Whether you view him as an icon or an irritant, broadcaster Dick Vitale created the soundtrack for unpredictable tournament basketball — and come March, “it’s awesome baby,” to pair hoops insanity with saucy restaurant bites.
The classic shareable plays — wings, fries, nachos, and pizza — get the full-court attention, but in today’s flavor-obsessed era, the best snacks come with a little sauce.
Sauce versatility is key to countering costs, labor, and adventurous menu demand. You’re able to serve straight out of the bottle, create fun, dippable flight lineups, or swirl combinations for signature standouts that enhance your brand.
According to Datassential1, 3 out of 5 consumers are focused on restaurant sauces, with younger, trend-driving generations on the hunt for social playmakers that pop off the screen, as well as the plate. To paraphrase Dickie V, roll out your team of prime-time player sauces, so guests can do what they love — cheer on their favorite teams with a little dipsy-doo dunk-a-roo.
A Spicy First Round:
- Roma® Hot Buffalo Wing Sauce
- Contigo® Chile de Árbol Hot Sauce
In basketball terms, this is a top seed going head-to-head with a Cinderella story. Roma Hot Buffalo Wing Sauce represents tradition at its finest: a championship blend of cayenne heat and margarine that excels at dipping, drizzling, and tossing, from the name that’s been serving authenticity to restaurants for more than 70 years.
The sky’s the limit with classic dunking applications, but consider other shareable opportunities as well, like Cheesy Buffalo Tots — Roma Potato Nuggets covered in Alfredo sauce, shredded mozzarella, and Roma Hot Buffalo — or a Loaded Buffalo Flatbread with your choice of protein, bacon crumbles, blue cheese, and sliced green onions.
Contigo Chile de Árbol is a budding superstar on the plate or the tabletop. Expertly made with small, potent peppers cultivated in Mexico, this sauce bursts on the scene, bringing sharp heat and nutty, slightly smoky flavor to an array of dishes.
Try it with Contigo El Fuego Fish: Bay Winds® Pacific Cod marinated in the hot sauce and deep fried for a zesty bite that should please both Arizona and Houston fans. And guests craving the ultimate handheld should palm this Chile de Árbol Tenderloin Torta, featuring succulent Allegiance® Pork and a spicy avocado puree.
Smoky Second Round:
- West Creek® Jala-Mango Sauce
- West Creek Moonshine BBQ
The flavor experts agree — 2025 was the year in smoky, and the champ isn’t going anywhere yet. Impress even the University of Tennessee mascot Smokey with two BBQ sauce options that run the gamut as protein flavor enhancers.
Jala-mango is a sweet and spicy, fruity glaze, combining citrusy mango with jalapeno notes. The West Creek sauce uses a kick of aged cayenne, vinegar, salt, and garlic to pump up the tropical-inspired duo for anything from wings to seafood and salad.
The Moonshine BBQ sauce brings bold, tangy, and smoky players to the court, as the moonshine adds a warm depth that complements proteins of all kinds: moonshine meatballs, a Black Angus BBQ beef platter, or a moonshine BBQ flatbread.
Sweet 16:
- Piancone® Balsamic Glaze
- West Creek Caramel Topping
Where spicy leads, sweet isn’t far behind, and the intersection of the two creates a taste-bud tandem that can put your restaurant into the big dance, especially with Gen Z’ers.
Sourced from the most authentic purveyors of Italian grapes, Piancone® Epicureo 100% Natural Balsamic Glaze may be an unconventional dipping sauce, but its rich flavor enhances fries, mozzarella sticks, or fried pasta bites with international flair. Use it to coat Grilled Cremini Mushroom Skewers or let this elegant sauce elevate must-have Pulled Pork Sliders.
And how about leaning even Sweeter Sixteen? West Creek Caramel Topping, a shelf-stable until opened, smooth, glossy caramel sauce can add indulgence to — believe it or not! — Salted Caramel Whiskey Wings or the smoky-sweet fusion of Vietnamese Caramel Wings.
Consider sweetening up shareable seafood, like Caramel Garlic Shrimp, or serve something completely unique, such as Caramel Apple Nachos — baked tortilla wedges, sprinkled with apple pie spice.
Elite Ate:
- Delancey Street Deli® Beer Cheese Dip Base
- Village Garden® Horseradish Aioli
When the hoops madness arrives, get ready to pour an outrageous amount of beer. Basketball fans will take their suds with anything — especially cheese. Looking at you Wisconsin Badgers.
The secret power of Delancey Street Beer Cheese is the ability to customize it with a signature flavor that patrons can’t necessarily get down the street. Simply add 12-16 oz. of your preferred beer — maybe in partnership with a local brewery — and a no-frills preparation becomes a menu bucket-getter paired with pretzels, tortilla chips, or sausage bites.
In the opposite huddle, there’s Village Garden Horseradish Aioli, packing a bold, creamy, zesty punch. The experts at Technomic2 have found that aioli is one of the fastest growing condiments in both limited- and full-service restaurants. Dip crispy fries, onion rings, or beef sliders in this sharp-yet-smooth sauce.
Final 4:
- Asian Pride® Orange Sauce
- Village Garden Raspberry Vinaigrette
- Roma Southwest Chipotle Pesto
- Contigo Salsa Verde
Upsets and buzzer beaters bring pandemonium to the basketball tournament, but when we reach the final weekend, the cream generally rises to the top. You know the names: Duke, UConn, Michigan, a basket of warm fries.
Always a dependable bet, fries are your shareable MVPs — though ketchup alone can’t cut down the nets. A great team flashes complementary skills and flavors, like a fry flight featuring the fresh blast of citrus from sweet and tangy Asian Pride Orange Sauce or the tart, fruity balance of Village Garden Raspberry Vinaigrette.
Cheer on the incredible comebacks while dunking fries in Roma Southwest Chipotle Pesto, a game-changing blend of smoky chipotle spices, jalapenos, and tomatoes in a smooth, spicy puree that reduces the need for prep and guesswork.
Picture Michigan State fans going green as they dip fries in Contigo Salsa Verde, a vibrant, herbaceous mix of tomatillos, roasted jalapenos, serrano peppers, onion, and garlic that’s a slam dunk for the taste buds.
An eclectic lineup of sauces can transform gameday menus without overhauling your inventory. Let the flavor handle the ball, while you welcome in hoops-hungry fans throughout the month of March. Like Dick Vitale might say, sauces, they’re unbelievable baby!
1Datassential – Resources: Sauce Trends
2Technomic, July 2025