Taste of Home
We know that when it comes to ketchup, people are dedicated to their brands in much the same way people are dedicated to brands of mayo or hot sauce. People are passionate about condiments!
But have you ever tasted your tried and true brand alongside another? If you haven’t, don’t worry—our Taste of Home Test Kitchen grabbed eight popular ketchups (including a few with cult followings) and gave them all a try.
How We Found the Best Ketchup
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Like our other taste tests, we conducted this trial blindly, meaning no testers knew which brand was which in the lineup. Each sample was tested on its own with no competing flavors (not even a french fry!) to alter the taste. Our Test Kitchen pros also kept these criteria in mind:
- Flavor:Â Ketchup is a combo of tomato, sugar and vinegar flavors. How did the ketchup taste? Was it well balanced? Were any other tastes present?
- Appearance:Â How did the ketchup look? Was it glossy? Was it bright red or a bit darker in hue?
- Texture:Â Was the ketchup thick? Runny? Was it smooth?
Our Test Kitchen-Preferred Ketchup Options
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After eight ketchup brands were sampled, four rose to the top.
Best Ketchup Overall: Heinz
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Even in a blind test, Heinz Tomato Ketchup came out on top. What can we say: This ketchup gave our Test Kitchen the best balance of tomato flavor, tanginess and sweetness. This is exactly the type of ketchup we all want to have on the table at our cookouts and in the fridge when we whip up some frozen fries in the air fryer.
Overall, this thick, glossy ketchup had the perfect tang, perfect color and great tomato flavor. As our Executive Culinary Director Sarah Farmer put it: “This is a French fry’s best friend.”
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Most Complex Flavor: French’s
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If you want a ketchup that’s more than just tomato and vinegar, grab a bottle of French’s Tomato Ketchup. Yes, this ketchup did deliver a sweet tomato flavor that we just love with fries and onion rings, but French’s also gave us a bit more. Testers picked up on onion, garlic and even some balsamic vinegar notes. That’s pretty sophisticated for this seemingly simple condiment.
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Thickest Ketchup: Hunt’s
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No one likes runny ketchup that slides right off your fries and onto your lap. For thick ketchup that stays put, grab a bottle of Hunt’s Tomato Ketchup. This deep red ketchup was thicker in consistency and had a well-balanced flavor—not too sweet or tangy. In fact, some testers thought that Hunt’s had a bit of an umami kick to it, meaning it’s perfect for topping a burger hot off the grill.
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Best for Kids: Del Monte
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Some of us just want basic ketchup with tomato, sugar and vinegar flavors, the type that you’d get on a ballpark hot dog. If that’s your style, you’ll want to add Del Monte Tomato Ketchup to your shopping cart. This option was the most tomato forward and had many testers feeling a bit nostalgic. This would also be a great option for pickier eaters.
Here’s how to open a ketchup packet so the kids can dip their fries at the drive-thru, mess-free!
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How to Use Ketchup in Your Kitchen
We know you don’t need to be told to use ketchup on everything from burgers to eggs, but ketchup can also be used as an ingredient in lots of recipes. It adds tanginess and a touch of tomato flavor to recipes like appetizer meatballs, baked beans, sloppy joes and more.
Bacon Cheeseburger Sloppy JoesTurkey and bacon give the classic sloppy joe a frightfully tasty new spin. Freddy Krueger may invite himself to dinner! —Janine Smith, Columbia, South Carolina
Sweet ‘n’ Spicy MeatballsYou'll usually find a batch of these meatballs in my freezer. The slightly sweet sauce nicely complements the spicy pork sausage. —Genie Brown, Roanoke, Virginia
Mini Meat Loaf Sheet-Pan MealI grew up with this meat loaf recipe, but I adapted it to mini meatloaves so that it would bake more quickly. The sauce topping is always a hit. I added the potatoes and asparagus to make the meal easier. —Deanne Johnson, Reading, Pennsylvania
Easy Baked BeansMy family enjoys this easy baked beans recipe with cornbread, but it also rounds out any cookout. Canned pork and beans make meal prep quick. —Phyllis Schmalz, Kansas City, Kansas
Cheeseburger Pepper CupsI like to serve my grandkids something special, and this is one of their favorites. They like red or yellow peppers because they're sweeter and look more appetizing. —Betty Winscher, Royalton, Minnesota
Sweet and Savory BrisketI like this recipe not only because it makes such tender and flavorful beef, but because it takes advantage of a slow cooker. It's wonderful to come home from work and have this mouthwatering dish waiting for you. The beef doubles as a warm sandwich filling, too.—Chris Snyder, Boulder, Colorado
Simmered Smoked LinksA tasty sweet-sour sauce glazes bite-size sausages in this recipe shared by Maxine Cenker of Weirton, West Virginia. "Serve these effortless appetizers with toothpicks at parties or holiday get-togethers," she suggests.
Weeknight GoulashWith this recipe, you can put in a full day’s work, run some errands and still get dinner on the table in hardly any time. Make it extra-special by serving the meat sauce over spaetzle. —Cyndy Gerken, Naples, Florida
Cheeseburger Crescent RingThis is an easy entree that can be put together quickly after a long day at work. I guarantee that adults will enjoy it as much as kids do. —Stephanie Hurd, Oxford, Alabama
CurrywurstWhen I used to I lived in Berlin, Germany, one of my favorite things to eat was currywurst and pomme frites. After I came back to the states, I created my own version, which is a pretty close second.—Julie Merriman, Seattle, Washington
Homemade Sloppy JoesI simmer a big batch of this hot and tangy sandwich filling, then freeze the extras. Just thaw and reheat it for a quick dinner. —Sandra Castillo, Janesville, Wisconsin
Cheeseburger Stuffed Pasta ShellsYou could call this a comfort food mashup made in heaven. Jumbo stuffed pasta shells are loaded up with cheeseburger goodness in a dish that will soon become a family favorite. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Toasted ReubensNew Yorkers say my Reubens taste like those served in the famous delis there. For a little less kick, you can leave out the horseradish. —Patricia Kile, Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania
Party MeatballsThese meatballs in a sweet, tangy sauce can be made a day in advance and reheated. We usually serve them at birthday parties. - Irma Schnuelle, Manitowoc, Wisconsin.
Meat Loaf MuffinsServe these tangy meat loaf muffins for dinner or slice them up for a take-along sandwich lunch. They're just as flavorful after freezing. —Cheryl Norwood, Canton, Georgia
Savory Beer Pork ChopsThese tender chops cooked in a savory sauce are perfect for a hectic weeknight because they're so easy to prep. Try them with hot buttery noodles. —Jana Christian, Farson, Wyoming
Cowboy Calico BeansThis is a tradition at the table when my girlfriends and I go up north for a girls' weekend. The husbands and kids are left at home, but the slow cooker comes with us! —Julie Butsch, Hartland, Wisconsin
Beefy Chili DogsFor years, people have told me I make the best hot dog chili out there. It’s timeless, it’s family-friendly, and I carry the recipe with me because people ask for it. —Vicki Boyd, Mechanicsville, Virginia
So-Easy Sloppy JoesEverybody in the family will love the zesty, fun flavor of this simple staple. Try it spooned over warmed cornbread if you don’t have buns. —Karen Anderson, Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio
Cheeseburger SoupA local restaurant serves a similar cheeseburger soup but wouldn't share its recipe with me. I developed my own, modifying a recipe I already had for potato soup. I was really pleased with the way this all-American dish turned out. —Joanie Shawhan, Madison, Wisconsin
Delicious Oven Barbecued ChickenA friend made this saucy chicken for us when we had our first child. I pared down the recipe to make it lower in fat and calories. Now it's a family favorite, and even the kids ask for this baked bbq chicken breast. —Marge Wagner, Roselle, Illinois
Three-Bean Baked BeansI got this recipe from my aunt and made a couple of changes to suit our tastes. With ground beef and bacon mixed in, these satisfying beans are a big hit at backyard barbecues and church picnics. I'm always asked to bring my special beans. —Julie Currington, Gahanna, Ohio
Family-Favorite Cheeseburger PastaI created this cheeseburger pasta recipe to satisfy a craving. What a delicious, healthy classic! —Raquel Haggard, Edmond, Oklahoma
Spicy Butterscotch WingsWe love big-time-spicy chicken wings. I do a caramel sauce to balance the heat, but you could also glaze the wings with melted brown sugar. —Aaron Salazar, Westminster, Colorado
Blackberry Sriracha Chicken SlidersDump everything in a slow cooker and then watch these spicy-sweet sliders become an instant party-time classic. —Julie Peterson, Crofton, Maryland
Buffet MeatballsI need only five ingredients to fix these
easy appetizers. My grape jelly and ketchup meatballs make an appearance at almost every potluck and party. —Janet Anderson, Carson City, Nevada
Cheeseburger QuesadillasI created these fun cheeseburger quesadilla mashups in honor of my family's two favorite foods. They are so yummy and easy to make! —Jennifer Stowell, Deep River, Iowa
Skillet Shepherd's PieThis is the best shepherd's pie recipe I've ever tasted. It's very quick to make, and I usually have most—if not all—of the ingredients already on hand. —Tirzah Sandt, San Diego, California
Cornflake-Coated Crispy BaconI've loved my aunt's crispy-coated bacon ever since I was a child. Now I've shared the super simple recipe with my own children. We still enjoy a big panful every Christmas morning—and on many other days throughout the year! —Brenda Severson, Norman, Oklahoma
Li'l Cheddar Meat LoavesI got this recipe from my aunt when I was a teen and have made these miniature loaves many times since. My husband and three children count this main dish among their favorites. —Kathy Bowron, Cocolalla, Idaho
Dill Pickle Hamburger PizzaMy husband's favorite foods are pizza and cheeseburgers, so I combined the two in a pizza with mayo and dill pickle juice topping. People who try it start laughing because it's so good. —Angie Zimmerman, Eureka, Illinois
Cranberry Turkey Sloppy JoesWant a holiday spin on sloppy joes? This combination of turkey and cranberries is a big hit with everyone who tastes it! The flavor has a touch of sweetness, a touch of salt—just right for a holiday get-together. The slow cooker makes it easy to keep warm on a buffet. —Christine Grimm, Mount Wolf, Pennsylvania
Tempura Chicken WingsWhen I moved to Kansas City from Texas, I brought many of my mom's best-loved recipes with me, including these saucy sweet-and-sour wings. The recipe is so good it turned a friend who's not a fan of chicken into a real wing lover.
—Susan Wuckowitsch, Lenexa, Kansas
Beef & Bacon Gnocchi SkilletThis gnocchi dish tastes like a bacon cheeseburger. Go ahead and top it as you would a burger—with ketchup, mustard and pickles. —Ashley Lecker, Green Bay, Wisconsin
BBQ Chicken SandwichesWith four small children at home, I need quick yet filling meals. This family-favorite BBQ chicken sandwich filling is a cinch to make. For a spicier taste, eliminate the ketchup and increase the amount of salsa to 1 cup. —Leticia Lewis, Kennewick, Washington
Cranberry MeatballsLots of people have asked me for this recipe, but I knew I had a real winner when my grandmother asked me for it! —Tammy Neubauer, Ida Grove, Iowa
Slow-Cooked Reuben BratsSauerkraut gives these beer-simmered brats a big flavor boost, but it’s the special chili sauce and melted cheese that put them over the top. Top your favorite burger with some of the chili sauce; you won't be sorry. —Alana Simmons, Johnstown, Pennsylvania
Savory Beef & Cabbage SupperMy beef and cabbage supper began as an idea for a gluten-free Reuben sandwich. We also make this dish with smoked sausage. It’s comforting on cooler days. —Courtney Stultz, Weir, Kansas
Ranchero SupperThis hearty dish is fast and easy to fix after a busy workday. We like to use hickory and bacon baked beans and serve it with fruit or a green salad for a complete meal. —Karen Roberts, Lawrence, Kansas
Jerk-Seasoned Meat LoavesI wanted meat loaf, but also something unique, so I decided to spice it up using Jamaican jerk seasoning. My family loved it! I complete the meal by serving it with string beans and yams. —Iris Cook, Batavia, Illinois
Updated: Jul. 31, 2023
