As a sauce connoisseur and sandwich savant, I’ve tried all of Subway’s many sauces and broken down their flavors for you. No matter if your preferred condiment is tangy or creamy, this list will guide you to the perfect dressing for your next Subway sub.
From classics to newcomers, I’ve given each subway sauce a rating based on taste, popularity and my overall customer satisfaction. After much deliberation, I have compiled the best Subway sauces so that you don’t have to make another sad squeeze decision ever again.. But be warned – there may be a few sauces that fall short of expectations.
Whether you like a little bit of zest or need a creamier kick in your sandwich, the best and worst Subway sauces are waiting for your taste buds!!
About Subway and their sauces
Subway is known worldwide as one of the biggest fast-food chains that makes sandwiches “your way.” They pride themselves on how their customers can personalize their order by choosing from their wide selection of dressings. These condiments play a major role in making each bite incredible by enhancing the flavor of every ingredient, be it meat or veggie.
So what sets Subway’s dressings apart from others? The customizability! With fifteen (I have only ranked the top ten here) different options to choose from including Sweet onion Teriyaki, Honey Mustard and Light Mayonnaise it’s no wonder people come back time after time.
Subway understands the significance of sauces in really making their menu items. These condiments serve as the perfect accompaniment to the fresh ingredients that Subway sandwiches are known for.
The Ultimate List of Subway Sauces ranked
When it comes to creating the perfect Subway sandwich, the choice of sauce can make all the difference. To help you get through the wide array of Subway sauces available, I have ranked them based on their flavor, versatility, and my subjective taste buds. So, without further ado, here is the ultimate list of Subway sauces ranked:
1. Sweet Onion Teriyaki Sauce
In the number 1 spot for a touch of sweetness, the Sweet Onion sauce is the way to go. This flavor profiles mild yet slightly Oniony taste will enhance any vegetable or meat perfectly. Most often used as a glaze for the Sweet Onion Chicken Teriyaki Sandwich (one of their signature subs), this dressing combines sweet onion with savory teriyaki to form a mouth-watering sauce. I also found other than the Sweet Onion Chicken Teriyaki Sandwich that it pairs well with:
Oven Roast Turkey Breast Sandwich: Adding Sweet Onion Teriyaki Sauce to a turkey breast sandwich can give it a sweet and savory flavor boost.
Roast Beef Sandwich: For a classic meat option, the sauce adds a twist to the usual roast beef and creates a contrast between their savory flavors.
Veggie Delite Sandwich: This vegetarian option can be transformed with an addition of the Sweet Onion Teriyaki Sauce. The dressing adds depth and sweetness to any sub that only has vegetables in it.
Chicken & Bacon Ranch Melt (It’s in the Subway Series): Though not traditionally paired together, adding this sauce to this sandwich will create an interesting taste. When combined with ranch dressing and bacon you are sure to experience something completely unique.
Even though Chicken isn’t everyone’s favorite “Their chicken is my least favorite of their meat and it makes for a messier sandwich than I want. But that particular sauce is so nice. Does it work with anything else they have besides its standard sandwich?” Source Reddit the sauce more than makes up for it!
2. Honey Mustard
Hitting all the right notes, Honey Mustard is a classic mix of sweet and spicy flavors that are hard to resist. This versatile sauce has a long list of uses for nearly every sub on the menu. It’s made with just honey and mustard, blending together the sweetness of honey and sharpness of mustard to create what I believe is one of their best sauces. (Unlike their regular mustard).
I like it as a dressing on salads or as a spread for sandwiches; either way, it adds an incredible amount of flavor that really gives each bite some zest. I particularly like it on the Grilled chicken sandwich. Yum!
3. Frank’s RedHot® Buffalo Sauce
I’m not kidding when I say the first time I tasted this sauce, I knew I would be in love forever. It has an amazing balance between heat and tanginess – two things that make my taste buds go wild. I know it’s available outside Subway but I just love it. While it does have some spice to it, there’s also a lot more flavor going on than just “hot.”
It’s thick enough to completely coat your ingredients so every bite will have some Buffalo kick to it without being too much for those who can’t handle too much extreme spice (like me). The vinegar notes add another layer of goodness that pairs perfectly with the spiciness, making every bite taste sooo good.
I’ve tried this sauce on many different sandwiches, but my favorite by far is put on top of the Grilled Chicken Sandwich , which again to stress isn’t getting the buffalo chicken sandwich as is, but getting Frank’s added separately. For some reason the flavors mesh almost better than if i went ahead and got their actual buffalo sandwich.
It’s like having my favorite Buffalo chicken wings, but in a more convenient sandwich form.
4. Baja Chipotle
People love Baja Chipotle for its bold and spicy taste that packs all sorts of flavors in one bite. It’s made with a mix of chipotle peppers, spices, and tangy ingredients that create a sauce you’ll want to eat by the spoonful. Its main ingredients include mayonnaise, chipotle peppers, spices, and a dash of lime.
The orange color and slightly tangy taste are signature to Baja Chipotle and can be spread onto any sandwich or added to any salad for an extra kick. When tasting the menu though it does pair really well with their turkey sandwich.
5. Peppercorn Ranch Dressing
Ranch Dressing is a classic and beloved sauce that adds creaminess and tang to your sub. Ranch is a classic fan-favorite dressing that adds a cool creaminess and unique taste to your sub. The creamy base is created using buttermilk, sour cream, mayonnaise, herbs, garlic, and peppercorns. If you’re looking for something peppery though, adding this to their cheese steak sandwich is a winning combination!
6. Creamy Sriracha
When I’m in the mood for spice without going too far overboard, this is the sauce I go for. It has all the great components of sriracha – chili peppers, vinegar, garlic powder – but tones down the spiciness by adding in some creamy base. If you’re wanting to add this on something I would recommend their Oven Roasted Turkey Breast Sandwich if you really want it spicy.
7. MVP Parmesan Vinaigrette
The vinaigrette was a game-changer for my sandwich. It managed to spruce up an otherwise basic sandwich with its fresh touch. The texture was right in the middle when it came to thickness – not too thick, not too thin – which made it easy to coat my ingredients without making the bread soggy.
Specifically, I found that it worked wonders on sandwiches with chicken or turkey. The two meats plus sauce melded together to create a beautiful bite. The dressing also added a fun kick to the Veggie Delite option, taking it from plain and boring to exciting and flavorful.
8. Mayonnaise
A classic choice, Mayonnaise, brings a creamy and smooth texture to your sub. It’s a versatile sauce that complements a wide range of ingredients. Subway’s mayonnaise is typically available in a standard version, but some locations may offer variations like light or reduced-fat mayonnaise for those looking for a healthier option. Be warned of course the regular one is high in calories and fat.
9. Garlic Aioli
Calling all garlic lovers! This sauce is packed full of garlicky goodness. Its savory flavor is robust, making it a popular choice among many people looking for that extra garlicy touch. (Just get the mints ready!) This one works best with Mediterranean or Italian ingredients – think Italian B.M.T or even on the Chicken & Bacon Ranch Melt.
10. Mustard
Maybe it’s just me but unless I am having a hot dog, not really interested in Mustard. Your mileage may vary but this one wouldn’t be my choice at Subway. If you’re looking for a subtle sauce, then you’re gonna have to turn right around. This Basic Mustard flavor bites into every sandwich it touches, and that can be both a good thing and a bad thing. I can do with it on roast beef, although if horseradish was an option I would still go in that direction. But on pretty much every other sandwich you just end up tasting mustard and nothing else. Definitely my bottom pick.
It’s not just me! Reddit has plenty of these type of comments:
“So I got a sandwich today and asked for mustard but made the mistake of not asking them to go easy on it.
So the girl takes a #bleeping# caulking bottle of mustard and squeezes out three giant lines of mustard over the sandwich as if she’s trying to grout tiles to a wall. I didn’t wanna be rude and ask them to remake it so I just took it and… Wow. All I can fucking taste on the sandwich is mustard. Can’t taste turkey, tomato, onion, lettuce, anything. Just mustard and bread.
This made me think – they must put this much on because people actually enjoy that much sauce, right? Like at that point why pay for all the meat and vegetables when it would taste the same with just bread and mustard?”
So there you go, fair warning!
My Personal Ranking Scores
So here are my scores for the Subway sauces.
| Sauce | Rating |
|---|---|
| Sweet Onion Teriyaki Sauce | 4.8/5 |
| Honey Mustard | 4.5/5 |
| Frank’s RedHot® Buffalo Sauce | 4/5 |
| Baja Chipotle | 4/5 |
| Peppercorn Ranch | 4/5 |
| Creamy Sriracha | 4/5 |
| MVP Parmesan Vinaigrette | 3.5/5 |
| Mayonnaise | 3/5 |
| Garlic Aioli | 3/5 |
| Mustard | 3/5 |
The best Subway sauce for you will depend entirely on your own flavor preferences, so don’t hesitate to experiment with different combinations until you find your perfect fit! As a Chef these are my thoughts, so take them as you will!
The way I ranked them was taking the maximum score of 5 and placing them in order. Mustard was the worst but I couldn’t give it less than a 3 as it can be a solid sauce for a few sandwiches such as beef. (In moderation). So everything fell in this range.
Nutritional comparison of all Subway Sauces
When deciding which Subway sauce is right for you, it’s important to consider the nutritional information. Understanding things like calories, fat content, and sugar can help steer you in a healthier direction.
If you want to avoid fat and calories, definitely avoid the regular Mayonnaise at 11g per serving, and 100 calories. In terms of sugar my top pick the Sweet Onion Teriyaki, actually has the most added sugar at 6g. So get on your bike, or go for a run after!
As with everything in life balance your enjoyment against your health requirements.
Here’s a side-by-side comparison of the nutrition facts of all Subway sauces. I have also included some Oils, and other dressings so you have the full list!
| Sauce | Size (g) | Cals | Total Fat (g) | Sat Fat (g) | Chol (mg) | Sodium (mg) | Carbs (g) | Fiber (g) | Sugar (g) | Add Sugar (g) | Prot |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baja Chipotle | 14 | 70 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 125 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Creamy Sriracha | 14 | 40 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 240 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Frank’s RedHot® Buffalo Sauce | 14 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 350 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Giardiniera** | 28 | 80 | 9 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 340 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Honey Mustard | 14 | 60 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 125 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| Mayonnaise | 14 | 100 | 11 | 2 | 0 | 10 | 65 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Mustard, Yellow | 14 | 10 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 170 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| MVP Parmesan Vinaigrette® | 14 | 60 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 150 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Oil | 5 | 45 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Oil & Vinegar | 9 | 45 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Peppercorn Ranch Sauce | 14 | 80 | 8 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 100 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Red Wine Vinegar | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Roasted Garlic Aioli | 14 | 80 | 9 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 150 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Sweet Onion Teriyaki Sauce | 14 | 30 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 130 | 7 | 0 | 6 | 0 |
Here is the full list of nutrients across the Subway products
Subway sauces available in Grocery stores
If you’re obsessed with Subway’s sauces (like me) but hate having to pay an arm and a leg for them every time, then listen up! Many of their most popular sauces are available at grocery stores for your homemade sandwiching needs.
Most supermarket chains carry subway sauces in their condiment aisle. Look for their brand in the green bottle that’ll transport your sandwiches straight into Subway heaven.
Fir more information here is my article announcing the release in April 2024 of the four new subway sauces that you can buy to use at home!.