Today’s barbecue sauces are taking inspiration from their condiment cousin—hot sauce—and showcasing ever-spicier peppers and names like “Fireball” or “Scorcher.” Enter Dickey’s Barbecue Pit’s hottest sauce release yet: Dickey’s Atomic Barbecue Sauce, which pulls heat and flavor from habaneros, chipotle powder and crushed red pepper flakes. For those guests who may need to bring the heat down a notch, Dickey’s also created a limited-edition fusion option this spring, combining the Atomic Sauce with the brand’s original maple-rich Sweet Barbecue Sauce for a smoky, sweet, spicy combo.

American barbecue has never showcased more flavor diversity than it does right now. Across the country, chefs are putting their own spins on the classics while also introducing consumers to the country’s wide array of on-trend regional variations. These sauces are true dynamos, showing up across the menu in everything from sandwiches to pizza and beverages to salads. Plus, a truly successful sauce can be bottled and sold at retail, extending the brand and providing an additional source of revenue. Here, we look at the broad range of flavor builds that are driving barbecue sauce innovation on menus today.