13 Of The Best Restaurant-Brand Seasonings You Can Buy For Your Kitchen

With so many popular spices, sauces, and seasonings boosting the adoration of many fast food chains, it's not in the least surprising that many decide to bottle and sell their tasty recipes. Any discussion about the genius of capitalizing on a restaurant's unique intellectual property has to start with none other than the legendary Colonel Sanders. His use of a pressure fryer to get chicken perfectly fried to his preferred Kentucky style led him to obtain a patent for his particular technique. But perhaps what really stuck with consumers was the flavor — his still highly-guarded recipe blend of 11 herbs and spices really made those birds sing.

And then there's the secret sauce. What's a burger chain doing if they don't have one? Word on the street is that In-N-Out's special sauce may just be basic Thousand Island dressing with a thinner consistency, but the company remains mum on the subject. Regardless, the mystery of what goes into the most tantalizing of secret sauces keeps customers coming back for more than just a bite of food.

This brings us to our original point — some of the most popular food chains in the United States — and, in some cases, the world — are geniuses for selling their famous concoctions outside the restaurant. It's a win-win for both the seller and the consumer. Fans of the brand can store their favorite seasonings in the pantry or refrigerator if they're out of range from their favorite chain and want to recreate the dishes at home. And they would also make a great gift for a loved one — below are a few notable examples.

What's a trip to Taco Bell without asking for all the hot sauces they have? True fans will probably ask for a few extra packets just in case a handful isn't enough. The restaurant is more than happy to add as much kick as you want to your tacos, gorditas, and chalupas with pouches of hot sauce that are cheekily labeled to reflect the range of flavors hinting at flirtation with the Scoville scale. Mild says, "Can't wait!" while Fire declares, "You're so my type." And Diablo, well, it wants to take the relationship to the "Next Level."

While those phrases might not be the exact ones you get at your local Taco Bell, you can procure a set of Taco Bell-branded hot sauces online to add to your pantry. You can currently buy Verde, Mild, Hot, and Fire through several online retailers and in different grocery stores. However, we couldn't find Diablo bottled and up for grabs anywhere. Still, these sauces make great additions to any dish. Whether you're going for a milder flavor or a spicier aftertaste, there's an option for you. A great tip is to save these for taco night at home to elevate your Tuesday dinner.

Olive Garden's slogan was once famously, "When you're here, you're family." However, we've learned "here" doesn't have to be just at one of its restaurants — it can be in the comfort of your own home. Olive Garden now has a line of products you can purchase to add a little slice of Italy to the meal you made yourself. On the plus side, there's no waiting for a table. On the downside, it might be a little tough to deliver on a promise of unlimited breadsticks.

Focus on getting your pasta to a perfect al dente and making a delicious sauce to go with it. When it comes to the salad, Olive Garden has you covered — well, at least with the dressing. Nonetheless, this chain's signature Italian dressing is not one to be dismissed. It's bottled up and bought by the loads for a reason: It's delicious.

You can get the dressing in its regular state or in a light version which has significantly less fat and calories and only 2 grams of sugar in a 2 tablespoon serving. There's also a ranch and Caesar dressing for more decadent options. Olive Garden also sells bags of its garlic and Romano-flavored croutons to add as a topping, making your salad even easier to prepare. Beyond salad, Olive Garden also has an all-purpose Italian seasoning. A few dashes will add Mediterranean flavor to any number of dishes. From poultry to seafood and even pasta or pizza, a bit of this seasoning will completely elevate your meals. 

Texas Roadhouse branded this spice blend after what is used to season the Rattlesnake Bites appetizer — which is a platter of spicy cheese balls that have been battered, breaded, fried, and then, of course, seasoned. But, the label on the package you'll find at the store urges you to try it on an assortment of items. The package lists a slew of ingredients, including paprika, cayenne, cheddar, blue cheese, and buttermilk. Consider us intrigued. 

This sounds like it would make an excellent dry rub for your favorite grilled meats — Texas Roadhouse recommends chicken wings and steak. You can also spice up dips, especially if it's chili con queso. But if you really want to throw a Texas-sized party, Walmart does sell a 12-pack of 1-liter bottles of Texas Roadhouse's margarita mix for a cool $95 — not bad, considering how long each bottle lasts and how many satisfied mouths you'll feed. But you might want to make sure you have all your RSVPs confirmed before making that purchase. And if the guests don't show up, at least it's a shelf-stable product. So, you can always save some for the next get-together.

If you think a half dozen fried chicken wings with a breezy sprinkle of salt and pepper suffices as a bar snack, Buffalo Wild Wings is quick to try and change your mind. This chain fully delivers an overwhelming range of sauces and spices to take chicken wings to the next level — but don't just stop there, try them on any dish to make things a bit more fun.

Unlike other franchises that might sell a mere one or two bottles of their signature seasonings or sauces, Buffalo Wild Wings doesn't hold back at all. We invite you to take a gander at all the different ways you can spice up your meals. You can coat them with a traditional Buffalo version, of course. But we would encourage you to venture toward others like the Asian Zing sauce, which is perfect on a number of Asian dishes and chicken wings. There's also the Mango Habanero sauce that combines heat and sweet flavors — the opportunities there are endless.

Those averse to too much spice may appreciate a bundle of milder sauce options. From Parmesan Garlic to Honey BBQ, it's likely Buffalo Wild Wings has an option that will suit your palette and current cravings.

Arby's is constantly harping that it has "the meats." But the chain also has plenty of sauces, and they're well worth a purchase by any fan of this chain's food — or sandwiches in general. Currently, Arby's offers two of its famous dressings for sale. Let's start with Arby's Sauce which is its signature barbecue-tasting option. It's perhaps a bit sweet, but the slow-roasted beef that Arby's makes is working overtime on the salty and savory front. If you're attempting to replicate any one of Arby's popular sandwiches or maybe taking on brisket or corned beef, this barbecue sauce adds a nice complementary flavor note. It also adds plenty of visual appeal with its robust ruby-red hue.

Then there's the Horsey Sauce. Going on its name alone, it does sound like a pretty fun ride. And that's especially true if your palate enjoys a hearty bit of horseradish and a jolting kick of mustard. For those in that camp, Arby's Horsey Sauce makes an excellent counterpoint to the richness of the beefy deli meats that have made the franchise famous.

Despite its ubiquitous red-and-white pinstriped presence today in relatively sleepy suburban strip mall complexes, TGI Friday's initially got its start as a raucous midtown Manhattan watering hole in 1965. And its founder, Alan Stillman, has gone on record to cop to the fact that he opened the restaurant as a way to meet women and intentionally gave it a singles-ready-to-mingle vibe. It only took a few years for the concept to take off and expand in other cities. Cut to the present day with nearly 300 locations nationwide. And don't sit around waiting for Friday to come because thank goodness for this restaurant's lineup of bottled sauces.

Naturally, there's its original BBQ sauce, which is fairly self-explanatory. Its Buffalo Wing Sauce and Ghost Pepper Sauce are ideal for those with a high tolerance for heat. There's also a Ginger Lime Marinade that adds zip and tang to your grilled meats. What intrigues us the most, though, is its White BBQ sauce, and don't be deterred by the color. While the predominant ingredient is mayonnaise, it also has vinegar and lemon — that presence of acidity helps denature proteins and will make meat extra tender.