At our house the grill isn’t reserved for summer—it’s a year-round tool. Burgers are a favorite, but we also grill fish, steaks, chicken, and vegetables. The quickest way to lift any grilled dish is a flavorful sauce. The right bottle can turn ordinary meat into something memorable.
These Costco sauces are reliable, affordable, and versatile. Below you’ll find the best grilling sauces we keep on hand, how to use them, and simple tips for getting the most flavor from each bottle.
Best Costco Sauces for Grilling
Best Sauce for Chicken, Shrimp, and More — Bachan’s Japanese BBQ Sauce
Bachan’s Japanese BBQ Sauce has a strong following for good reason. It’s thinner than most American-style BBQ sauces, with a salty, slightly smoky profile that soaks into proteins quickly and adds a savory finish. It works especially well on chicken and shrimp, and it’s a great choice when you want a lighter, more umami-driven glaze rather than a syrupy coating.
Flavor profile: Salty, smoky. Best for: Chicken, shrimp. Price: $9.99 for 34 ounces.
Best Standard BBQ Sauce for Grilling — Sweet Baby Ray’s BBQ Sauce
Sweet Baby Ray’s is a classic Kansas City–style sauce: thick, sweet, and tangy. It creates a beautiful caramelized glaze on ribs and pulled pork and is also excellent on grilled chicken. Because it contains sugar, apply it toward the end of cooking to avoid charring and to achieve that sticky, glossy finish.
Flavor profile: Sweet, tangy. Best for: Ribs, pulled pork, chicken, shrimp. Price: $6.79 for two 40-ounce bottles.
Robin’s BBQ Short Ribs in the Slow Cooker
These short ribs become fall-apart tender after slow cooking and are finished in a sweet-tangy sauce made with barbecue sauce, honey, and mustard. Slow cooking with onions and carrots deepens the flavor; making the dish a day ahead improves the sauce even more.
Equipment
- Slow cooker
Ingredients
- 4 lbs beef short ribs
- 1 large onion, chopped
- Handful baby carrots, coarsely chopped
- 1/4 cup flour
- 1 cup Sweet Baby Ray’s BBQ sauce
- 1/4 cup honey
- 1 tbsp yellow mustard
Instructions
- Place the ribs in the slow cooker and top with the chopped onion and carrots.
- Whisk together the flour, barbecue sauce, honey, and mustard, then pour over the ribs.
- Cover and cook on low for 6–8 hours or high for 3–4 hours, until the meat is tender.
- Remove the ribs and keep warm. Skim excess fat from the sauce, return the ribs to the cooker, and gently stir to coat. For easier cleanup and a cleaner sauce, refrigerate overnight and skim the solidified fat before reheating.
Best Sauce for Grilling with Some Heat — Frank’s Red Hot
Frank’s Red Hot is a vinegary, mildly spicy hot sauce that shines when you want a tangy heat. It’s perfect for making buffalo-style barbecue sauce—mix it with butter and a touch of sweetener or honey, then brush on wings, chicken, or even pulled pork for a lively finish.
Flavor profile: Tangy, mildly spicy. Best for: Pulled pork, chicken, cauliflower. Price: $9.69 for 50 ounces.
Best for Dipping — Peter Luger’s Steak Sauce
Found in the refrigerated section, Peter Luger’s Steak Sauce is the same condiment served at the steakhouse: thinner than many BBQ sauces, less sweet, with a tangy bite. It’s not broadly versatile, but it is an excellent dip for steaks and other grilled meats when you want a classic steakhouse flavor.
Flavor profile: Tangy, slightly vinegary. Best for: Steak. Price: $6.59 for 24 ounces.
Best Marinade for Grilling — Kikkoman Soy Sauce
Soy sauce is an underappreciated grilling tool. Its salty, umami-rich profile helps tenderize meats and infuse deep savory flavor. Use Kikkoman as a base for marinades for steak, chicken, and shrimp—balance it with oil, citrus, or a touch of sweetener to avoid overpowering delicate proteins.
Flavor profile: Salty, umami. Best for: Steak, chicken, shrimp. Price: $6.79 for 2 quarts.
Grilling Sauces Overview
| Item | Flavor Profile | Uses | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachan’s Japanese BBQ Sauce | Salty, smoky | Chicken, shrimp | $9.99 for 34 ounces |
| Sweet Baby Ray’s BBQ Sauce | Sweet, tangy | Ribs, pulled pork, chicken, shrimp | $6.79 for two 40-ounce bottles |
| Frank’s Red Hot | Tangy, mildly spicy | Pulled pork, chicken, cauliflower | $9.69 for 50 ounces |
| Peter Luger’s Steak Sauce | Tangy, slightly vinegary | Steak | $6.59 for 24 ounces |
| Kikkoman Soy Sauce | Salty, umami | Steak, chicken, shrimp | $6.79 for 2 quarts |
Pro Tips for Grilling with Sauces
Using sauces properly makes a big difference. These practical tips will help you avoid burned glaze and maximize flavor.
- Watch the sugar: Sauces with high sugar content caramelize quickly and can burn. Apply sweet sauces in the final five minutes of cooking to get a glossy, caramelized finish without charring.
- Mind the salt: Salt-forward sauces and soy-based marinades tenderize and flavor meat. Don’t over-marinate delicate proteins—seafood needs much less time than steaks.
- Layer flavors: Start with thinner marinades to penetrate the meat, then finish with thicker, bolder sauces for texture and sheen.
- Use indirect heat: When brushing on thick or sugary sauces, move the food to indirect heat to prevent burning while still developing a rich glaze.
Experiment: brush a Frank’s-based buffalo BBQ glaze on wings at the end of grilling for a spicy, tangy finish, or serve Peter Luger’s Steak Sauce as a dip for a classic steakhouse touch.
Conclusion
A good sauce can transform grilled food with minimal effort. These Costco picks cover a range of flavors—from smoky and savory to sweet and spicy—so you can pick the right bottle for whatever you’re cooking. Try a few, follow the tips above, and your next cookout will be noticeably better. What’s your go-to Costco sauce for grilling? Share your favorites and how you use them.
