Hot Ones is one of the biggest pop culture phenomenons. Everyone looks forward to their favorite celebrity, taking on the challenge and thankfully, this new collaboration takes Hot Ones in a new direction.
Hot Ones is collaborating with Ragu and giving us some delightfully tingly yet tasty sauces to enjoy with three different levels of spice. While these are sold out on Amazon, you can shop for them at Kroger as long as you're local to one. Even though the brand offered a taste to me, I knew they'd be too spicy for me.
Thankfully if you're looking to try, we can at least break down the flavors before sharing Christian Alquiza's thoughts. There are three different Ragu x Hot Ones sauces with the mildest being Fiery Garlic which is labeled as "hot," Chipotle Blaze which is "hotter" and lastly, Chile Inferno which is hottest. As you can see, these are for spice lovers.
Given that we're set for 6 more weeks of winter, this collaboration couldn't come at a better time. It feels like the perfect thing to grab if you're snuggled up on a cold day and want a hearty yet spice-filled meal. It would also be a great pick for a Valentine's Day date night or adding some spice to your Super Bowl dishes.
Christian Alquiza talks Hot Ones, recipes and much more.
I'd like to thank Christian Alquiza for taking the time to answer our questions and give us a tiny glimpse behind the curtain of Hot Ones. If anything, his answers and different ideas should give you the push you need to have your own Hot Ones challenge at home.
Guilty Eats: Hot Ones has taken the internet by storm in recent years. What's the key to creating your own Hot Ones challenge at home?
Christian Alquiza: "There are really just three things you need to create your own Hot Ones challenge at home:
- Number one is a bit obvious here, but you’ll need the sauces, and the new RAGÚ® x Hot Ones™Limited Edition Heat Pack sauce is a fun one to start with because you can use it in so many different ways.
- Next, you’ll need a group of brave players who are willing to step up to the challenge and take the heat (LITERALLY!)
- Last is the food and drink. For this, we recommend having generous amounts of water and/or milk to provide some relief as things really heat up. It’s also great to have a platter of your preferred foods/snacks to test the sauces with. These sauces were built to dip, slather and enjoy on wings, barbecue, burgers, or anything else you feel brave enough to try on.
Don’t forget to capture all the reactions and tag @RAGU or @RAGUSauce and @FirstWeFeast and @HotOnes if you’re posting your challenge on Instagram or TikTok so we can see how it goes.
GE: With loads of Game Day parties coming up, do you have any good recipes to share when feeding a crowd?
CA: As part of my job working with Hot Ones, I have tried a lot of spicy sauces in my life and I can honestly say that these might be the hottest pasta sauces I have ever tried. The RAGÚ x Hot Ones Limited Edition Heat Pack features three, 14-oz. sauces in these delicious, progressively hotter flavors, including:
- RAGÚ® x Hot Ones™ Limited Edition Fiery Garlic (Hot) – This sauce combines Fresno chile and garlic with a savory base of umami-rich tomatoes. It’s a great sauce for anyone who is interested in adding a little extra heat.. I like it in baked goat cheese, pizzas, or burger toppings and I also have a great recipe for Fiery Garlic Chicken Parm Pull Apart Bread that really lets the flavor of this sauce shine through.
- RAGÚ® x Hot Ones™ Limited Edition Chipotle Blaze (Hotter) – This sauce has a smoky-sweet flavor thanks to a blend of chipotle peppers and tomatoes. It’s a great substitute for spicy barbecue sauce in your favorite chicken or beef dishes or in my Blazing Barbacoa Loaded Hot Dogs recipe.
- RAGÚ® x Hot Ones™ Limited Edition Chile Inferno (Hottest) – Made for the true spice lords out there and definitely not for the faint of the tongue! Infused with Scorpion and Habanero peppers, this sauce is perfect to include in an appetizer or accompanying dip for garlic knots, mozzarella sticks, mac and cheese bites, Italian meatballs, or whatever else you dare to put it on.
For more information about the sauces, recipe ideas, and information on where to buy, visit the Ragu x Hot Ones website.
GE: Pizza feels like a major staple when it comes to game day. Which types of pizza would pair best with each of these new Ragu x Hot Ones sauces?
CA: I love the RAGÚ x Hot Ones Limited Edition Fiery Garlic (Hot) sauce for pizza. It has a really nice balance of heat and flavor and won’t overpower complex, specialty pizza flavors that have two or more toppings. If you’re not sure which sauce to use and want to try it out on pizza, go with this one.
RAGÚ x Hot Ones Limited Edition Chipotle Blaze (Hotter) sauce has a really nice smokey-sweet flavor, making it a great pairing for barbecue chicken and cheese toppings or other protein-packed pizza options.
If you are craving a pizza served at maximum heat, you could try RAGÚ x Hot Ones Limited Edition Chile Inferno (Hottest) sauce Diavola style and prepare it at home with spicy salami, chili peppers, and mozzarella cheese. A classic cheese pizza would also let the heat and flavors shine through.
GE: Lastly with Valentine's Day coming up, which sauce would you most recommend for trying to impress someone?
CA: Valentine’s Day is all about spending quality time with the person or people you love. For a special occasion like this, I’d start with considering what spice levels or flavors your valentine prefers. If you’re not sure, start with the RAGÚ x Hot Ones Limited Edition Fiery Garlic (Hot) sauce.