What Sauces Does Red Robin Have, Taste Test & Pairings
When I’m too lazy to cook or just want to kick back and relax, knowing that I will get exactly what I want, I don’t think twice before I’m on my way to Red Robin. They have everything from a juicy burger and delicious finger foods to healthy meals. To top it all off, they offer a vast selection of sauces to turn each meal into a feast. So, what sauces does Red Robin have?
Red Robin has a sea of sauces, but the following 15 are the main ones: buzzard, campfire, ranch, BBQ, chipotle aioli, smoke and pepper ketchup, teriyaki, island heat sauce, poppy seed honey mustard, whiskey river, roasted garlic aioli, bistro sauce, scorpion sauce, and Belgium fat tire beer cheese dip.
Red Robin has a huge sauce selection, and though that is a great thing, it can be confusing. So, to make things easier for you and help you choose the best sauce option, in this article, I will tell you all about the Red Robin main sauces and a bit extra about the rest of their sauces, dips, and dressings.
List of Red Robin Sauces [Ranked]
Not all sauces are made the same — and this goes for Red Robin sauces, too. So, without further ado, here’s my ranking of all their sauces, along with the best pairings and recipes to make them yourself at home. Let’s dive in!
Buzzard Sauce
The Red Robin Buzzard Sauce is one of my all-time favorites, and I am proud to say that I have come very close to replicating it at home. I am still cracking the code, but the present result is more than satisfying.
This zesty and tangy sauce is excellent if you want to add an extra layer of flavor to any dish. It isn’t so strong as to dominate and suppress the surrounding flavors, but it isn’t so mild to go unnoticed.
I love this sauce with their crispy Chicken Tender Salad or their classic Banzai Burger for a perfect balance of horseradish heat and freshness.
To make it at home, just mix mayonnaise, ketchup, horseradish, lemon juice, Worcestershire sauce, and cayenne pepper. Now, the trick is to get the tanginess right, which I still haven’t perfected, but you may get there before I do.
Campfire Sauce
Perfectly named because it does bring that campfire vibe, the Campfire Sauce is a smoky and sweet delicacy that brings you one step closer to adventure. I love it for its vibrancy and playfulness, balancing barbecue flavors, sweetness, and smokiness, delivering an irresistible savory dimension.
If you ask me, I’d have this sauce with Red Robin everything, but whatever you decide, you have to try it with the onion rings or the sweet potato fries because its secret power is turning a simple snack into a fine dining experience.
For a homemade version, mix mayonnaise, barbecue sauce, mustard, honey, and smoked paprika. You can also add Worcestershire sauce, but that’s optional. It’ll take a few tries, but you’ll get there.
Ranch Sauce
Red Robin Ranch Sauce is a classic and creamy ranch sauce, which is why it is the favorite of many. It fits in perfectly with many menu items, bringing fresh and tangy notes.
I love it as a dipping sauce for the famous Red Robin Towering Onion Rings or the Whiskey River BBQ Chicken Wrap. Still, you can mix and match until you find your fav groove with it.
Making it at home is really easy. Combine mayonnaise, sour cream, garlic powder, onion powder, dried herbs, and lemon juice, and you’re done. Sometimes I also add buttermilk, but if you don’t have any, you can totally skip it.
BBQ Sauce
Their BBQ sauce is the perfect balance between sweet and tangy, wrapped up in a layer of smokiness, resulting in a rich and deep flavor. The only flaw it has is that you can’t pair it with just anything.
When it comes to BBQ, the beefier, the better, is what I always say. So, don’t hesitate to pair this delicious sauce with the beef-based meals at Red Robin because these combos work best!
You can make it at home using ketchup, brown sugar, apple cider vinegar, mustard, smoked paprika, garlic powder, and onion powder. It’s easy, it’s simple, and it works.
Chipotle Aioli
This is an elegant, spicy, and creamy sauce with an irresistible smoky note. Somewhere between the BBQ, Ranch, and Campfire Sauce, it seems to have picked up the best of these three sauces, creating a single original flavor that resembles them but is still unique.
Because it combines so many flavors, it is a very versatile sauce, and you can pair it with everything from beef to chicken and even the fishy Red Robin meals. Fries and onion rings are, of course, very much at play.
Mix mayonnaise, chipotle peppers, lime juice, garlic powder, and salt for a homemade chipotle aioli. Tailor the spiciness and tang to your liking.
Smoke and Pepper Ketchup
If you think ketchup is as good as it can be and smoke belongs only with BBQ, you are about to have your mind blown. Who knew that adding a smoky note and some pepper to the good old ketchup could result in such a tasty twist?
With its smoky and slightly spicy flavor, enveloped in the classic tomato tang and acidity, this sauce is as simple as sliced bread and definitely, the best invention since!
Try it with Red Robin’s Towering Onion Rings, sweet potato fries, or even a simple burger. I love it with simpler dishes because it these where it shines best.
To DIY it at home, simply combine ketchup, black pepper, and a pinch of smoked paprika.
Teriyaki Sauce
If you are looking for a light but pronounced tang and are a fan of umami, this Teriyaki Sauce is just the thing you are looking for. It’s a delicious mix of sweet and savory flavors, and its perfect balance makes it an excellent accompaniment for the Banzai Burger, California Chicken Burger, or even over a side of steamed vegetables, as well as the famous Red Robin cod.
I don’t recommend replicating it at home because there is a lot to know if you want your venture to succeed. So, unless fermenting soybeans is your field of expertise, I suggest you take the easy route and buy the sauce.
Island Heat Sauce
The name says it all! This sauce is a tropical flavor bomb that can’t wait to explode on your palate. Sweet pineapple flavors, spicy jalapeños, and a whiff of soy sauce create a perfect blend of umami, heat, and tang.
I love it with the Royal Red Robin Burger or the Simply Grilled Chicken Salad.
Mix pineapple juice, jalapeños, soy sauce, honey, lime juice, and salt to make it at home. Go easy on the pineapple juice and the jalapeños.
Poppy Seed Honey Mustard
You can say what you will about this sauce, but we can all agree that it is one of a kind. The Poppy Seed Honey Mustard isn’t your typical honey mustard sauce. It’s a tangy and sweet sauce with a subtle crunch from the poppy seeds, and you have to try it.
Some don’t like the crunch this sauce adds, which is why you’ll run into skepticism about this condiment. Still, give it a chance and see for yourself; you just may love it.
It pairs perfectly with Red Robin’s Crispy Chicken Tender Salad or the Whiskey River BBQ Chicken Wrap. I love it with fries and fish, so take your pick and enjoy!
You can make your own by mixing mustard, honey, mayonnaise, apple cider vinegar, poppy seeds, and salt.
Whiskey River Sauce
This crowd-pleaser lives up to its name, and it does taste like whiskey, minus the burn. It combines smoky barbecue flavors, tangy notes, and, of course, whiskey. Alcohol has a renowned use in cooking, so it is no wonder that this sauce intensifies the flavors of Red Robin’s Whiskey River BBQ burger and Whiskey River BBQ Chicken Wrap.
You can, of course, experiment outside these pairing options and see what works best for you.
Making this sauce at home is more than a little complicated, so I recommend you get it from Red Robin.
Roasted Garlic Aioli
Yes, it is as fancy as it sounds. Roasted Garlic Aioli is a creamy and savory sauce with rich, pronounced, and robust flavors of roasted garlic. Still, to enjoy this sauce, you have to be a huge fan of garlic because otherwise, it will definitely be too much for you.
You can pair it with burgers, wraps, fishy meals, and snacks of your choice. For the right palate, this sauce is an incredibly versatile condiment.
Mix mayonnaise, roasted garlic, lemon juice, salt, and pepper to make this home sauce.
Bistro Sauce
If you want some zest to your meal, you should definitely go with the Bistro Sauce. It has a refined and understated flavor, not intended to lead but to follow. It is tangy and slightly sweet with savory hints.
I usually have it with Red Robin’s California Chicken Burger or their clucks and especially with Bottomless fries.
To mix it at home, you’ll need mustard, mayonnaise, honey, apple cider vinegar, garlic powder, and paprika.
Here’s some much-needed ASMR of their fries to make you consider combining them with this delicious sauce!
Scorpion Sauce
This is a sauce for the brave ones, and if you aren’t a fan of fiery hot, and spicy, you may want to skip this one. Containing generous amounts of chili peppers and spices, it has a potent flavor and a mighty kick.
Since I am not really into hot flavors, I have tried it only once with the sweet potato fries, but I know that Red Robin’s Burnin’ Love Burger is the real deal for it.
I don’t recommend making this sauce at home because it involves a lot of chili peppers and a lot of spices you may have a hard time finding. So, I’d say that Red Robin is the best place to get it.
Belgium Fat Tire Beer Cheese Dip
This is a decadent and indulgent sauce tasting like beer and cheese. I know beer and cheese seem unlikely to mix, but in this sauce, the combo works great.
I love it with the Red Robin burgers, chicken meat delights, fries, onion rings, and pretzels.
Add beer garlic powder, onion powder, and cayenne pepper to make your own version, melt cheddar cheese and cream cheese.
Sweet and Spicy Ketchup
This sauce is another twist on a simple condiment. Simply put, it tastes like a spicy and tangy tomato with a subtle sweet undertone. And, even though I’ve put it in the last place, it’s far from it.
You can use it as a dipping sauce for fries or onion rings or add it to burgers and wraps.
Making it at home is simple — combine ketchup, brown sugar, apple cider vinegar, chili powder, cayenne pepper, garlic powder, and salt to make it at home.
What Red Robin Sauces Are Vegan?
Red Robin is not a crowd-pleaser for nothing. No matter your dietary preferences, you will definitely find an option best suited to your needs. Red Robin has an excellent selection of vegan sauces, including Guacamole, House-Made Salsa, Island Heat Sauce, Scorpion Sauce, Ketchup, and Mustard.
What Red Robin Dipping Sauces Are Gluten-Free?
Red Robin has a long list of gluten-free sauces, but you may not find all of them everywhere. So, the best thing to do is ask which gluten-free sauces they offer at the particular location. The gluten-free sauce selection includes Cocktail Sauce, Lemony Oil Dressing, Honey Bbq Sauce, Dijon Vinaigrette Dressing, Balsamic Dressing, Coleslaw Dressing, Creamy Horseradish Sauce, Ranch Dressing, Pesto Sauce, Lite Ranch Dressing, and more.
Does Red Robin Have Buffalo Sauces?
The buffalo sauce at Red Robin is the Buzzard sauce.
What is your favorite Red Robin Order? I always get something different, so I would love to get some recommendations in the comments below!
