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BEST Big Mac Sauce

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Look no further for the BEST Big Mac Sauce recipe!  Wonderfully creamy with the perfect balance of sweet tanginess, this world famous sauce is perfect slathered on your burgers or used for dipping fries, onions rings and much more!

And if you’re a fan of homemade condiments like I am you’ll also want to try our Tartar Sauce, Teriyaki Sauce, Sweet and Sour Sauce and Yum Yum Sauce!

big mac sauce recipe best copycat mcdonald's special sauce from scratch

Making your own homemade Big Mac Sauce couldn’t be any simpler.  There’s no cooking required, there’s virtually no prep work,  and the only chopping or slicing involved is simply mincing a bit of onion.  All you have to do is add all the ingredients in a bowl, stir to combine, and that’s it!  This homemade Big Mac Sauce keeps for up to 2 weeks in the fridge so you can have it on hand whenever that McDonald’s Special Sauce craving comes a-calling!

What is Big Mac Sauce?

With roughly 34,000 restaurants serving nearly 70 million people every day in 118 countries, McDonald’s has certainly made its mark on the world.  And no item on its menu is more iconic than the Big Mac that comes slathered with their popular “special sauce,” a sauce made with mayonnaise, pickles, onions, mustard and spices. It shares some similarities with Thousand Island Dressing but has a personality of its own.

Unfortunately the commercially available stuff is packed to the brim with junk ingredients that are as difficult to pronounce as they are to digest.  But now you can make your own homemade Big Mac Sauce without the junk ingredients and chances are you already have everything you need in your pantry!

big mac sauce recipe best copycat mcdonald's special condiment dip dressing

Big Mac Sauce Ingredients

Although it’s also called secret sauce, we’re revealing that secret right here, right now.  Big Mac Sauce contains only a few ingredients:  Mayonnaise, dill pickle relish, onion, mustard, white vinegar, sugar, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and paprika.  Optional:  For some added flavor I like to add some ketchup.  For a smoky flavor variation you can add a dash of barbecue sauce.

How to Use It

Beyond its classic application as a burger sauce there are numerous other ways you can use it. Here are just a few ideas:

big mac sauce recipe best copycat mcdonald's special condiment dip dressing

Big Mac Sauce Recipe

Let’s get started!

To make this sauce simply combine all of the ingredients in a bowl, cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours before serving, preferably overnight to allow the flavors enough time to meld.

combining the ingredients in a bowl

Store your sauce covered in the fridge where it will keep for up to 2 weeks.  Give it a shake before serving.

Enjoy!

big mac sauce recipe best copycat mcdonald's special sauce from scratch

For more delicious homemade sauces be sure to try our:

big mac sauce recipe best copycat mcdonald's from scratch

BEST Big Mac Sauce

Wonderfully creamy with the perfect balance of sweet tanginess, this world famous sauce is perfect slathered on your burgers or used for dipping fries, onions rings and more!
5 from 248 votes
Prep Time 5 minutes
Chill Time 2 hours
Total Time 2 hours 5 minutes
Course condiment, Sauce
Cuisine American
Servings 12
Calories 68 kcal

Ingredients
 
 

  • 1/2 cup quality mayonnaise
  • 2 tablespoons dill pickle relish (you can also use sweet pickle relish and omit the granulated sugar)
  • 1 tablespoon finely minced onion
  • 2 tablespoons ketchup , or barbecue sauce for a smoky flavor variation
  • 2 teaspoons yellow mustard
  • 1 teaspoon white vinegar
  • 1 teaspoon granulated sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon paprika
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon onion powder

Instructions
 

  • Place all of the ingredients in bowl and stir to combine. Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours before serving. Shake or stir before serving. Will keep for up to 2 weeks. Makes approximately 3/4 cup of sauce.

Video

Nutrition

Serving: 1tablespoonCalories: 68kcalCarbohydrates: 1gProtein: 1gFat: 7gSaturated Fat: 1gCholesterol: 4mgSodium: 178mgFiber: 1gSugar: 1gVitamin A: 47IUIron: 1mg
Keyword Big Mac Sauce, Special Sauce
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

Originally published on The Daring Gourmet June 9, 2020

kimberly killebrew the daring gourmet

Hi, I’m Kimberly Killebrew and welcome to Daring Gourmet where you'll find delicious originals, revitalized classics, and simply downright good eats from around the world! Originally from Germany, later raised in England, world-traveled, and now living in the U.S., from my globally-influenced kitchen I invite you to tour the world through your taste buds!

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Recipe Rating




5 from 248 votes (181 ratings without comment)

143 Comments

  1. This is such a great big mac sauce. I’ve probably a good 4-5 variations and this one’s my favorite.

  2. Awesome sauce! My kids used it for dipping fries. I added some sriracha in mine because a like a bit of kick.

  3. Our family really enjoyed this big mac sauce. We had friends over for a bbq and threw some burgers on the grill. This sauce really “made” the burgers. My only mistake was to not double it. Lesson learned!

  4. Great sauce! I’ve tried a couple of other recipes and am glad I didn’t stop there. I made this exactly as written, no changes needed. This gets a full 5 stars from me, well done.

  5. We’re on a healthy kick so used 1/2 Mayo & half nonfat Greek yogurt. The yogurt was tangy enough I didn’t add vinegar. I reduced the sugar to 1/2 tsp. We used it for a topping a Big Mac casserole. Delicious!

  6. Swapped out some ingredients for their keto-friendly variants and it’s just fantastic. Better than the real thing and the other copycats I’ve tried. I know “real” big mac sauce allegedly doesn’t use ketchup but the addition (no sugar added version) makes it even better for me. I love using it on bunless burgers and burger salads. I haven’t pushed myself to try the BBQ sauce variation just yet.

  7. Awesome sauce. Second time making it, will be having burgers tonight and looking forward to it.

  8. We ushered in bbq season by throwing some burgers on the grill. Actually, my husband did the grilling (he’s not a kitchen cook but he likes his grilling, lol) and I made the big mac sauce to go with them. Your recipe came up on an online search and I’m glad I made it, everyone loved it.