Easy Sauce Recipes to Keep in Your Pocket

Pour these simple sauces on all the things.

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Quick-and-Easy Pesto

Photo: Helen Dujardin; Styling: Mary Clayton Carl

Quick-and-Easy Pesto Recipe

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Sesame-Ginger Marinade

Photo: Daniel Agee; Food Styling: Mark Driskill; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis

Sesame-Ginger Marinade Recipe

This intensely flavorful and savory Asian-inspired marinade is a vibrant twist on our “Master Marinade,” and is a delicious match for anything from chicken wings to shrimp skewers. That said, we found that we especially love it as a marinade for crisp veggies—like broccolini and baby bok choy. This flavor bomb recipe is one worth keeping in your back pocket for sure.

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Fresh Tomato Sauce

Photo: Greg Dupree; Styling: Lindsey Lower

Fresh Tomato Sauce Recipe

Top a pizza or bread for Italian bruschetta, or toss with penne. Seeding half the tomatoes keeps the sauce from becoming watery.

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Copycat Wendy’s Ranch Sauce

Time Inc. Video Studio

Copycat Wendy’s Ranch Sauce Recipe

Rich, creamy, and tangy—just like the signature Wendy’s ranch sauce, but without the preservatives. Easy to mix up and perfect for all kinds of dipping, this copycat Wendy’s ranch is the perfect homemade condiment to prep ahead and use all week long.

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North African Marinade

Photo: Daniel Agee; Food Styling: Mark Driskill; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis

North African Marinade Recipe

This incredibly flavorful North African-inspired marinade, also known as chermoula, is delicious twist on our “Master Marinade.” While it would be delicious used on beef, seafood, or any other number of proteins, we especially loved the fresh, exotic flavor profile of this marinade matched with grilled lamb.

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Tahini Sauce

Victor Protasio

Tahini Sauce Recipe

Photo: Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Mindi Shapiro; Food Styling: Anna Hampton

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Do-It-All Marinade

Kate Sears

Do-It-All Marinade Recipe
Use this versatile marinade to lend zesty flavor to chicken, beef, pork—even tofu or vegetables.

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Buttermilk-Bourbon Caramel Sauce

Kate Sears

Buttermilk-Bourbon Caramel Sauce Recipe
The key to this sauce is the sugar's color. You're looking for a large patch of golden-colored sugar (this usually develops in one section of the saucepan).

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Quick Marinara Sauce

Photo: Kate Sears; Styling: Toni Brogen

Quick Marinara Sauce Recipe
You can whip up this five-ingredient homemade marinara sauce in about 20 minutes. Use the highest-quality canned tomatoes you can find for the best flavor.

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Sun-Dried Tomato Oil

Photo: Kate Sears; Styling: Susan Vajaranant

Sun-Dried Tomato Oil Recipe
Sun-dried tomatoes add visual dazzle as well as flavor to this seasoning oil. Use Sun-Dried Tomato Oil as a marinade, drizzle for salads, or dipping oil for breads.

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Soy-Ginger Dressing

Photo: Antonis Achilleos; Styling: Gerri Williams

Soy-Ginger Dressing Recipe
Whisk together Soy-Ginger Dressing for your favorite salad greens, or use the dressing as a dipping sauce for your favorite cabbage rolls. With only 5 ingredients, Soy-Ginger Dressing is as versatile as it is delicious.

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Spinach-Walnut Pesto

Photo: Greg Dupree

Spinach-Walnut Pesto Recipe

An evergreen, everyday pesto will perk up pastas and pizzas when fresh basil is no longer in season. The warmth from the toasted walnuts will help the sauce emulsify; don't skip this step. Try the sauce on seared salmon or chicken.

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Ultimate Quick-and-Easy Pasta Sauce

Photo: Lee Harrelson; Styling: Jan Gautro

Ultimate Quick-and-Easy Pasta Sauce Recipe
This easy pasta sauce is so tasty and versatile. You can substitute crushed or whole tomatoes for the diced. Crushed will give you a smooth, thick sauce; whole adds a nice chunkiness. Serve this sauce with your favorite pasta.

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Do-It-All Marinade

Kate Sears

Do-It-All Marinade Recipe
Use this versatile marinade to lend zesty flavor to chicken, beef, pork—even tofu or vegetables.

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Carne Asada Marinade

Photo: Kelsey Hansen; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis; Food Styling: Adam Hickman

Carne Asada Marinade Recipe

A hunk of skirt steak and this classic, flavor-packed carne asada marinade are the staples of the most epically delicious taco night you'll ever have. While we went with skirt steak to prepare our traditional Carne Asada, you can use this multipurpose marinade for just about any type of meat you want.

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Tangy-Sweet Barbecue Sauce

Tangy-Sweet Barbecue Sauce Recipe
For a quick, 5-ingredient barbecue sauce, add apricot jam, honey, soy sauce and vinegar to ketchup. It's ideal for summer entertaining on both grilled chicken and pork.

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Ranch Olé

Photo: Antonis Achilleos; Styling: Gerri Williams for James Reps

Ranch Olé Recipe
Ranch Olé makes a tasty topper for plain burgers thanks to the jalapenos and scallions that lend kick and flavor to ranch dressing.

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Alabama White Sauce

Photo: Alison Miksch; Styling: Caroline M. Cunningham

Alabama White Sauce Recipe

Goes with: Wonder Wings

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Classic Gravy

Photo: Sang An

Classic Gravy Recipe