You Think You Love Ketchup? I Swap This Heinz Condiment for It Every Time

And I'm not going back.

Ketchup has captured America for decades if not centuries. The condiment is ubiquitous in homes, fast-food joints, and restaurants across the country. If this condiment isn’t in your fridge, you’re doing it wrong—or so we’re told.

Heinz first developed its classic tomato ketchup in 1876. But a lesser-known product has been around almost as long and—all cards on the table—it is far better than Heinz’s traditional tomato ketchup.

What Is Heinz Chili Sauce?

Heinz Chili Sauce, first developed in 1895, is the little brother to the classic ketchup. It is similar in taste but packs more flavor. It is both more subtle and rich, and I believe it is time for chili sauce to take over.

The main difference between Heinz Chili Sauce and Heinz Ketchup is that the chili sauce contains onions rather than onion powder, and the spices are slightly different. We don’t exactly know what spices go into the chili sauce, but those added ingredients, along with the addition of garlic powder, are what make this sauce stand out from the familiar ketchup flavor Heinz is known for.

The sweetness of Heinz’s tomato ketchup is one of its characteristics that can turn me off. The chili sauce, however, is more tangy. Although the sweetness is still there, the sharp, zesty flavor offers a good balance.

For anything you’d use ketchup for, I politely suggest a substitution of chili sauce. Fries are now a new kind of delicious. Burgers and hot dogs carry a little more zing. Even for barbecue recipes that call for ketchup, substituting chili sauce is one small way to add a little extra flavor.

And for those concerned about the spice level of this sauce, I wouldn’t worry. There are no actual hot peppers in this superb creation. Sure, everyone does have a different tolerance, but this sauce makes you pucker more than it makes you sweat.

If you are looking for something more spicy, Heinz has several hot ketchups to choose from–like chipotle, jalapeño, or habanero as well as the Hot 57 Sauce for steaks.

Still, Heinz Chili Sauce has captured my taste buds, and I'm not going back.