- Individual Packets: Individual packets make it easy to bring a bit of your favorite steak sauce with you. This packaging lends itself very well to cookouts.
Avoid Added Sugars for a Natural, Healthier Steak Sauce
A lot of foods and condiments contain a surprising amount of sugar. While there are numerous health benefits to reducing sugar, sometimes it's difficult to avoid entirely, especially without compromising on flavor.
If you are watching your sugar intake, it may be best to look for sauces with zero added sugars or that are sugar-free. Another good compromise is to look for a steak sauce that gets its sweetness from inherently sweet ingredients rather than added sugar (or other sweeteners like corn syrup).
For a Tried and True Classic, Check the Brands Like A1 with History
The precursor to A1 was invented over 200 years ago by Henderson William Brand for King George IV. While the exact recipe has certainly undergone a few changes since then, the brand must have been onto something for his sauce to retain its popularity for so long.
Even if they're not cooking for royalty, having the reputation of a renowned chef or restaurant can be a useful indicator of a good sauce. The Texas Roadhouse restaurant chain has its own brand of steak sauces, and the iconic Heinz's 57 Sauce is worth noting as well.
Best Steak Sauces Ranking
Products | Image | Click to purchase | Key features | Details | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Serving Size | Servings per Container | Total Sugars | Added Sugars | Calories | Garlic | Package Type | Organic | Gluten Free | Tangy | Spicy | Sweet | |||||
1 | A.1. A.1.｜Original Sauce | | The Ubiquitous Steak Sauce | 0.6 oz. | 17 Servings | 2g | 2g | 15 Calories | Glass Bottle | |||||||
2 | Peter Luger Steak House Peter Luger Steak House｜Old Fashioned Steak Sauce | | Balanced Flavors From a Renowned Steak House | 0.5 oz. | 25 Servings | 4g | 2g | 30 Calories | Glass Bottle | |||||||
3 | Primal Kitchen Primal Kitchen｜Organic Steak Sauce | | Light on Sugar, Heavy on Flavor | 0.56 oz. | 15 Servings | 1g | 0g | 10 Calories | Glass Bottle | |||||||
4 | Le Sauce & Co. Classic Demi Glace Gourmet Finishing Sauce | | Demi-Glace Sauce in Pouches | 2.12 oz. | 2 Servings | 1g | 0g | 50 Calories | Individual Packets | |||||||
5 | Golden West Specialty Foods Shemp's Old Fashioned Whiskey Pepper Steak Sauce | | Steak Sauce With Whiskey and Hot Peppers | 10 oz. | unknown | unknown | unknown | unknown | Glass Bottle | |||||||
6 | 365 by Whole Foods Market 365 ｜Organic Steak Sauce | | Organic Steak Sauce From Whole Foods | 10 oz. | 19 Servings | 1g | 1g | 10 Calories | Glass Bottle | |||||||
7 | Badia Spices Chimichurri Steak Sauce | | A Chimichurri Sauce That Gets Its Tanginess From Red Wine Vinegar | 8 oz. | 16 Servings | 0g | 0g | 60 Calories | Glass Jar | |||||||
8 | Braswell's Vidalia Onion Steak Sauce 13.5 oz | | Made With Vidalia Onion and Mustard Seeds for a Unique Flavor | 13.5 oz. | 22 Servings | 5g | 4g | 20 Calories | Glass Bottle | |||||||
9 | Pendennis Club The Original Henry Bain’s Sauce | | Steak Sauce With a Century of History | 8 oz. | unknown | unknown | unknown | unknown | Glass Jar | |||||||
10 | London Pub Steak & Chop Sauce | | Traditional British Pub Flavor | 10 oz. | 18 Servings | 2g | 0g | 15 Calories | Glass Bottle | |||||||
A.1.A.1. ｜ Original Sauce
| Garlic | |
|---|---|
| Tangy | |
| Spicy | |
| Sweet |
- Total Sugars
- 2g
- Added Sugars
- 2g
- Calories
- 15 Calories
The Ubiquitous Steak Sauce
| Serving Size | 0.6 oz. |
|---|---|
| Servings per Container | 17 Servings |
| Package Type | Glass Bottle |
| Organic | |
| Gluten Free |
Peter Luger Steak HousePeter Luger Steak House ｜ Old Fashioned Steak Sauce
| Garlic | |
|---|---|
| Tangy | |
| Spicy | |
| Sweet |
- Total Sugars
- 4g
- Added Sugars
- 2g
- Calories
- 30 Calories
Balanced Flavors From a Renowned Steak House
This sauce is crafted with a carefully selected blend of ingredients, including horseradish, two kinds of vinegar, and three types of sweeteners, to achieve a balanced flavor. This focus on balance and quality is popular among customers, many of whom praise its ability to enhance the flavor of high-quality steak while still allowing the meat's inherent flavor to shine. The sauce's thick consistency and bold taste make it a popular complement to a variety of dishes.
| Serving Size | 0.5 oz. |
|---|---|
| Servings per Container | 25 Servings |
| Package Type | Glass Bottle |
| Organic | |
| Gluten Free |
Primal KitchenPrimal Kitchen ｜ Organic Steak Sauce
| Garlic | |
|---|---|
| Tangy | |
| Spicy | |
| Sweet |
- Total Sugars
- 1g
- Added Sugars
- 0g
- Calories
- 10 Calories
Light on Sugar, Heavy on Flavor
| Serving Size | 0.56 oz. |
|---|---|
| Servings per Container | 15 Servings |
| Package Type | Glass Bottle |
| Organic | |
| Gluten Free |
Le Sauce & Co.Classic Demi Glace Gourmet Finishing Sauce
| Garlic | |
|---|---|
| Tangy | |
| Spicy | |
| Sweet |
- Total Sugars
- 1g
- Added Sugars
- 0g
- Calories
- 50 Calories
Demi-Glace Sauce in Pouches
| Serving Size | 2.12 oz. |
|---|---|
| Servings per Container | 2 Servings |
| Package Type | Individual Packets |
| Organic | |
| Gluten Free |
Golden West Specialty FoodsShemp's Old Fashioned Whiskey Pepper Steak Sauce
| Garlic | |
|---|---|
| Tangy | |
| Spicy | |
| Sweet |
- Total Sugars
- unknown
- Added Sugars
- unknown
- Calories
- unknown
Steak Sauce With Whiskey and Hot Peppers
| Serving Size | 10 oz. |
|---|---|
| Servings per Container | unknown |
| Package Type | Glass Bottle |
| Organic | |
| Gluten Free |
365 by Whole Foods Market365 ｜ Organic Steak Sauce
| Garlic | |
|---|---|
| Tangy | |
| Spicy | |
| Sweet |
- Total Sugars
- 1g
- Added Sugars
- 1g
- Calories
- 10 Calories
Organic Steak Sauce From Whole Foods
| Serving Size | 10 oz. |
|---|---|
| Servings per Container | 19 Servings |
| Package Type | Glass Bottle |
| Organic | |
| Gluten Free |
Badia SpicesChimichurri Steak Sauce
| Garlic | |
|---|---|
| Tangy | |
| Spicy | |
| Sweet |
- Total Sugars
- 0g
- Added Sugars
- 0g
- Calories
- 60 Calories
A Chimichurri Sauce That Gets Its Tanginess From Red Wine Vinegar
| Serving Size | 8 oz. |
|---|---|
| Servings per Container | 16 Servings |
| Package Type | Glass Jar |
| Organic | |
| Gluten Free |
Braswell'sVidalia Onion Steak Sauce 13.5 oz
| Garlic | |
|---|---|
| Tangy | |
| Spicy | |
| Sweet |
- Total Sugars
- 5g
- Added Sugars
- 4g
- Calories
- 20 Calories
Made With Vidalia Onion and Mustard Seeds for a Unique Flavor
| Serving Size | 13.5 oz. |
|---|---|
| Servings per Container | 22 Servings |
| Package Type | Glass Bottle |
| Organic | |
| Gluten Free |
Pendennis ClubThe Original Henry Bain’s Sauce
| Garlic | |
|---|---|
| Tangy | |
| Spicy | |
| Sweet |
- Total Sugars
- unknown
- Added Sugars
- unknown
- Calories
- unknown
Steak Sauce With a Century of History
| Serving Size | 8 oz. |
|---|---|
| Servings per Container | unknown |
| Package Type | Glass Jar |
| Organic | |
| Gluten Free |
London PubSteak & Chop Sauce
| Garlic | |
|---|---|
| Tangy | |
| Spicy | |
| Sweet |
- Total Sugars
- 2g
- Added Sugars
- 0g
- Calories
- 15 Calories
Traditional British Pub Flavor
| Serving Size | 10 oz. |
|---|---|
| Servings per Container | 18 Servings |
| Package Type | Glass Bottle |
| Organic | |
| Gluten Free |
Extra Steak Sauce Tips
If you've already exhausted our list of sauces, you may want to know how to upgrade your steak routine. Once you know what type of sauce you like you can use these tips to further pinpoint new favorites.
Look for a Thicker Sauce for Dipping
A thicker sauce will typically work better for those who prefer to dip things into their steak sauce, rather than adding the sauce on top of the dish. The additional viscosity will help the sauce stick to whatever you're dipping in it better than a thinner sauce. Furthermore, the thicker sauce will be less likely to soak into things that you may not want to get soggy like fries.
Look for a Chutney to Add Texture and Flavor to Your Steak
Check Out More Sauces for Your Kitchen
We've curated other lists of excellent sauces just for sauce lovers. There's something for everybody, whether you're cutting back on sodium or need some extra spice in your life.
Top 5 Steak Sauce
No. 1: A.1.｜A.1.｜Original Sauce
No. 2: Peter Luger Steak House｜Peter Luger Steak House｜Old Fashioned Steak Sauce
No. 3: Primal Kitchen｜Primal Kitchen｜Organic Steak Sauce
No. 4: Le Sauce & Co.｜Classic Demi Glace Gourmet Finishing Sauce
No. 5: Golden West Specialty Foods｜Shemp's Old Fashioned Whiskey Pepper Steak Sauce
View Full RankingThe descriptions of each product are referenced from content available on manufacturer, brand, and e-commerce sites.