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!
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 all the junk ingredients and chances are you already have everything you need in your pantry!
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: this forms the base of the sauce..
- Dill pickle relish: adds some tangy flavor and crunchy texture. Alternatively you can use sweet pickle relish and omit the granulated sugar, but I personally prefer the tangy flavor addition of dill pickle relish.
- Onion: mince it very fine; adds flavor and texture.
- Mustard: for a touch of sharpness, tang, and color.
- White vinegar: cuts through the mayo and adds tangy contrast.
- Sugar: a touch of sweetness for balance.
- Garlic powder, onion powder paprika, salt: for some savory, earthy flavor notes and a touch of salt to give everything a flavor boost.
- Ketchup: I add this one last because it is not included in McDonald’s Big Mac Sauce. However I really like the addition of some ketchup and I think you’ll agree. And 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:
- Slather it on hamburgers and hot dogs (see my recipe for homemade hamburger buns)
- Use it as a sandwich spread (see my sandwich bread recipe)
- Add it to your pasta / macaroni salad and potato salad
- Drizzle it over your lettuce wraps
- Use it as a salad dressing (just add a tablespoon or two of milk to thin it out)
- Heap it onto your baked potatoes and baked sweet potatoes
- Serve it as a dipping sauce for your French fries, baked potato wedges, sweet potato fries, fried green tomatoes, fried okra, onions rings and veggies
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.
Store your sauce covered in the fridge where it will keep for up to 2 weeks. Give it a shake before serving.
Enjoy!
For more delicious homemade sauces be sure to try my:
- BBQ Sauce Recipe
- Tartar Sauce
- Teriyaki Sauce
- Yum Yum Sauce
- Sweet Chili Sauce
- Sweet and Sour Sauce
- Hoisin Sauce
- Black Bean Sauce
- Tahini
- Tzatziki Sauce
- Curry Ketchup
- Kecap Manis
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BEST Big Mac Sauce
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
Originally published on The Daring Gourmet June 9, 2020
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!
