The Fast Food Sauce That Transforms Homemade Mexican Dishes

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Look, when hunger calls, we answer it — sometimes by any means necessary. That's why you're never going to hear us hating on frozen pizza from the grocery store (and don't get us started on how much we love picking up fried chicken from our favorite fast food chain for dinner every so often). But the truth is, nothing really beats a homemade meal — specifically, a homemade Mexican meal.

The only problem is, sometimes you go through all the trouble of constructing a perfect plate of chicken tinga nachos or saucy birria tacos, only to discover you're missing a key ingredient for the sauce — or maybe just missing that last shred of patience that separates you from inhaling your dinner straight off the tray when you're hangry. Fortunately, when that happens, there's an easy product you can reach for to instantly elevate your from-scratch Mexican feasts and give them the dynamism and flavor complexity you're craving. The answer? Taco Bell packaged sauces.

Yes, you read that right. Those free little packets that usually get tossed willy-nilly into your bag are actually the stress-free solution to leveling up your kitchen-made Mexican favorites. And while Taco Bell offers a wide variety of sauces (depending on your location), we're focusing on the main crew — the Mild, Hot, Fire, and Diablo packets. These sauces are basically engineered to complement the core flavors of Mexican cuisine and turn your sad burritos and dry tacos into genuinely satisfying meals — no prep required.

The four core Taco Bell sauces are easy to get your hands on. You can pick them up for free at the fast food chain, or buy bottles on Amazon in multipacks or by the bottle, and at retailers like Walmart or Target. That said, there are still some basic guidelines you can follow when pairing your sauces with your favorite dishes.

If you only need a subtle boost in citrus and tomato-y flavor, the Mild sauce is going to be your best bet. Choose this one if you aren't trying to drastically increase the spice level, and instead just want something that harmonizes with creamy, comforting flavors — like summery breakfast tacos or a bean-and-cheese burrito.

When you're ready to get a little bolder, reach for the Hot sauce. It includes both jalapeños and chili peppers, and has a bit of a vinegary undertone, which makes it perfect for cutting through your more cheesy and fatty dishes (think enchiladas and nachos) to give them more complexity and bite.

The Fire and Diablo sauces are for when you're truly ready to dial up the heat. The Fire Sauce will pair beautifully with grilled meats and charred veggies, adding a true kick to the experience — while the Diablo Sauce is a bit more bitter and sharp, and should be reserved for richer, slow-cooked dishes — think barbacoa, pork shoulder, or beefalo milk stout beer chili — where you're looking for maximum impact with minimal effort.