Easy and Delicious Cold Sauces for Savory Dishes

By
John Mitzewich
John Mitzewich
John Mitzewich is a food writer, recipe video producer, and culinary school instructor with more than 20 years of experience in the food industry.
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Updated on 09/17/20

Savory, cold sauces are not only a great change of pace but also very convenient since you can make them way ahead of time. Cold sauces are perfect for warm weather cookouts; they don't require any last-minute heating and go so well with all kinds of grilled meats, seafood, and vegetables.

  • 01 of 06

    Steakhouse Garlic Butter

    Steakhouse Garlic Butter

    The Spruce

    Nothing beats the sight of a melting dollop of garlic butter slowly disappearing over a perfectly cooked steak! This easy to make garlic butter recipe is perfect for steak, chops, chicken, and even seafood recipes. Garlic butter will keep in the fridge and can be made well in advance.

  • 02 of 06

    Classic Cocktail Sauce

    Shrimp cocktail
    Jupiterimages/Photodisc/Getty Images

    There is no reason to buy cocktail sauce when the recipe for making a homemade cocktail sauce is so simple. While usually used on cold seafood, cocktail sauce is also delicious on things like crab cakes and fried calamari.

  • 03 of 06

    Horseradish Sauce

    Basic Horseradish Sauce for Roast Beef

    The Spruce

    Horseradish and beef are great together, and this steakhouse horseradish sauce recipe could not be easier. Be sure to use a fresh jar of horseradish so that this classic cold sauce will have that signature kick.

  • 04 of 06

    Fresh Tomato Salsa

    Fresh Salsa
    Diana Rattray

    What better way to enjoy fresh tomatoes than in a salsa recipe? Take a break from that jarred stuff, and enjoy salsa like it's supposed to taste. This classic tomato salsa recipe is great on everything from a grilled chicken breast to your favorite chips.

    Continue to 5 of 6 below.
  • 05 of 06

    Basic Aioli - Garlic Mayonnaise

    Basic aioli garlic mayo recipe

    The Spruce / Ali Redmond

    Garlic mayonnaise, or aioli, is one of America's most popular cold sauces. This simple aioli recipe has unlimited uses; from a super sandwich spread, to a great dip for vegetables, to a sauce for grilled seafood. There are many variations of this garlic mayonnaise - aioli recipe, but this is a standard base recipe, from which you can add any number of herbs and spices.

  • 06 of 06

    Classic Ranch Dressing

    Classic Ranch Dressing and Dip

    The Spruce / Abby Mercer

    Ranch dressing is not only one of America's most popular salad dressings, but it's also probably its most popular dip. Ranch dressing is delicious served with everything from raw vegetables to fried chicken wings.