The “Delicious” Condiment That’s Taking Over Grocery Shelves Everywhere

Honey has been around for millennia. Its syrupy, amber-hued nectar with a floral, nutty sweetness tastes amazing in baked goods or a marinade for meats, and even just drizzled over a bowl of yogurt. In recent years, the iconic pantry staple (did you know that it never expires?) has entered a new spicy era — it’s heating up all sorts of chips, condiments, pantry staples, crackers, and so much more. 

Hot honey’s popularity can be traced back to Mike Krutz, of Mike’s Hot Honey (who was inspired by a chile-infused honey that he had in Brazil in the early 2000s). His version, a blend of honey, chili peppers, and sometimes vinegar, debuted on slices at Paulie Gee’s pizzeria in Brooklyn, New York, in 2010 and quickly became a phenomenon.

Over the next decade or so brands slowly but surely started introducing hot honey-flavored foods (many, like California Pizza Kitchen, collaborated with Mike himself). Lately the hot honey wave feels … inescapable. It’s no longer just drizzled onto frozen pizza; hot honey is now prominently showcased in ice cream, heat-filled chips, baked beans, and so much more. 

I’m filling my cart with spicy-sweet items from just about every aisle in the grocery store.

Although hot honey itself is a condiment, brands are using it to spin off an entire category of seasonings. There’s a wealth of hot honey-flavored salad dressings like Marzetti’s Hot Honey Vinaigrette and Target’s Good & Gather Hot Honey Mustard Dressing out there (I’ve tried the Marzetti’s — it’s sweet with a punch of heat. Really great!). Hidden Valley has also entered the chat with its Hot Honey Ranch that’s a revelation on pizza. Sauz, a new buzzy pasta sauce brand, also has a Hot Honey Arrabbiata Sauce that’s sweet, a little spicy, and great on pasta.

Banchan also has a Hot Honey flavor of its wildly popular Japanese barbecue sauce that’s a bit sweeter and hotter than the O.G. Momofuku also added a bit of hot honey to its chili crisp. It’s a dream on eggs, fried chicken, and noodles. And then there’s Smash Kitchen (Glen Powell’s new condiment brand), which just released a Hot Honey Ketchup. 

Hot honey’s appeal extends far outside the condiment aisle. You’ll find it crusted onto salmon, in a plethora of potato chips (from Boulder Canyon, Pringles, and Utz, to name a few) and baked potatoes. Even Ritz introduced a Hot Honey Ritz Cracker this past February. 

It doesn’t just stop at savory. Earlier this year Walmart added a Hot Honey Cheesecake Slice to its Marketside bakery, and Van Leeuwen has an incredibly popular pint of Hot Honey Ice Cream.

Naturally, honey makers are also jumping on this delicious bandwagon. In fact, there are more hot honey brands out there than ever. Beyond Mike’s Hot Honey, there are dozens of bottles you most definitely want to try, including Zab’s Hot Honey, Savannah Bee Hot Honey, Nate’s Hot Honey, and even store-brand Trader Joe’s Spicy Hot Honey. Each brings its own spin to the sweet-heat combo (Zab’s uses apple cider vinegar and datil peppers!). 

The market shows no signs of cooling, either. Not one to be outdone, Mike’s launched an even hotter bottle just a few years ago. It’s a fiery honey that features double the amount of heat.

Are you a fan of hot honey? Tell us about it in the comments below.

This post originally ran on The Kitchn. See it there: The “Delicious” Condiment That’s Taking Over Grocery Shelves Everywhere