17 Sauce Recipes to Dress Up Dinner

Homemade sauces can turn ordinary weeknight dinners into meals with extra flavour and personality. Creamy Alfredo, Dijon, Gorgonzola, smoky Romesco, Thai peanut sauce, Korean BBQ, marinara, and bright salsa verde offer plenty of versatile options for steak, seafood, pasta, and vegetables. Keep scrolling to discover your next sauce worth making.

Decadent Gorgonzola Cream Sauce

A bowl of creamy soup garnished with crumbled cheese and fresh herbs, with a spoon resting inside. — Decadent Gorgonzola Cream Sauce. Photo credit: Peel with Zeal.

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Bold Gorgonzola melts into a luxurious cream sauce that's especially delicious with steak or pasta. Cheese lovers will appreciate its rich, savory character and surprisingly easy preparation.
Get the Recipe: Decadent Gorgonzola Cream Sauce

Sweet and Spicy Korean BBQ Sauce

Korean BBQ Sauce in a bowl place on a wooden board. — Sweet and Spicy Korean BBQ Sauce. Photo credit: Peel with Zeal.

Gochujang gives this homemade Korean BBQ sauce its signature combination of heat, savoriness, and subtle sweetness. It comes together quickly and adds bold flavor to everything from grilled meats to weeknight bowls.
Get the Recipe: Sweet and Spicy Korean BBQ Sauce

Creamy Cajun Remoulade Sauce

A small white ramekin filled with creamy dip, garnished with chopped herbs, sits on a plate next to shrimp and lemon wedges. — Creamy Cajun Remoulade Sauce. Photo credit: Peel with Zeal.

This zesty remoulade combines creamy richness with tangy Cajun-inspired flavor. It's a natural partner for crab cakes, po' boys, seafood, and other Southern favorites that need a flavorful finishing touch.
Get the Recipe: Creamy Cajun Remoulade Sauce

Sweet and Spicy Honey Buffalo Wing Sauce

Honey softens the heat of classic Buffalo sauce while buttery garlic notes add richness. The result is a glossy, craveable coating that's perfect for wings and game-day snacks.
Get the Recipe: Sweet and Spicy Honey Buffalo Wing Sauce

Creamy Thai Peanut Sauce

A bowl containing shredded carrots, sliced green onions, chopped cabbage, red bell pepper strips, noodles, and a large dollop of peanut sauce in the center. — Creamy Thai Peanut Sauce. Photo credit: Peel with Zeal.

This smooth Thai-inspired peanut sauce combines savory, nutty flavor with just a gentle touch of heat. It comes together quickly and makes a versatile gluten-free accompaniment for noodles, vegetables, chicken, and more.
Get the Recipe: Creamy Thai Peanut Sauce

Bright Smoky Easy Romesco Sauce

A bowl of red, chunky dip or spread with a spoon, placed on a plate with some herbs, nuts, and papers beside it. — Bright Smoky Easy Romesco Sauce. Photo credit: Peel with Zeal.

Roasted pepper flavor and smoky depth give this no-cook Romesco sauce plenty of character without a long preparation. It's a handy pantry-friendly way to add vibrant flavor to vegetables, meats, and everyday dinners.
Get the Recipe: Bright Smoky Easy Romesco Sauce

Hearty Homemade Marinara Sauce

Whole tomatoes and simple herbs create a rich, comforting marinara with fresh homemade character. It comes together in under 15 minutes, making it an easy foundation for pasta, pizza, and countless Italian-inspired dinners.
Get the Recipe: Hearty Homemade Marinara Sauce

Tangy Creamy Horseradish Sauce

A bowl of creamy dip is garnished with chopped chives on a wooden surface. — Tangy Creamy Horseradish Sauce. Photo credit: Peel with Zeal.

Cool, creamy horseradish sauce adds a lively bite to rich meats and hearty dinners. It's an especially natural pairing for prime rib, roast beef, and steak when you want a punchy finishing sauce.
Get the Recipe: Tangy Creamy Horseradish Sauce

Smoky Spicy Chipotle Sauce

A bowl filled with creamy orange sauce, with a spoon lifting some out, set on a wooden board against a light blue background. — Smoky Spicy Chipotle Sauce. Photo credit: Peel with Zeal.

Chipotle peppers, garlic, and lime create a creamy sauce with smoky depth and a lively kick. It's an easy way to add bold flavor to tacos, sandwiches, bowls, and other casual dinners.
Get the Recipe: Smoky Spicy Chipotle Sauce

Bright Roasted Hatch Chile Salsa Verde

Roasted Hatch chiles give this vibrant salsa verde a fresh, tangy flavor with plenty of personality. It's delicious as a tortilla chip dip and equally useful for adding brightness to tacos, meats, and other dishes.
Get the Recipe: Bright Roasted Hatch Chile Salsa Verde

Creamy Cajun Alfredo Sauce

A bowl of fettuccine pasta topped with creamy sauce, grated cheese, chopped herbs, lemon wedge, and fresh greens, served on a wooden board. — Creamy Cajun Alfredo Sauce. Photo credit: Peel with Zeal.

Parmesan and bold Cajun seasoning give this silky Alfredo sauce a flavorful Southern-inspired twist. Toss it with pasta for an easy dinner that feels much more special than an ordinary cream sauce.
Get the Recipe: Creamy Cajun Alfredo Sauce

The Silky, Flavor-Packed Drizzle You'll Want to Pour Over Every Single Bite

A plate with a slice of roast beef, mashed potatoes with herbs, and green beans. — Rich Beef Au Jus Sauce. Photo credit: Peel with Zeal.

This savory au jus brings deep beefy flavor to roast beef, prime rib, and classic French dip sandwiches. It can be made with or without pan drippings, making it a versatile sauce for dinner.
Get the Recipe: Rich Beef Au Jus Sauce

Silky Garlic Butter White Wine Sauce

A white bowl filled with creamy yellow sauce with herbs, shown with a spoon. — Silky Garlic Butter White Wine Sauce. Photo credit: Peel with Zeal.

Garlic, butter, and white wine create a fragrant sauce with rich yet bright flavor. It's wonderfully versatile with seafood, pasta, steak, and plenty of other dinner favorites.
Get the Recipe: Silky Garlic Butter White Wine Sauce

Smoky Red Pepper Crema

Sweet roasted red peppers create a creamy sauce with gentle smoky flavor and plenty of versatility. It's an easy way to dress up everyday dinners and works beautifully as a finishing sauce, dip, or flavorful drizzle.
Get the Recipe: Smoky Red Pepper Crema

Tangy Southern Comeback Sauce

This creamy Southern sauce balances tangy, savory, and gently spicy flavors in one versatile condiment. It takes only minutes to mix together and becomes even more flavorful after a little time to chill.
Get the Recipe: Tangy Southern Comeback Sauce

Velvety Dijon Cream Sauce

Creamy Dijon mustard gives this sauce a rich texture and pleasantly tangy flavor. It's a simple way to elevate chicken, pork, or vegetables for both weeknight dinners and more polished meals.
Get the Recipe: Velvety Dijon Cream Sauce

Creamy Alabama White BBQ Sauce

Tangy and creamy, this distinctive white barbecue sauce brings a refreshing contrast to grilled and roasted meats. It works beautifully with chicken and pork or as a flavorful dipping sauce.
Get the Recipe: Creamy Alabama White BBQ Sauce