BEST Big Mac Sauce Recipe

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Look no further for the BEST copycat Big Mac Sauce recipe!  The perfect balance of sweet and tangy that hits all the right flavor notes, this homemade McDonald’s Special Sauce is delicious slathered on your burgers or used for dipping fries, onions rings and more!

Homemade Big Mac Sauce

I’m a huge fan of homemade sauces and seasoning blends. Making your own gives you full control over what goes in it (and what stays out), it’s fully customizable to your preferences (less salt, more heat, ingredient swaps for variety), and it is far fresher and more flavorful than anything store-bought. Or in the case of this copycat Big Mac Sauce, it’s much better than the stuff at McD’s!

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. I’m going to show you how to make your own homemade Big Mac Sauce and chances are you already have everything you need in your pantry!

How to Make Big Mac Sauce

Making your own copycat Big Mac Sauce couldn’t be 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.  But to make the best Big Mac Sauce it’s all about the right ingredients in the right ratios. Then 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!

Ingredients for Big Mac Sauce

Although it’s also called secret sauce, we’re revealing that secret right here, right now.  This Big Mac Sauce recipe contains only a few ingredients: 

• Mayonnaise: this forms the base of the sauce so use a good one.
• 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. For a fun smoky flavor variation you can add a dash of barbecue sauce. And if you like a bit of kick you can add a splash of your favorite hot sauce or stir in some cayenne pepper.

Copycat 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.

How to Use It

Beyond its classic application as a burger sauce there are numerous other ways you can use it, including as a dipping sauce and incorporating it into creamy salads. Here are just a few ways that I like to use it:

• 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.
• Make a Big Mac Sauce dressing for salads by adding 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.

Enjoy!

For more popular homemade sauces be sure to try my:

• BBQ Sauce Recipe
• Tartar Sauce
• Teriyaki Sauce
• Yum Yum Sauce
• Sriracha Mayo
• Sweet Chili Sauce
• Sweet and Sour Sauce
• Hoisin Sauce
• Black Bean Sauce
• Tahini
• Curry Ketchup
• Kecap Manis

Originally published on The Daring Gourmet June 9, 2020