What Sauces Does Church’s Chicken Have, Taste Test & Pairings
Church’s Chicken has been around for seven decades, and tradition is not the only thing that makes this fast-food chain stand out. In my home, this restaurant is praised for its Texas-style fried chicken and delicious condiments. But the key is in their sauces.
Each of them compliments crispy chicken in the best possible way, which is why this restaurant became one of my favorite quick stops whenever I don’t have a dinner planned. In the following paragraphs, you will find a list of them with detailed descriptions and the best pairings.
List of Church’s Chicken Sauces
From regular condiments such as ketchup or ranch sauce, this restaurant also offers some specialties that make the best matches with their chicken dishes. Here’s everything they have to offer:
Ketchup
There is no fast-food restaurant that doesn’t serve ketchup. This sour, sweet, and somewhat seasoned condiment is one of the favorite additions to French fries, as well as any fried item on the menu. For instance, if you enjoy fried okra, dipping it in ketchup will add another dimension to its unusual flavor.
BBQ Sauce
BBQ sauce, another omnipresent condiment, combines so beautifully any type of crispy, deep-fried meat. With tomato sauce as a base, vinegar, and sweeteners, this sauce is a fusion of flavors. It is a lovely upgrade for a classic Church’s chicken and spicy version, and I enjoy adding it to a chicken sandwich as well.
Ranch Sauce
This classic sauce is best known for its creamy texture and rich herbal and garlicky aroma. It is a fine dipping for classic fried chicken, but it also pairs well with a spicy version, and it is a welcome addition to a fried chicken sandwich.
Like most of the sauces from this list, you can buy it in a separate container and store it or use it with another meal.
Spicy Mayo
Spicy mayo is one of the sauces that is usually a part of Church’s Chicken sandwich. Creamy, slightly tangy, and spicy, it is an ultimate compliment to deep-fried chicken in a soft, buttery bun.
Aside from regular ingredients for mayonnaise, it also contains Sriracha or hot sauce, and I must say I enjoy it quite a lot. This combination is so delicious because it is not too spicy yet provides a soft punch contrasting with the mild chicken flavor.
Honey Mustard Sauce
Almost every deep-fried meal pairs up well with mustard. But what about honey mustard? A combination of sweet and spicy is a somewhat unusual yet flavorful addition to almost every item on Church’s Chicken menu.
Although I rarely order it, I am always pleased with the honey mustard and chicken combo.
Sweet and Sour Sauce
Sweet and sour sauce is traditionally a part of Asian cuisine, where it also compliments various deep-fried dishes. In time, its unusual mix of flavors became so popular that restaurants such as Church’s Chicken began offering it.
It contains sugar or honey, rice vinegar, and sometimes even soy sauce and ketchup, and I love using it as a dipping sauce not only for chicken but also for fries and even jalapeno poppers. The sweetness makes a lovely contrast to salty and seasoned meals, and the sour vinegar taste enhances the combination, providing an explosion of flavors.
Creamy Jalapeno Sauce
Creamy jalapeno is Church’s Chicken signature sauce. This condiment usually contains fresh, minced jalapeno peppers, sour cream, buttermilk, mayo, and cilantro. The smooth texture of sour cream and mayo makes an exciting combination of spicy jalapeno and herbal cilantro flavor, perfect for almost every item on the menu.
Most often, I order it with original chicken tenders that soak up the flavor so well.
Texas Pete Sauce
Although Texas Pete has made a name for itself by making some of the hottest sauces in the Lone Star State, it became customers’ favorite when it announced a collaboration with Church’s Chicken. These two created spicy chicken tenders, deep-fried delicious meat with special seasoning, and since then, Church’s has offered Texas Pete hot sauce, as well.
This sauce is a simple yet effective mix of vinegar, garlic and garlic powder, chili peppers, and seasoning. If you like your spicy chicken extra hot, this is the sauce for you.
Smoky Honey-Q Sauce
If you feel like honey mustard is missing a smoky note, this sauce might become your favorite chicken dipper. It is a well-balanced mix of BBQ sauce, honey mustard, and Texas seasoning that adds a bit more flavor to crunchy and savory chicken.
It is a Church’s chicken original that brings you a tiny piece of Texas with every bite.
Purple Pepper Sauce
Another Church’s Chicken signature condiment, purple pepper sauce, is a savory blend of dried red bell peppers, habanero peppers, distilled vinegar, preservatives, and seasoning. With a sticky texture and sweet flavor with a spicy kick, this sauce is likely one of my favorites, especially with chicken strips.
The restaurant excluded this sauce for a while, but it has been reintroduced recently, much to the delight of its many regulars.
What’s your favorite Church’s Chicken order? I would love to try it out, so don’t forget to write it down in the comments below!
