Get Sauced: Celebrate National Sauce Month

It’s March and you know what that means — longer, brighter days, St. Patrick’s Day festivities, the official start of spring and a celebration of National Sauce Month, of course. We’ve rounded up our favorite savory and sweet sauces, so that you can add finishing touches to your chicken, pasta, seafood and dessert dishes with ease. Check out some of our best sauce recipes below, and let us know how you enjoy your favorite sauces.

Savory Sauces

Giada’s Grilled Chicken With Pine Nut Pesto (pictured above) takes less than 25 minutes to prepare and can be cooked easily on your indoor grill pan. Boneless chicken breasts are moist, tender and blank canvases that can be dressed up with sauces galore. This spinach-pine nut pesto sauce boasts nutty Parmesan cheese and plenty of fruity olive oil; spread a layer atop each piece of chicken to turn your basic chicken dinner into a beautiful one.

For his Fried Clams With a Classic Tartar Sauce recipe from Cooking Channel, Emeril first dredges fresh shucked clams in a flour-seasoning mixture then deep fries them for just 3 minutes until golden brown and crispy. Dunk these bite-sized snacks in cool, refreshing tartar sauce, made with sweet pickle relish, salty capers, creamy mayonnaise and tangy Dijon mustard. Tartar sauce is also a go-to accompaniment for crab cakes and fish and chips.

PENNE_VODKA_16.jpg

Photo by: Antonis Achilleos

Antonis Achilleos

What’s a list of sauces without an Italian tomato sauce included? Food Network Magazine’s Penne With Vodka Sauce  is ready to eat in only 25 minutes and features al dente noodles tossed in an indulgent vodka-cream sauce and topped with bright, fresh basil. To give your sauce a subtle hint of spice, sauté shallots and butter with a dash of red pepper flakes before adding the tomatoes — that heat will balance the richness of the other ingredients.

Two famed Asian-inspired sauces come together to dress up vegetables in Food.com’s Soy and Sriracha Glazed Brussels Sprouts. Here, golf ball-sized Brussels sprouts are quickly submerged in a combination of mustard, garlic and soy and Sriracha sauces then cooked with the mixture until fork-tender. Before serving, shower the plate of sprouts with sesame seeds to add a crunchy texture and slight toasted flavor.

Five sauces in small dishes on a yellow and white plaid tablecloth

Five sauces in small dishes on a yellow and white plaid tablecloth

Photo by: Tara Donne ©Food Network

Tara Donne, Food Network

Before you know it, it will be time to fire up the barbecue and get ready for another season of grilling and outdoor eating. Food Network Magazine has compiled a list of 5 Great Barbecue Sauces (pictured) that will let you add creative flavors, such as cola, coffee and peach, to your grilled goods in very little time.

Sweet Sauces

As warm and comforting as traditional chocolate sauce, Food.com’s easy Mocha Fudge Sauce boasts a silky texture and uses just a handful of ingredients to make a bold-flavored dessert topping that perfectly finishes chocolate cake, fresh fruit or soft, sugary doughnuts.

Cooking Channel’s Kelsey Nixon prepares a sinfully sweet Salted Caramel Sauce (pictured) that can serve as a gooey dip for crisp apples or be drizzled over vanilla ice cream, incorporated into milk shakes and more.

Strawberry season is just around the corner, and we have exactly what you need to celebrate this vibrant seeded fruit. Food.com’s Strawberry Honey Sauce simmers ruby-red berries with smooth honey and a touch of lemon juice to create a chunky-but-pourable sauce that best tops pancakes, Belgian waffles or a simple lemon pound cake.

More Saucy Selections

Next Up

Why I'm Hosting a Game Night to Celebrate Pride Month

It’s all about community — and delicious food.

Where To Get Free Tacos on National Taco Day

These chains will help you get your taco on with deals and freebies on October 4.

Where You Can Get Free Coffee on National Coffee Day

Dunkin’, Peet’s, Krispy Kreme and more have perks lined up for September 29.

Where to Get Free Ice Cream on National Ice Cream Day

Scoop up these deals and freebies July 17 and beyond.

Barbecue Sauce Gets the Barbie Treatment

The vegan mayo-barbecue sauce mashup is Barbie pink.

Herb of the Month: Parsley

We’re starting the season by celebrating a quintessential green herb: parsley. Did you know it was traditionally added to plates as a way to freshen breath after meals?

Scary Good Things to Watch This Month

Check out the exciting Halloween shows and special episodes premiering on Food Network in September.

Celebrate Rosh Hashanah Like Molly Yeh

We're not saying there's anything wrong with grandma's brisket, but Molly Yeh sure knows how to spice up holiday favorites.

23 Delicious Gifts to Celebrate Hanukkah

Whether you need an addition to your table or something for your host, these Hanukkah gifts are sure to delight.