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A good sauce or spread—be it nut butter, olive oil, ketchup, or chili crisp—can bring new life to meals you’ve made a million times over. It might leave your dinner guests wondering, “What was that stuff you added at the end?” It upgrades texture, body, and above all, flavor when you need it most. In short, when you find the right accompaniment to your dishes, everything can change from decent to downright delicious.
For SELF’s 2024 Pantry Awards, we sampled home-cooking stalwarts as well as brand-new products to find the very best sauces, spreads, oils, and condiments, each of which makes anything on your plate sing. Whether you’re seeking something spicy, sweet, savory, or some combination thereof, keep reading to find your next great main dish companion.
Be sure to check out the rest of SELF’s 2024 Pantry Award winners: Find our favorite elevated pantry staples here, and the most snackable chips, crackers, bars, pretzels, and popcorn here.
Georgia Grinders Original Almond Butter
Georgia Grinders
Original Almond Butter (12 oz.)
Why we love it: This almond butter walks several fine lines: It’s well-salted but not too salty; thick yet spreadable; and, perhaps most uniquely, both creamy and crunchy, with small pieces of roasted almonds adding a welcome complexity. From texture to taste, it elevates oatmeal, smoothies, or a bite of dark chocolate.
One tester said: “Almond butter can be kinda meh by nature, but I really like this one! The fact that the almonds are roasted adds nice depth. There also wasn’t much oil separation, so it was pretty easy to stir. It’s pricey, but I’d buy it myself because it checks all my boxes.”
Dairy-free, gluten-free, Kosher, vegan
Soom Foods Dark Chocolate Tahini with Sea Salt
Soom Foods
Dark Chocolate Tahini With Sea Salt (12 oz.)
Why we love it: Consider this spread Nutella’s cool older sibling—it has the same chocolatey-nutty flavor combo (though it’s technically nut-free!) but with more earthiness thanks to its star ingredient, tahini. The combination of sweet and savory impressed our testers, who enjoyed it over ice cream, yogurt, and pancakes.
One tester said: “Tahini complements dark chocolate so well—the flavor is way more complex than what you’d find in a comparable specialty almond or peanut butter. The texture is also great—so creamy and pretty thick, but still works well for drizzling.”
Dairy-free, gluten-free, Kosher, nut-free, vegan
Frankies 457 Calabrian Chili Oil
Frankies 457
Calabrian Chili Oil (500 ml.)
Why we love it: If your pastas, pizzas, or salad dressings could use a little oomph, consider Frankies 457’s take on chili oil. It’s infused with a blend of Italian peppers, which impart a light heat that won’t char your palate—but will certainly wake up any otherwise bland dishes on the menu.
One tester said: “This is so beautifully packaged, I keep it out on my counter! While not incredibly spicy, it’s flavorful and a great addition to any Italian dish for an extra kick.”
Dairy-free, gluten-free, vegan
Rubirosa Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Rubirosa
Extra Virgin Olive Oil (16.9 oz.)
Why we love it: Presented in a big, beautiful, shoppy-shop-style bottle, this olive oil feels like a lively upgrade of the pantry staple. Whether whisked into dressings or shaken over spaghetti, it’ll add a little brightness where you need it.
One tester said: “We were really impressed by this one! It has a distinct flavor—I had it on pasta, but found myself wishing I had a good hunk of bread to dip it in because I liked the taste so much.”
Dairy-free, gluten-free, nut-free, vegan
Heraclea Early and Mature Harvest Extra-Virgin Olive Oils
Heraclea
Early and Mature Harvest Extra Virgin Olive Oils (500 ml.)
Why we love them: More olive oil in aesthetically pleasing packaging, right this way. These two Heraclea varieties (available in a convenient bundle) ought to cover all your EVOO bases: The light and peppery Early blend is best for dipping and garnishing, while Mature, a milder and pleasantly unctuous oil, is great for marinades, baking, and cooking.
One tester said: “These knocked. The light one for drizzling was SPICY, and all I needed for some crusty bread—it really packed a wallop. The heavier one for cooking made a chicken parm sing—it was the only tweak to my usual recipe, and it made an enormous difference. This is what Ina means when she says ‘GOOD olive oil.’”
Dairy-free, gluten-free, nut-free, vegan
Kosterina Original Extra-Virgin Olive Oil
Kosterina
Original Extra Virgin Olive Oil (500 ml.)
Why we love it: Let this olive oil, made from crops harvested in southern Greece, be the joyful exclamation point to all your finished dishes. From morning eggs to an evening bowl of ice cream, it enhances a wide variety of meals. Testers loved the elegant bottle design too.
One tester said: “I have put this oil on almost everything I could this past month: bread, eggs, salads, pastry, soups, EVERYTHING. It tastes absolutely amazing and reminds me of some of the best oils I had back in Italy.”
Dairy-free, gluten-free, nut-free, vegan
Graza Drizzle & Sizzle
Why we love them: Another dynamic olive oil duo, Graza’s viral Drizzle and Sizzle blends are intended for finishing and cooking respectively. Where the former is flavorful—even spicy—the latter is subtler and more utilitarian. The standout feature is their squeezable bottles, which make it easy to pour, douse, and, yes, drizzle.
One tester said: “I’m not an olive oil expert, but I used Sizzle to cook many dishes and the taste was great. I used Drizzle to top a fancy toast and it was smooth and delicious.”
Dairy-free, gluten-free, nut-free, vegan
Thrive Market Organic Classic Marinara Sauce
Thrive Market
Organic Classic Marinara Sauce (25 oz.)
Why we love it: This marinara sauce is an excellent reminder that “simple” doesn’t have to mean “boring.” Plum tomatoes, onions, extra-virgin olive oil, and garlic harmonize to create a truly comforting flavor profile that’s right at home on your next bowl of pasta.
One tester said: “I loved the organic ingredients, and the taste did not disappoint. The packaging is super inviting and easy to open. I could eat this sauce by the spoonful right out of the jar or add it to any of my pasta recipes for a great meal.”
Dairy-free, vegan
Rao’s Homemade Spicy Vodka Arrabbiata Sauce
Yo Mama’s
Original Marinara (12.5 oz.)
Why we love it: As a brand that accommodates dietary restrictions with products that are gluten-free, dairy-free, low-sodium, and more, Yo Mama’s uses flavor enhancers like salt sparingly—but you wouldn’t even know it. Enjoy it as-is, or stir in red pepper flakes for additional heat, as one tester recommends.
One tester said: “I largely eat low-sodium for health-condition-related reasons, and I’m always looking for a jarred sauce that doesn’t taste like blandified ass. This was lovely in that respect; I wouldn’t know anything was missing. I got fresh tomato taste, a garlic-forward punch (you have to like garlic to like this sauce, take note!), and a really distinct, fab herbiness.”
Gluten-free, vegan
PF Chang’s Sauces
P.F. Chang’s
Home Menu Sauce (14 oz.)
Why we love them: Stir-fries are a great addition to anyone’s weeknight dinner rotation, and PF Chang’s line of sauces, with flavors like teriyaki and Mongolian barbecue, makes it even easier to whip one up. They blend nicely with bowls of veggies, proteins, and starches. One tester noted how well the sauce clung to their food, which, you know, is the good sign.
One tester said: “It was perfectly sweet and spicy without being too much, and was easy to integrate into what I was cooking. I would definitely reach for this again, as well as use it to marinate meat.”
Blank Slate Kitchen Zhug
Blank Slate Kitchen
Zhug (6 fl. oz.)
Why we love it: For what one tester called an “instant flavor bomb,” look no further than Blank Slate Kitchen’s Zhug. It’s a green, herby pepper sauce that pairs well with pizza, sandwiches, grain bowls, meats, noodles, and more, albeit in small doses if you’re heat-sensitive. (“You don’t need a lot to go a long way,” another tester advised.)
One tester said: “Holy heaven, is this delicious! So spicy! Lemony! Herbaceous! I loved tasting it out of the jar, but if you were to add this to vegetables, fish, protein, rice—whatever!—you’d have a meal worth crowing about.”
Dairy-free, gluten-free, nut-free, vegan
Häxan Ferments Hot Sauce
Häxan Ferments
Fermented Hot Sauce (multiple flavors) (4 oz.)
Why we love it: With mouth- (and potentially eye-) watering flavors like Cherry Bomb, Pumpkin Habanero, and Tomatillo Poblano, these hot sauces earned a perfect score from our testers for their ability to deliver complexity and heat in equal measure.
One tester said: “Whew! These pack a punch but they’re GOOD. I’m Thai with an inherent flair for heat and these are delicious! My favorite by far was the Cherry Bomb because of its subtle sweetness to cut a bit of the heat, but I thoroughly enjoyed the other flavors as well.”
Dairy-free, gluten-free, nut-free, vegetarian
Fly By Jing’s Chengdu Crunch
Fly By Jing
Chengdu Crunch (6 oz.)
Why we love it: Whether you’re a chili crisp devotee or trying it for the first time, Fly by Jing’s newest sauce drives home the point that you really can put this stuff on anything. Testers woke up their eggs, salads, and avocado toasts with a scoop, which added spice, savoriness, and texture without overpowering the rest of the meal.
One tester said: “The brand calls it a chili crunch sauce and that’s what I love best about it—the dried soybeans and fava beans are so crunchy, and when you combine that with a spicy (but not too spicy) chili flavor, you’re in umami heaven.”
Dairy-free, gluten-free, nut-free, vegan
Somos Mexican Chili Crisp Salsa Macha
SOMOS
Salsa Macha, Mexican Chili Crisp (6.5 oz.)
Why we love it: This Mexican take on chili crisp comes packed with nuts, seeds, peppers, and garlic for a medium-level heat that’ll invigorate everything from breakfast sandwiches to veggie platters. Testers also noted that it revived any dish that’s a little too dry, thanks to its avocado oil base.
One tester said: “It has great flavor and the spiciness really comes out in the aftertaste, but not too much—just enough to keep you wanting more. It’s an ideal option to add to meals that need a little sauce or more flavor.”
Dairy-free, gluten-free, vegan
Hunt’s 100% Natural Tomato Ketchup
Hunt’s
100% Natural Tomato Ketchup (1.25 lbs.)
Why we love it: Ketchup purists, this one’s for you. It’s hardly a secret that Hunt’s makes some darn good ’chup, but this iteration sidesteps even the most everyday annoyances, like wateriness and weak flavor. Instead, you’ll get their thickest, most vibrant take on the condiment to date.
One tester said: “This was ketchup as you expect ketchup—no surprises, which I consider a good thing because I don’t really want my ketchup to reinvent the wheel. It had a nice, tomatoey flavor and wasn’t too sweet. Just good ketchup!”
Kosher
Heinz Spicy Ketchup
HEINZ
Jalapeno Tomato Ketchup Blended With Jalapeno (14 oz.)
Why we love it: This jalapeño- and habanero-infused ketchup comes with a kick that offsets the sweetness you get with the traditional stuff. It’s a great new condiment to try with burgers and fries, ideal for when you’re craving the comforting taste of ketchup but want a little heat too.
One tester said: “We shockingly love this?! It’s so not gross—it’s just delicious and very spicy, perfect for anyone who likes everything with a kick or for dishes where you might normally use both ketchup and hot sauce.”
Dairy-free, Kosher, vegan
Fila Manila Banana Ketchup
Fila Manila
Banana Ketchup (12 oz.)
Why we love it: If you’re unfamiliar with banana ketchup, welcome. Both of our testers were newcomers to the condiment and loved that the recommended uses (like adding it to burgers, fries, and eggs) were printed right on the bottle. Lightly sweet, delectably tangy, and made from little more than banana purée and some seasoning, it’s a flavorful option for dipping and marinating that might not replace your standard tomato, but instead serve as a sunny alternative.
One tester said: “I liked it best when added to a savory dish, something the sweetness could balance out. It goes well with a lot of food, and it is rather tasty!”
Dairy-free, gluten-free, nut-free, vegan
Big Fork Gangster Sauce
Big Fork
Gangster Sauce (8 oz.)
Why we love it: This “actually unique” sauce, as described by one tester, features ingredients you’d find on a Chicago-style dog, like pickles, tomatoes, and peppers, as well as giardiniera and truffle oil in flashy supporting roles. The resulting blend is rich, potent, and easy to eat on anything in need of some dazzle.
One tester said: “It’s truffle-y, relish-y, and rich—like McDonald’s Big Mac sauce’s hotter, smarter, sexier fraternal twin. I loved it on sandwiches, in tuna salad, as a burger booster, and with basically anything from the Trader Joe’s freezer section. Stellar, no notes.”
Dairy-free, gluten-free, nut-free, vegetarian
Hellmann’s Real Mayonnaise
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