Big Mac Sauce

At a glance

What stands out: We've cracked the code for the secret Big Mac sauce that makes those iconic burgers so rich! With a handful of kitchen staples, you can take your from-scratch burgers to the next level.

How long it takes: 5 minutes
Equipment you’ll need: small bowl
Servings: 6

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Before the dawn of the internet (or at least before the dawn of food blogging) fast food “secret sauces” really were a secret. But now, you can find virtually any special sauce recipe online, and we think we can all agree that this is one of the better uses of the World Wide Web.

Now, we did consult other recipes first but we made a few tweaks and toyed with the ingredient ratios to nail that Big Mac sauce flavor and consistency. We love this on our Big Mac salad, but you’ll also enjoy it on hamburgers, turkey burgers, and more. It’s that little something-something that will take any burger or sandwich to the next level!

At-home Big Mac Sauce

Straightforward to mix. You just stir it all the ingredients together. There’s nothing else to it! You probably have everything you need to make this recipe in your pantry and refrigerator.

More versatile than you think. Burgers (and the aforementioned salad) are no-brainers but you can also use this Big Mac sauce on any sandwich, to jazz up air fryer hot dogs, as a great dip for almost anything, and so on.

Scale it up or down. When you’re hosting a backyard barbecue, you can make a big batch of this sauce, or if you’re enjoying a quiet California burger lunch by yourself, you can make enough for just one.

What goes in

• Mayonnaise: Use any kind you like or keep on hand. We know people have BIG feelings about which mayo is best. Do NOT use Miracle Whip.
• Ketchup: Ketchup adds a little sweetness, a light tomato flavor, and gives the sauce its iconic color.
• Yellow mustard: No fancypants mustard here, just your basic bright yellow.
• Sweet pickle relish: Sweet pickles are another source of sweetness and also that irresistible pickle flavor. Drain as much of the juice off as you can.
• White vinegar: To balance the sweetness, we need a little tangy zip from vinegar. Plain white vinegar is reliable.
• Seasonings: All you need are a few straightforward pantry seasonings: onion powder, garlic powder, kosher salt, and coarse ground black pepper. If you use finely ground salt instead of coarse kosher salt, use less. The same goes for the pepper.

How it comes together

Combine. Measure out all the ingredients and add them to a small bowl or jar. (A jar is good if you plan on storing the sauce!)

Stir. Stir until everything is well mixed.

Serve. Add your Big Mac sauce to burgers. Use it for dipping air fryer French fries. Come up with your own fun ideas!

Straightforward Recipe Variations

• Veganize it. Straightforward! Just use your favorite plant-based mayo for a vegan version of Big Mac sauce.
• Add spicy heat. A sprinkle of cayenne, a squeeze of sriracha, or a dash of hot sauce will give your Big Mac sauce a little oomph.
• Make it thicker and creamier. Stir in a spoonful of sour cream or Greek yogurt to thicken up the sauce. This works well if you’re planning on using it for dipping!

Keeping leftovers

Transfer Big Mac sauce to an airtight container and refrigerate it for up to a week. Stir it well before you use it.

• Yield: 6
• Prep: 5 minutes
• Total: 5 minutes

Ingredients

• ½ cup mayonnaise
• 2 tablespoons ketchup
• 1 tablespoon yellow mustard
• 3 tablespoons sweet pickle relish (drain excess juice)
• 1 teaspoon white vinegar
• ½ teaspoon onion powder
• ½ teaspoon garlic powder
• ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
• ⅛ teaspoon coarse ground black pepper

Method

1. In a small bowl, stir together all ingredients until combined. Refrigerate until ready to use.
2. Big Mac sauce can be used as a topping on many different sandwiches. The sauce makes a good salad dressing, too. Try our Big Mac salad, a hearty main course salad that mimics the iconic burger. Big Mac sauce is a tasty dip (especially with sweet potato fries!), or drizzle it on roasted vegetables.

Notes

Yield: Makes about ¾ cup.

Storage: Refrigerate Big Mac sauce in a covered container or jar for up to 1 week. Stir well before serving.

Make it a dip: Stir in a couple of tablespoons of sour cream or Greek yogurt to thicken the sauce and use it for a dip.

Spicy Big Mac sauce: Stir in a sprinkle of cayenne, a squeeze of sriracha, or a dash of hot sauce, to taste.