This Is the Secret Sauce to Drool-Worthy Burgers—Literally (2024)

Table of Contents
Ingredients Directions FAQs

What turns a good classic cheeseburger into a great one? The answer: this awesome burger sauce! Its flavor is inspired by the best burger toppings and combines them all in one savory, sweet, smoky, and tangy bite. It's fantastic onburgersof every variety, including veggie burgers! But why stop there? This sauce makes a downright delicious dip forFrench fries, onion rings, and chicken tenders. In fact, one taste and you'll want to dunk absolutely everything in this new favorite condiment! Be sure to bring a jar to the next summer cookout.

Why does burger sauce taste so good?

Have you ever noticed that the best foods are a little salty, a little sweet, and a little tangy? That's exactly what makes burger sauce so addictive! You get the sweetness from the relish, tang from the ketchup, a kick from the mustard, and some heavenly smokiness from smoked paprika. And the mayo brings it all together!

What's in burger sauce?

Every restaurant has their own top secret recipe, but the basic ingredients of a good burger sauce mirror burger toppings and flavors: mayonnaise (for creaminess), ketchup (for sweetness), pickle relish or juice (for tartness), sriracha, or hot sauce (for heat), and spices (for smokiness and depth).

Is burger sauce spicy?

Typically no, but if you like a little heat, feel free to dial it up! In this recipe, the hot sauce or Sriracha is optional. Use as much or as little to none as you prefer. Real hot heads can even add some minced pickled jalapeño or chipotle foran extra kick of heat!

Is burger sauce the same as Thousand Island?

The two share a lot of similarities in ingredients and color, but they're not exactly the same. Burger sauce really just a mix of condiments like mayo, mustard, ketchup, and relish with a few extra flavorings thrown in. Thousand Island is a bit more complicated. It's mayo-based and contains ketchup and relish, but traditional recipes also contain ingredients like hard-boiled egg, onion, and some sort of acid like lemon or vinegar.

How do you make your own burger sauce?

This recipe comes together in minutes with ingredients that are probably already in your fridge. It's also a delicious start to a sauce that you can customize to create your own "secret" recipe! Want it smooth? Use pickle juice instead of relish. Love mustard? Double up! The possibilities for making this recipe your own are practically endless!

How long does burger sauce last in the fridge?

Burger sauce will stay good for up to a week stored in an airtight container. Feel free to make extra—there are tons of ways to enjoy it beyondjust burgers.

What else is good with burger sauce?

Burger sauce tastes awesome on a Reuben sandwich or a Cuban sandwich. It can also be thinned out with a little pickle juice or even water and drizzled over any salad. It also makes a surprisingly tasty dip for crab cakes or fried shrimp.

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Yields:
1 c.
Prep Time:
5 mins
Total Time:
5 mins

Ingredients

  • 1 c.

    mayonnaise

  • 2 Tbsp.

    ketchup

  • 2 Tbsp.

    sweet pickle relish

  • 2 tsp.

    mustard (dijon or yellow)

  • 2 tsp.

    Sriracha or hot sauce (optional)

  • 1/2 tsp.

    ground black pepper

  • 1/2 tsp.

    smoked paprika

  • 1/4 tsp.

    Worcestershire sauce

Directions

    1. Step1In a small bowl, stir together the mayonnaise, ketchup, relish, mustard, Sriracha, pepper, smoked paprika, and Worcestershire sauce until combined.
    2. Step2Refrigerate in an airtight container until ready to serve, up to 1 week.

Tip: Substitute half of the mayonnaise with Greek yogurt for a healthy twist.

This Is the Secret Sauce to Drool-Worthy Burgers—Literally (2024)

FAQs

What is the secret sauce in a Krusty burger? ›

Special Krusty Burger Sauce: 1/2 cup mayonnaise 2 tablespoons ketchup 1 tablespoon yellow mustard 1 tablespoon sweet pickle relish 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder 1/2 teaspoon onion powder Salt and black pepper to taste Instructions: 1.

Where did the term secret sauce come from? ›

1: a sauce that adds an important element to a dish and that has ingredients which are typically kept secret. 2: an element, quality, ability, or practice that makes something or someone successful or distinctive. This definition was first used in 1906. Also known as special sauce.

What is secret sauce about? ›

Follows fry cook and cashier Todd Graves, as he meets different people and learns about their paths to success, inspiring viewers to pursue their dreams.

Who had the secret sauce? ›

McDonalds version was called "Special Sauce", but now it's usually referred to as "Mac Sauce" since it's only standard on the Big Mac. It's also labeled Mac sauce on the sauce tubes. And the mayo is labeled chicken sauce.

What is the Krabby Patty secret sauce? ›

Even though the krabby patty formula is thought to be made with king neptunes Poseidon powder and have other secret ingredients. THE WHOLE THING is fake, the secret formula consists of NOT A SINGLE THING. It's all a ruse that crafty Mr. Krabs came up with in order to stop Plankton from focusing on The Chum Bucket.

What does secret sauce mean in slang? ›

Meaning of secret sauce in English

a special quality that makes something successful : The secret sauce for "going viral" is still a mystery. The company is going to need some secret sauce to make the takeover work.

What is the secret sauce quote? ›

Your passion is the antidote to your pain. The Secret Sauce Is YOU! It pays to be a nut! The voice of your soul is your umbilical cord with the cosmos.

Why do they call it secret sauce? ›

Back then, special sauce actually referred to, well, sauce. In the years since, the term—and its doppelganger, secret sauce—has become slang for that je ne sais quoi that makes something (or someone) successful.

Is McDonald's secret sauce Thousand Island? ›

The answer is no… but they are similar. Both of the condiments have a creamy consistency and include pickle relish. But, McDonald's Big Mac Sauce includes vinegar and has a bit more pickle relish in it than Thousand Island dressing.

What is McDonald's Big Mac sauce made of? ›

Ingredients: Soybean Oil, Sweet Relish (diced Pickles, Sugar, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Distilled Vinegar, Salt, Corn Syrup, Xanthan Gum, Calcium Chloride, Spice Extractives), Water, Egg Yolks, Distilled Vinegar, Spices, Onion Powder, Salt, Propylene Glycol Alginate, Garlic Powder, Vegetable Protein (hydrolyzed Corn, ...

What is the in n out secret sauce called? ›

Spread 'em: Mastering the Special Sauce

I never understood why In-N-Out refers to their sauce as "Spread." Maybe they're just a little too cool for school. In any case, all it is is a basic Thousand Island-style dressing: a mixture of ketchup, mayonnaise, and sweet pickle relish.

Where did secret sauce come from? ›

While the terms "special sauce" and "secret sauce" are so general that it's impossible to determine an exact origin, cookbooks started mentioning special sauces in the mid-to-late 19th century, with restaurant menus picking up the phrase in the 1940s and '50s.

What is Amazon's secret sauce? ›

Amazon's strategy was simple: keep the customers happy. They did this by offering low prices, a user-friendly website, and personalized recommendations. The idea was that happy customers would return, boosting long-term revenue even if it meant sacrificing short-term profits.

Did McDonald's invent burger sauce? ›

We do, however, know its origins. The original Big Mac sauce was created in 1968 at a McDonald's in Pittsburgh by a franchise owner named Jim Delligatti, to serve with the Big Mac itself.

What is secret sauce made of? ›

What is a secret sauce made of? There are many variations of secret, or special, sauce. Generally, they consist of a base of mayonnaise, ketchup, and relish. Other ingredients like mustard, vinegar, or Worcestershire are often added.

What is the Krusty Burger made of? ›

It's known to use a variety of animal meats in it, without any of them being what one would normally eat, including exotic animals, roadkill, reptiles and insects. Krusty has a deal with the Springfield Mafia to keep McDonald's and Burger King out of Springfield to ensure that Krusty Burger has no competition.

What is Matty Patty sauce? ›

Matty's signature sauce with mustard, mayo, ketchup, diced onions and pickles. Crispy shoestring fries cooked in canola oil.

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