The Best Hot Sauce for Pizza, Period

We have a hot sauce opinion, and we're not shy about it: Nando's peri-peri sauce is the best hot sauce for pizza, period.

The reason is the citrus. Peri-peri has a bright, lemony tang that cuts through melted cheese and rich toppings in a way most hot sauces don't. It works on any base: red sauce, white sauce, even BBQ. We've tried it on all three, and it's good every time.

Which heat level?

I lean toward Hot and XX-Hot. If you like heat, that's where the flavor really opens up: you get the citrus and the burn together.

The lower heat options are good too, and they're a safer pick if you're feeding a mixed crowd. You still get the same citrusy flavor with less fire. Medium and the Garlic (Medium) are solid on pizza, and Lemon & Herb is a nice mild option that leans even harder into the citrus.

If you can't decide, the sampler is the way to go. It has Lemon & Herb, Garlic (Medium), Medium, and Hot, so you can find your level before committing to a full bottle of XX-Hot.

A confession

I haven't actually eaten at a Nando's yet, so I can't speak to the restaurant. The sauces are what got me.

What drew me in was the peri-peri itself. I've grown a lot of peppers over the years, and peri-peri peppers have been some of my favorites for both flavor and heat. When I found a sauce built around them, I was hooked.

The annoying part

We used to be able to buy this locally. Now we have to order it on Amazon, and the price is exorbitant. We keep paying it anyway, because we love it on pizza that much. If you spot it on a shelf near you, grab it.